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Exterior Building Systems   Maintenance  Being Proactive Is Key  BY A. J. SIDRANSKY  March 2021                  NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM  The efficiency and integrity of both façades and roofs are dependent   on the quality of their materials, installation, and regular upkeep and   maintenance.   Sidewalks, walkways, and other paved walking surfaces are criti-  cal to a property’s exterior structural health, whether in an urban   or suburban environment. Surfaces must pitch away from building   structures to prevent possible water and flooding damage that can   205 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10016 • CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED  continued on page 6   THE CONDO, HOA & CO-OP RESOURCE  CONDOMINIUM  NEW ENGLAND  You may have heard that thanks   to  cooperative corporations being in-  cluded in the new federal Stimulus Bill   passed at the end of December, residen-  tial co-ops can now obtain loans under   the Fed’s Paycheck Protection Program   (PPP). While this is fantastic news for   communities struggling with the ongo-  ing financial impacts of the pandemic, it   also raises lots of questions about appli-  cations, eligibility, and the rules around   how funds are to be disbursed and allo-  cated.   The Rules  The rules that govern co-ops’ eligibil-  ity have finally been released by the US   Small Business Administration (SBA).   Here’s an overview:  First, the window for co-ops to seek a   loan under the PPP is now open. In that   regard, the Consolidated Appropriations   Act, 2021 (the “Act”), signed into law on   December 27, 2020, included a second   round of PPP funding for those busi-  nesses who already got PPP funding —   now known as a First Draw Loan — in   the first round, and also permits a First   Draw Loan for any business (now in-  cluding co-ops,  but  not  condominiums   or homeowners associations) that did   not get a First Draw Loan originally.   Under the program, First Draw Loans   can presently be used to help fund pay-  roll costs, including employee benefits.   Funds can also be used to pay for mort-  gage interest, utilities, worker protection   costs related to COVID-19, uninsured   property damage costs caused by looting   or vandalism during 2020, and certain   supplier costs and operational expenses.   The board of any residential community has two prime directives: to maintain the financial   health of the association, and to maintain the structural health of the property.  Both require   a broad array of knowledge — much of which the average board member may not necessarily   possess. For that reason, most board members rely heavily on experts for guidance and counsel   in both areas — but in order to think critically about the needs of their building(s) and act pru-  dently on behalf of their constituents, boards should also have some baseline knowledge about   how their property is constructed, and the terms used to discuss it. In this piece, we’ll explore   some of the main exterior elements common to many associations.  Building Exteriors 101  Major multifamily exterior components include things like roofs, parapets, bulkheads, ex-  terior walls, balconies and terraces, windows and doors, retaining walls and fencing, sidewalks   and driveways, parking lots, and garages. The design and composition of these systems may be   different based on location, the age of the community, and construction type. So, urban high-  rise apartment buildings might be of concrete and steel construction with a glass or masonry   façade, while a suburban townhouse community or an HOA of single-family homes would   more likely be of wood construction. An apartment building would also likely have a different   type of roof than a wood-frame townhouse community.     No matter your board’s level of expertise otherwise, knowing the names and functions of   basic exterior elements helps a lot when it comes time to discuss any maintenance or repair   work. For example:    The façade of a building provides structural integrity, creates a waterproof envelope around   the property, and is a key factor in both a building’s energy efficiency (or inefficiency) and code   compliance.    The roof serves a similar purpose as the façade does, topping off the building and provid-  ing structural integrity, protection from the elements, and energy efficiency and compliance.   Co-ops and the   Paycheck Protection   Program  A Window to Obtain PPP   Loans Opens   BY MARC H. SCHNEIDER, ESQ.    Who Does What?  Using HOA Staff vs. Calling   in a Pro for Exterior    Maintenance and Inspections  BY A J SIDRANSKY  continued on page 6   Exterior maintenance and repair   are some of the most extensive—and   expensive—work that a condo, HOA,   or co-op will undertake; they’re also   unavoidable. So when planning such a   project, two important factors should   be considered: The first is the scope of   the work, and the second is who should   do it. These are really two sides of the   same coin, since the scope of the work   may actually determine who should do   it. Safety is another key consideration.   The inherent dangers involved with cer-  tain types of maintenance — roof work   for example, or anything else done on   a scaffold—warrant particular planning   and expertise. No association, board,   or  management  organization  wants  to   put  someone’s  life  or  safety  at  risk  for   the sake of window cleaning or repoint-  ing some brickwork, and no one wants   to increase possible liability for the as-  sociation — so let’s look at how these   kinds of projects are best handled from   the start to maximize efficiency while   minimizing risk.   Qualifications Are Key  “I just had this conversation this   week with the board members of a con-  dominium property we manage,” says   Scott Wolf, CEO of Brigs LLC, a prop-  erty management firm based in Mas-  sachusetts. Maintenance employees in a   given building or association have vary-  ing levels of experience and qualifica-  tion, he stresses, and “if they are quali-  fied to do the specific work,” says Wolf,   “they should do it. If they aren’t, they   shouldn’t. In this specific case, the as-  sociation wanted someone to do a roof   inspection. The person they chose was a   maintenance guy — but he wasn’t quali-  fied, so it wasn’t safe for him to be on   the roof.”  Wolf explains that  different  job ti-  tles indicate respective levels of exper-  tise with exterior and building systems   maintenance. For example, generally   speaking,  a  facilities  manager  is  quali-  fied to carry out an array of inspections,   continued on page 8


































































































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