Capital Upgrades & Retrofits
CAO releases report on state of reserve funds
The Condominium Authority of Ontario has released preliminary findings on the state of reserve funds and owners’ awareness of their importance.
Managing water leaks 101
The causes of water leaks are often related to materials, installation, maintenance and operational issues.
Tips for hiring independent contractors
With costs on the rise, many condominiums are choosing to retain independent contractors to provide superintendent and/or cleaning service.
Keeping plumbing maintenance from plummeting
As time and usage take its toll, plumbing systems deteriorate and improper and deferred maintenance lead to disastrous results.
The intricacies of EV infrastructure remain at odds with condo legislation
The electric vehicle landscape is complex, ever-changing and at the cutting edge of technology. For condominium corporations and their owners, this means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
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.
Reducing embodied carbon in capital projects
Condo owners now have the opportunity to understand the embodied carbon impacts of capital replacements work at their buildings.
Access to units for common element work
What if access is required through a residential unit to perform common element maintenance or repairs to the building in general?
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.
A guide to understanding noise in condos
Resolving noise complaints requires an understanding of how sound moves through a building and the obligations of a condominium.
Unintended consequences in capital repair planning
Capital repair planning in the condominium market is a crucial aspect of maintaining and improving aging buildings. However, it is essential to recognize that decisions made in this process can have unintended consequences.
The impact of minimum wage increases
This minimum wage increase is larger than most in recent history, second only to that imposed on January 1, 2018.
Actuaries garner new insight into condo finances
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ latest insight statement on the longevity of condo infrastructure explores several risks.
Putting HVAC maintenance in the spotlight
What HVAC contractors do, or don’t do, during maintenance has a significant impact on the repairs, service calls and utilities consumed by mechanical equipment.
‘Windows’ of opportunity for home retrofits
In low-rise homes, including condos, up to 35 per cent of heated air can be lost through the windows during the heating season.
Ontario offers bonus incentives for retrofits
Bonus incentives for energy efficiency upgrades will be available to select commercial and multifamily landlords and condominium corporations in Ontario during the second and third quarters of 2023.
Rethinking staffing models amid a labour shortage
How new staffing solutions could improve a property manager’s working conditions and ease the labour shortage.