One of the primary issues in building science is the study of how moisture damages buildings and reduces the quality of life of its inhabitants. Moisture penetration can cause mold, rot, and interior damage. Serious moisture problems and their cure are often hard to solve as the physics of air flow, dew points, and vapor….
Like people, no two condos are the same. Establishing methods of managing all types of condos by the same rules and standards is fruitless. A 40-year-old high-rise condo on the beach in York County needs a different maintenance plan than a community of new wood-framed duplexes in Franklin County. Following the collapse of the Champion….
Martha Page recently joined Criterium Engineers as a Project Engineer. She’s working primarily in the Homeowner Association (HOA) business segment services, such as reserve studies and transition studies. She belongs to an HOA and is familiar with that market. She also continues to work as a licensed real estate agent. Martha is a Maine Maritime….
Lighting Safety – Exterior Lighting Plans and Considerations Maine is blessed with a special quality of life. It does not have the crime rates and urban violence found in some parts of the country, but some condominium and homeowner associations still recognize a need for security tools such as key fobs, Ring doorbell systems, cameras,….
With winter approaching, I am often asked what cold-weather planning the building committee should be considering. Surprise is expressed when I suggest the condominium’s attics and their venting. It is true an attic only needs one tenth the ventilation in the winter than in the summer to control moisture buildup and temperature, but the wintertime….
Emerging technology and innovation are continually transforming the building construction inspection process. Criterium Engineers evaluates and adopts appropriate new technologies to provide additional knowledge and information for our clients. Two inspection innovations in particular—the use of drones and thermal imaging—have been change drivers for Criterium Engineers in recent years, reaching areas that were previously unattainable….
Tackling Condo Projects Of course, this is a play on the title of the popular Netflix movie Don’t Look Up, starring an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Lawrence. So, what does this Top 10 ranked film by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute have to do with condo….
Analyze Cost and Replacement Options When was the last time you hired a contractor? When was the last time you checked construction material costs? You are in for a shock. With a shortage in skilled workers, supply chain uncertainty, and inflationary pressure on petroleum products (shingles, underlayment, etc.), just finding a contractor willing to commit….
A differentiating factor when working with Criterium Engineers on a reserve study or other homeowner association (HOA) project is that our licensed, Professional Engineers conduct the work and are always available to answer questions—long after the work is completed. Now, an additional differentiator is being introduced that will have long-term impacts for HOA boards and….
Addressing the Reality Since brick masonry exterior facades are supposed to have useful lives of 100 years or more, a prevalent myth is masonry facades are virtually maintenance free, needing little discussion by the condo board, and a rare cost item in reserve fund studies. In reality, masonry maintenance is discussed often with a great….