LATEST INSIGHTS

To keep the dust down during a hardwood floor removal, the installer poured water onto the floor. The result? Water penetrated the floor assembly, causing damage to the suite below and turning a routine renovation into a costly insurance claim. Takeaway: Experience isn't just about doing the job—it's about understanding the building you're working in and implementing effective building maintenance practices. Need an experienced second opinion on property management and water damage prevention? Michael David Thompson provides practical consulting for strata corporations, property managers, and residential communities.

Sometimes, the smallest components can lead to the biggest issues in building maintenance. This leaking shower cartridge wasn’t due to the cartridge itself; rather, a brittle O-ring had simply reached the end of its life. By proactively replacing aging cartridges before they fail—and applying a bit of plumber's silicone grease during installation—you can enhance water damage prevention and extend the lifespan of the seals. Takeaway: A few minutes of preventative maintenance today can save property management thousands in repairs tomorrow.

Did you know that Canada Post may install a parcel locker and community mailbox in eligible condominium buildings at no cost? For many buildings, this is an effective strategy for improving parcel security and enhancing overall building maintenance, which ultimately reduces missed deliveries and makes life easier for residents. Good property management isn't always about spending money; sometimes it involves discovering the right solutions, such as implementing systems for water damage prevention and efficient parcel delivery.

Most residents never notice them, but rooftop safety anchors are a critical part of ensuring the safety of window washers and maintenance workers while they perform building maintenance at height. These anchors support fall protection systems and should be inspected and certified annually by qualified professionals to ensure they remain safe and compliant. It's one of those essential maintenance tasks that residents rarely see—yet it plays a key role in property management by protecting the people who maintain our buildings every day and aiding in water damage prevention. Takeaway: The best safety programs are the ones you never have to think about.

Water is the single biggest enemy of any condominium building. On July 7, 2022, a washing machine supply line failed in one suite, sending water into 11 homes. It took until May of the following year to complete all the necessary building maintenance repairs, with dozens of trades working in and out of the property for months. The photo shows a nylon-braided rubber supply line that failed after only three years. Heat from the adjacent discharge hose had slowly weakened the material until it eventually gave way. For washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, and faucets, I strongly recommend stainless steel braided supply lines. They are inexpensive, readily available, and provide a much greater level of protection than rubber lines, which is essential for effective water damage prevention. Takeaway: A $20 supply line can prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in water damage.

While our P1 parkade membrane replacement project continues, work is also underway on our third-floor podium membrane replacement. Once the old membrane was removed, years of hidden deterioration were uncovered—water trapped beneath the membrane, tree roots growing through drains, and irrigation lines obstructed by root intrusion. These are precisely the types of issues that can affect building maintenance and typically remain invisible until the surface is opened up. Left unaddressed, they can lead to leaks, structural deterioration, and significantly higher costs for repairs. This emphasizes the importance of proactive property management and water damage prevention: the most significant building problems are often the ones you can't see.