Plumbing & Pipe Systems
Managing water leaks 101
The causes of water leaks are often related to materials, installation, maintenance and operational issues.
Helping condos stay afloat during a flood
The immense flooding that occurred recently across the GTA led to massive evacuations and widespread power outages and is just one example of the increasing severity of natural disasters.
Considerations for deferring capital project work
The industry panel discussed what capital repairs and replacement costs could potentially be deferred by prolonging the life of various building components and what professional resources to seek for guidance.
Overhauling reserve funds in Ontario
As the landscape of aging condos continues evolving, the need for adequate reserve funds to pay for these repairs assumes greater importance.
Actuaries garner new insight into condo finances
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ latest insight statement on the longevity of condo infrastructure explores several risks.
Ontario condo managers grapple with price hikes
As multi-residential buildings grapple with rising construction costs, condo managers in Ontario are experiencing the impacts up close.
Unconventional ways condos can reduce capital project costs
Ongoing challenges to capital replacement project costs are wreaking havoc on already stressed reserve funds and causing anxiety for boards and property managers throughout the province.
Construction costs rattle the condo industry
Construction cost increases are a significant concern if a condo needs to complete work in the next year or so. But the concern isn't just the here and now.
The future of water in buildings is smart
Water creates levels of risk throughout all stages of a building’s life cycle and is a major cause of loss during and after construction.
Warding off water damage
As the rapid growth of condominium living in Canada continues, corporations and their suite owners need to be on alert for water damage.
Cases shed light on maintenance and repair obligations in condos
Maintenance and repair obligations of both owners and condo corporations are defined in the Condominium Act, which sets out the minimum default obligations. T
Condos at high risk from reserve fund shortfalls
The growing crop of condo owners across Canada will likely encounter huge annual fee increases and lump-sum payments due to low reserve fund contributions, authors of a new research report are warning.
Security, privacy and the rise of smart homes
What security and privacy threats should condo communities watch out for due to the rise of internet-connected smart home devices?
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.
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.
Condos lag on fire code compliance
Fire plans may need an overhaul as the resident population ages, building systems are updated, and renovations alter the layout of floors or rooms.
Insurance crisis affecting reserve fund planning
The insurance crisis in condominiums is affecting how boards are planning for disasters in Ontario.