Capital Upgrades & Retrofits
The fatal flaws behind the Surfside condo collapse
Building failures of this horrific scope are seldom seen in North America. But it is important to examine what happened so we can learn and prevent similar collapses in the future.
5 ways technology is uplifting condo communities
Technology is revolutionizing the way condo buildings operate and positively impacting the lives of residents and managers.
Reserve funds ignore climate target impacts
We should be asking our reserve fund planners to look at the Paris accord target dates and compare the end-of-life replacement of our gas-burning appliances against the target dates.
Scanning the road ahead for EV-ready condos
As the country moves to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, questions are brewing among people living in multi-unit dwellings.
Could a Florida condo collapse happen in Ontario?
How would this scenario unfold in Ontario? Leaving aside the construction process itself, there are vast differences between Ontario and Florida condominium laws that would have given the Champlain towers significant added protections following registration.
Three red flags of risky procurement practices
Federal scrutiny of condo procurement should be sufficient reason for diligent condo boards to examine their procurement practices.
Condo windows: repair or replace?
For condo buildings built in the 1980’s or 1990’s, there is likely a window project coming up in the reserve fund study.
Insurance crisis affecting reserve fund planning
The insurance crisis in condominiums is affecting how boards are planning for disasters in Ontario.
Condos in precarious spot if small repairs sit idle
Should the corporation move forward with certain maintenance repairs if the issue has the potential to become exponentially worse?
Ontario advances elevator repair legislation
Ontario is kicking the dust off of elevator repair legislation, which was passed under the Liberal government in May 2018 but never proclaimed into law.
Digging into the coming geothermal boom
While the relevance of geothermal has been percolating for years, the buzz is that more developers are starting to pay attention.
What the new Construction Act means for condos
Construction is a billion-dollar industry in Canada. While most large projects at condominiums proceed relatively smoothly, there is always risk of friction for contractors and
How to avoid a DIY renovation disaster
The renovation work should aim to improve the property and make it more accessible for residents and visitors.
Gaps flagged in new CDM programs
After 2022, companies must use their own funds to reimburse embedded energy managers, but will be offered “an enhanced level of technical support and resources.” It's a move some see as more short-sighted.
Creating a condo sustainability plan for 2021
A sustainability plan and budget should be made with the mindset of plan and prevent, instead of react and pivot.
Canada’s condo insurance crisis
Impacts of the hard insurance market are trickling into condominium corporations across Canada, challenging boards and managers in their wake.
Reserve fund budgeting: A fan coil unit retrofit
One of the most under addressed issues in aging condos is the fan coil unit. Residents often take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach.