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Removing Rust Stains
It’s hard to find a building today without concrete surfaces stained by rust. Rust stains can adversely transform the aesthetics of a beautiful building. How can rust stains be removed? Let’s find out! Once rust staining has occurred, it is important to remove the stains without altering the color or finish texture of the concrete. […]
Off To A Good Start!
In order to get your next roofing project off to a good start, be it minor repair or total replacement, the following is a list of items to discuss with your contractor to help ensure both parties are on the same page prior to starting the work. Reviewing some of these key items prior to […]
To Caulk or Not to Caulk?
Applying caulk to stop leaks is not always a good thing. Sometimes it makes matters worse by trapping water in the building façade instead of letting it drain. Here are a few areas where NOT to caulk: *Along window or door head lintels on brick facades – leads to advanced corrosion of the steel support […]
Planning For a Tenant Build-out?
When renovating your building or planning for a new tenant build-out, there are some code issues you might want to keep in mind. Most jurisdictions require a percentage of construction cost be allocated to upgrading the accessible route to the altered space. Many times this involves modifying the existing restroom facilities. Some ways to do this are: […]
Installing Linoleum on Concrete Floors
Installing linoleum or similar covering directly on concrete floors can be problematic if there is moisture in the slab. This is especially a concern with on grade slabs where there may be moisture under the slab that can permeate upward. Linoleum and similar floor coverings act as a barrier that can cause moisture to be trapped […]
Levels of Building Studies
Engineering studies fall into a number of categories, from general condition surveys (such as reserve studies and pre-purchase inspections) to problem-solving investigations and forensic examinations. Within those categories, there are generally three (3) levels of need. Preliminary Study Often a client simply needs a quick, visual review in order to confirm that certain issues exist […]
Wood Deck Collapse
A heightened concern over residential wood deck failures has become prevalent with the recent collapses in the DC – Baltimore area and with the arrival of warm weather. https://wtop.com/howard-county/2018/09/8-injured-after-deck-collapses-in-ellicott-city/slide/2/ https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2019/05/deck-collapse-in-germantown-md-injures-at-least-2-adults/slide/1/ Several hundred injuries occur each year due to deck collapses according to published statistics. So, this is not a new phenomenon. The Building Code and […]
Buying A Condo Part 3 – New Vs. Old
There’s something inherently appealing about buying something brand new, but newer isn’t always better, especially in construction. A dishearteningly large portion of our work involves problems in new buildings, ranging from shoddy workmanship to new technologies that don’t live up to expectations. One advantage to buying a unit in an older building is history. Inherent […]
Things To Look For When Buying A Condo-Part 1
Physical Inspection When you buy a condominium you’re also buying into the building that encloses it, as well as every other building in the association and everything else intended for common (and limited common) use. You’ll be paying to operate, maintain, repair, and (when the time comes) replace them. With that in mind, it would […]
Removing Rust Stains From Concrete
It’s hard to find a building today without concrete surfaces stained by rust. Rust stains can adversely transform the aesthetics of a beautiful building. How can rust stains be removed? Let’s find out! Once rust staining has occurred, it is important to remove the stains without altering the color or finish texture of the concrete. […]
No Need For A Hazmat Suit
This is not a radioactive fluid spill! We just used a fluorescent green biodegradable dye to see if water was flowing under, rather then through the culvert. It turned out that water was flowing under the pipe through the gravel setting bed. We have more dye left if you need to know where water is […]
Birds Of A Feather
Alfred Hitchcock had bird issues (especially seagulls), but in the Baltimore-Washington area, the most common pest birds are pigeons, house sparrows, and starlings. These birds are undesirable if they land, roost, and nest on or in our buildings because they bring unwanted noise, odor, and often disease. Plus, no one likes their deck, patio, lawn […]