Category: Maintenance

Windows can transform any space. They can turn a tiny kitchen into a front row seat to a glorious sunset; or make an upstairs bedroom a perfect perch for an ocean view. Windows bring both life and light to a home, meaning a great deal of t…

When it comes to keeping the exterior surfaces of a co-op, condo or HOA well-maintained and free of any potentially dangerous structural issues, it’s up to the management company and board to take steps to insure the safety of residents an…

Big or small, disasters often strike out of the blue. They catch us unaware, flatfooted and feeling helpless at their impact. This is especially true when these events hit us at home or within our shared communities. When fire, flood, hurr…

Few things illustrate the fragility of modern civilization more clearly than plumbing problems. A broken pipe, a backed-up toilet, a flooded bathroom—any one of these can quickly go from annoyance to emergency, and the longer a plumbing pr…

The rarely stated—but all too well understood—Murphy’s Law for Boilers—asserts that if your boiler quits working, it will do so on Christmas or New Year’s Eve, or at 4:45 p.m. on the coldest day of the year. With some planning, though, tha…

From the outside, the structure of a condo or co-op building may appear to be monolithic; just one big piece of brick and steel, punctuated with some glass here and there. That's an oversimplification, however. A multifamily building is pe…

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…

Flanked by two major cities, New Jersey has just about every type of housing stock there is. Many suburban homeowners have dreams of that legendary white picket fence, but those who live in urban areas can also definitely appreciate the im…

While it was a trying winter with more snow and ice than usual, there is always the promise of springtime and all it entails—blossoming trees, the return of singing birds and green grass. But just like the maintenance and care necessary to…

In New Jersey, it's common for luxury condos to install recreational facilities on their rooftops—pools, hot tubs, decks and similar areas for socializing. You are also likely to find heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system…