Criterium Engineers
Let's Caulk
Perhaps by now the March wind-driven weather has convinced the Board it has water infiltration problems, not to mention air infiltration issues. Interior gypsum board ceilings and walls are starting to stain; floors are beginning to get wet and warp; and unit owners are complaining of mold formation. Often the answer is not façade re-siding or a new roof surface but rather a need for new caulk.
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Recovering from Hurricane Sandy; It's More than Just Cleaning Up
In the wake of the damage and flooding of Hurricane Sandy, Criterium Engineers encourages residents, homeowners, condo/apartment owners, and commercial property owners to have a th
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Recovering from Hurricane Sandy; It's More than Just Cleaning Up
In the wake of the damage and flooding of Hurricane Sandy, Criterium Engineers encourages residents, homeowners, condo/apartment owners, and commercial property owners to have a thorough inspection, especially as winter advances.
Criterium Engineers are assessing the clean up for Hurricane Sandy. President of Criterium Engineers, Alan Mooney, P.E.says the devastation is still a shock but cautions commercial and residential property owners to consistently document damage as much as possible.
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Road Weary
If you have a major paving job for your condo complex, it is best not to wait till the last minute. Now is the time to plan and get your best prices before spring has sprung.
When it comes to paving projects, often the Board needs an education on the paving issues and options available. There is a lot of misinformation out there. There is no better way to have a meeting’s agenda go astray than when no one knows the difference between or benefits of seal coating and a binder top.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
The Inflation Dilemma
Inflation is something we’ve not paid much attention to for many years. Since the 1980s, inflation has averaged almost negligible amounts in most years. Furthermore, we’ve grown used to making investments that approximate or at least keep us ahead of inflation based on our rate of return. Those days may be over.
Divergence of Indices
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Building Envelope Commissioning
Building Commissioning is defined as “a quality-oriented process for achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of facilities, systems, and assemblies meets defined objectives a
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Specifications - Key to a Successful Job
Managing a capital budget and expenditures for a community association involves greater responsibility and risk than it does for one’s own home. This edition of Common Foundations addresses some of those differences and ways to control the process to assure a positive outcome.
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Energy Performance Ratings
Buildings consume 40% of our total energy requirement (heating, cooling, lighting).
The idea of rating building energy performance has been around for many years.
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Fire! How Safe Are You In Your Home?
The following information has been compiled from several credible sources including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).While for many years there have been two levels of fire protection available for your home, now there are three!
Smoke and fire alarms Fire extinguishers Fire sprinklers
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Home Security
Feeling safe at home is important. While some crime statistics are declining, media coverage of acts of violence and vandalism increases our concerns about the safety of our families and ourselves. Busy families with chaotic schedules add to the concern as one may be returning home alone, late at night.
If you want to increase the security of your home, what can you do?
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Home Security Checklist
Use this as a guide as you check your home for safety measures.Boxes marked “No” indicate areas where you could take action to improve your home’s security.These are just some of the steps you can take to decrease the likelihood that you or your home is targeted.
Exterior DoorsYes
No
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Energy Star
ENERGY STAR is a program first introduced by the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) in 1992. It is designed to save energy. While many people relate the name to the energy-efficient performance of individual appliances, lighting and equipment (heating, cooling and water heating), the ENERGY STAR program actually is designed to rate the performance of an entire home.
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Real Estate or Wheel Estate?
Is it modular, manufactured or mobile? Or…is it pre-cut, pre-fab or panelized? Or…is it site built or stick built? Or…is it a trailer?
And what regulations apply, if any? Previously, we discussed building codes and addressed some common myths and misunderstandings. Building codes, when they do exist, apply primarily to homes built on-site. But there are other types of homes to consider as well.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Building Codes - Myths and Realities
What is a building code? Is it a law? Or a guideline? Or a voluntary standard?
What do building codes mean to my home?
Perhaps you will find it useful to review how building codes affect your home, both the theory and the reality.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Security - It's Important; But At What Cost?
Since September 11, 2001, we have become a much more security-conscious nation. We expect better lighting in parking lots and walkways, prefer living in communities with controlled access, and lock our cars and houses more frequently. And we are installing security systems at a record-breaking rate. Companies installing security systems have been one of the fastestgrowing types of businesses in recent years. That’s probably a good thing.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Eight Ways You Can Save Energy!
It's not that hard, really!! If you have an existing home and want to reduce your energy bills, here are eight ways to do that. They are simple and basic because that's what energy saving is – simple and basic. If you read the latest Green Building guidelines published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), you will find that building an energy-efficient home is a very big part of getting a Green Building rating.
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Your Roof: Eight Things to Consider
If your house is like most in this country built in the last 50 years, it probably has a sloped roof with one of the following roofing materials:
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Water - The First H in H2O (Part 1 of 2)
Water – it’s as important to our survival as air. We assume there is an unlimited supply of quality water, or maybe we just never really think much about it; it’s just there when we turn on the faucet.
But we can’t take it for granted. The supply of quality water in our world is limited, and we should take that seriously.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Water - The Second H in H2O (Part 2 of 2)
Water — it's as important to our survival as air. We assume there is an unlimited supply of quality water, or maybe we just never really think much about it; it's just there when we turn on the faucet.
But we can't take it for granted: the supply of quality water in our world is limited and we should take that seriously.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Wood-Destroying Insects
Except for the most northern states, wood-destroying insects are a concern to homeowners. Why? Because they are "wood destroying" and most of our homes are built with wood. They will eat your house!
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