Page 12 - New England Condominium March 2022

12 NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM -MARCH 2022 NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM Building EnvelopeYour Restoration Specialists Since 1981, Alpha Weatherproofing Corp. has served building owners and property managers throughout New England with comprehensive weatherproofing and building envelope restoration services. AFTER BEFORE • Concrete Restoration • Façade Inspection & Repair Specialty Coatings • Masonry Restoration • Sealant Removal & Replacement • Parking Garage Repair & Traffic Coatings • Historic Restoration • • Waterproofing Systems • Roofing & Roof Maintenance • Structural Repairs • Emergency Repairs 617-628-8888 www.weatherproofing.net • Request a free consultation • View projects • Sign up for our e-newsletter ddlevy@roofmaxx.com 5 0 8 -4 4-4 7 66 3 DON’T REPLACE YOUR ROOF… REJUVENATE IT WITH ROOF MAXX! DAL CPA David A. Levy, CPA, P.C. Certified Public Accountants Areas of expertise in Condominiums ■ Cooperatives ■ Timeshares ALL COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPMENTS Call our office for a complimentary review of your financial needs 617-566-3645 or 866-842-0108 20 Freeman Place, Needham, MA 02492 DavidALevy_E4C_NEC_Sept15:Layout 1 10/7/2015 3:54 PM Page 1 SERVICING THE EAST COAST FOR OVER 30 YEARS Member AICPA, CAI-NE www.DALCPAPC.net dlevy@dalcpapc.net or other materials to their former attrac- tiveness. Noblin notes that many archi- tects—particularly historic preservation- ists—view pressure washing as too harsh for many basic building materials, but says that “the pressure washing process is much better these days, and gentler than it used to be. In the hands of the right contractor, it is very affordable and has little adverse effect, so more profession- als are getting comfortable with it. It’s much less expensive than a new paint job covering an entire community, or replac- ing the clapboard with aluminum siding.” Other Façade Types Much of what may need maintenance, how often, and at what cost, is deter- mined by what materials façades are constructed of. “Brick is pretty hardy stuff,” says Gaynor, “but aluminum and glass age, especially if they are facing the water. Terracotta, limestone, and cast stone are softer than brick, but ultimately their needs rest on the individual variety of stone.” Overall, he says there is little that can be done to ‘polish’ these buildings. “Grime is tough to re- move. You ba- sically have to wait for rain to remove it,” and in the end, the effort may not be worth the cost. “If a building is kept up prop- erly,” says Gaynor, “the wear and tear of urban grime isn’t enough to really affect curb appeal.” In other words, it kind of goes with the territory. And the territory today also includes the effects of climate change. Gaynor points out that just the increase in ex- treme weather events alone causes more and faster deterioration of building exte- riors. “We even see dust and soot from the fires in California,” he points out. The added effects of water damage are more evident with window systems than with façades. Acid rain is another climate change problem, points out Noblin, particularly on the East Coast. It can damage mate- rials, especially if it’s the result of coal- burning power plants. It combines with rain and storms, and it has a deteriorat- ing effect on metal, stone, and painted wooden surfaces. Windows & Roofs “Windows need a lot of maintenance,” says Gaynor. “Glass can become pitted, and the units don’t open and close as well over time. Aluminum ages, and glass ages—especially if it’s near or facing wa- ter with high salt content.” He notes that window replacement is usually a build- ing-wide project, and rarely done by in- dividual owners, even when moving into a unit. There are many reasons for this, including economies of scale in purchas- ing new window units and the scale of labor needed for the job. Roofs, obviously, are also subject to the harshness of outdoor exposure. Par- ticularly in the Northeast, asphalt roof- ing is very common. In New England, it was the preferred roofing material in the 1980s, when many HOA communities were built. These shingles, made from petroleum byproduct, dry out over time, causing warping, cracking, and shrink- age that will eventually require repair and/or replacement. That process can be both difficult and expensive. Until recently, the useful life of shin- gles—and by extension, the roofs on which they’re installed—was typically 20 to 30 years. However, these days, tech- nology has once again come to the res- cue with a new product that can lengthen the life of an asphalt tile roof. “Today we find that roofs are failing prematurely in many parts of the country,” says David Levy, a Massachusetts-based franchisee of Roof Maxx, a proprietary product and process that can be applied to existing roofs to defend them from further damage and extend their life. “Part of the reason for this failure is climate change,” Levy adds. “We now see roofs re- quiring replacement in as little as 15 years.” This reduced durability is attribut- able in part to a change in the way that shingles are made. Today, shingle manu- facturers put less liquid asphalt in their shingles than in years past, and instead add limestone. With less lubricant in their composition, the shingles are dete- riorating faster and just don’t last as long. According to Levy, Roof Maxx is “kind of like a cross between a sunscreen and a version of Oil of Olay for your roof. It’s sprayed on to literally rejuvenate your roof by putting back the suppleness roof tiles require.” Levy adds that the product is made from soybeans and is also envi- ronmentally friendly. Preparing the Community To say the least, any or all of these projects can affect the daily life of any community. It’s critical that the board and management prepare residents for what’s ahead, be it a long or short job, critical repair work, or simply a neces- sary precaution. No matter the scale or urgency, “good communication is the key,” says Noblin. “Up to two years in advance of starting any major project, residents should be alerted and educated, so they understand what is happening and what will happen.” In the end, proper maintenance and an eye toward long-term planning are the “Today we find that roofs are failing prematurely in many parts of the country.” — David Levy MAINTAINING... continued from page 10