Building deficiencies
Building deficiencies are caused by defects during the initial
construction and by the board skipping on maintenance and repairs to keep the fees
low.
Water
leaks
Of all the building deficiencies, the most serious is water leaks.
Water penetration problems can seep into the building from the roof,
windows, balconies, pin holes in aging hot water pipes or through the
exterior brickwork, stucco or pre-cast concrete walls.
Water leaks in the underground parking garage can result in very
expensive repairs and the longer the corporation takes in repairing the
defects, the more expensive it gets.
Noise
issues
A lot of newer condos have noise and fume penetration problems.
Some of the problems are due to an increase in studio and one-bedroom
units. Builders separate these units with drywall instead of the far more expensive solid concrete
walls.
People can hear their neighbours talking on the phone, opening and
closing bathroom drawers and the men urinating in the toilet.
If your neighbours love to have their TV or stereo turned up, you will
suffer, especially when the bass pounds through the walls.
Elevators
There seems to never be enough elevators but when you have a
thirty-storey condo with only three elevators, it is a serious
concern when one of them is out of order for months. If the building
has four elevators, one can be out of service for a couple of years
before many of the residents notice it.
Broken
fire doors
Some buildings have fire doors and garbage chutes that do not close properly. The board
is saving money by violating the fire code.
Crumbling
concrete
Concrete
sidewalks, stairs and asphalt driveways need to be maintained. Holes,
large cracks and broken stairs are safety hazards that cause a lot of
trip and fall accidents.
Burnt-out
light bulbs
Burnt-out light bulbs in the hallways, staircases and parking garages
are both safety hazards and a sign of neglect.
Worn
out carpets
Worn out carpets, dirty hallways or graffiti on the walls are a
depressing things to walk into after a putting in a day at work. There
are some owners who will not invite friends and relatives over to their
homes because of deplorable common elements.
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