Maine has the oldest population in the country with a median age of 44.8 years. Condominium residents are on average older than non-condominium residents. Of more importance, 23% of Maine’s population is over 65 years old. The most concerning statistic is that 30% of these 65+ year olds report falling within the last year. These….
Have you walked your asphalt assets lately? Parking lots, driveways, and roads spend a lot of time in the sun or are being pelted by rain, snow, and salt while silently crushed by tons of trucks, SUVs, and sharply turning vehicle wheels of all types. No wonder their surfaces snap, crackle, and pop over the….
Condo boards and property managers face a constant balancing act: controlling costs while keeping structures safe, functional, and appealing. Yet one strategic choice consistently separates well‑run properties from those plagued by emergencies and escalating expenses: the decision to prioritize preventive maintenance over reactive repairs. While reactive repairs may seem cheaper in the moment, the long‑term….
As an engineer, I am often asked why I pay attention to the condominium markets throughout Maine or why I should be following the trends in condo design and maintenance practices. The answer is simple. It is because my clients care about these things as these matters can affect their net worth, their quality of….
At a neighborhood party I was approached by someone concerning exterior maintenance of his home in a nearby HOA community. The HOA requires owners to be responsible for all elements of their building and many of the buildings were experiencing water infiltration causing mold on drywall and other interior surfaces. He was aware I had….
There are many types of condos and HOAs, thus there are many types of dryer vent systems. Do you know how your vent system works or how it is cleaned? Clothes dryers may be one of the most dangerous appliances in the home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there are more than 15,000….
Recently I attended a gathering hosted by the owner of a new Portland condominium unit. I could not help overhearing a conversation between a young couple and the host concerning the couple’s first condo hunting experience. The couple could not understand their discovery of monthly condo fees ranging from $285 to over $1,000 for high-end….
If you are on the condo renovation committee or board of directors certain questions will always arise. Which siding product is best? Which roofing surface? What about the windows? What type of replacement deck boards should be selected? How should I choose? How can I make the best choice? We often hear these questions from….
All things fade then fail with time. Building facades are no different. Over the years, condos have had their exteriors clad with a wide range of materials including vinyl, wood, metal, EFIS, brick, stone, and engineered composites. But after 30 or 40 years their age begins to show in the form of water infiltration; thermal….
It is ironic, if not sad, that at the same time the James Webb Space Telescope is allowing us to view the stars and galaxies back to the beginning of time, from earth we can barely see the stars. This is not due to industrially polluted skies we have become complacent about but rather….