Southern Florida's homeowner associations may not have to deal with much in the way of snow and ice when it comes to protecting and repairing their concrete and stucco surfaces, but they certainly aren't off the hook just because blizz…
Warranties for products are simple to understand, most people might think. You go to the store, buy a computer or a DVD player or a TV, or even a larger appliance like a refrigerator, and you get a piece of paper describing a one-year …
Stretching south from Orlando, the Everglades are vital to sustaining Florida’s sensitive ecosystem. To this end, proper water management is critical to maintaining equilibrium for residents, vegetation and wildlife. In a climate like s…
Noise is a key quality-of-life problem for almost anyone living in a densely-packed urban environment. It's the bane of many a condo-dweller’s existence, and over the years engineers, architects, and designers have tried any number of w…
Among the many perils experienced by Floridians during the blackouts and hurricanes that swept the state in the middle of the last decade, non-functioning emergency systems in condominium buildings were a major problem. As a …
If your association is thinking about taking a more natural approach to its landscape, giving up toxic chemicals in favor of organic solutions, consider yourself special. According to Ian Orlikoff, owner of Eco Logic Land Care…
With the possible exception of fire, nothing is more damaging to residential buildings and the property of their occupants as leaks. Whether it’s a torrential deluge from the upstairs neighbor’s overflowing bathtub or a slow, seeping lea…
Thanks to its tropical climate, erratic weather changes are nothing new to Southern Florida residents. There are cold fronts from November through March, and if that’s not enough, the hurricane season is kind enough to coincide with the…
Florida does not have the harsh winters of the north, where thawing and freezing take their toll on concrete. But corrosion of concrete is an issue in South Florida, and homeowner associations need to ensure that the concrete making up …
As recently as the 1930’s, only 68 percent of American homes had electricity. By the middle of the last century however, most Americans enjoyed well-lighted homes, and the light had started to spread outdoors as well. Initially, yards a…