In terms of wear and tear on buildings, winter is the harshest season of the year. Snow accumulation and ice damming on roofs can be a major headache, pipes freezing and bursting could spell disaster, and just about any accumulation of wat…
In a multifamily building with scores, possibly hundreds of people living under one roof, cooking, cleaning, dusting and breathing, it’s no surprise that the airways, chutes and garbage rooms of these buildings can get clogged and dirty ov…
It many circles it’s considered socially or politically correct to “go green” when embarking on new construction projects or updating an existing property. Cost-saving initiatives include solar roofs, energy-efficient lighting and appli…
It’s true that a building is as only as strong as its foundation—and while New Yorkers don't have as much active concern about the foundations of their buildings as residents of an earthquake-prone area like California might have, it's …
Green truly is the new black in New York City. As more and more co-ops, condos and HOAs look to save money as expenses rise, more and more boards, shareholders and unit owners are exploring ways to incorporate “greening” into their buil…
A residential building’s roof is its first line of defense against whatever the skies throw at it. Left untreated, roof problems can proliferate and cause thousands of dollars in damages to residents’ property, as well as the building i…
On almost any given block in New York City, it’s easy to see how things have changed in architecture and construction over the decades. Historic buildings like the New York Public Library or Grand Central Station are noted for their ext…
There was a time when the buildings being built in New York City were largely constructed of earthy materials—limestone, brownstone, brick, terra cotta—and glass really only figured into their design in the form of windows and skylights…
If one wants to ascertain the state of the green building industry, shared—or “fractionally owned”—vacation condos might be a good place to start. While many homebuyers will settle for an uninspiring exurb lot near a convenient …
It's time to face the facts. The teal-and-salmon sofa that was purchased for your foyer may not exactly be in style any more. The window treatments that were chosen in the early 1990s no longer grace the pages of every design magazine so…