Tag Archive: ask our experts

Most New York City property owners and managers know that NYC Local Law 11/98, now called the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), requires an inspection of a building's facades every five years. The many aspects of the program, however, are...

New York City is known for its buildings, many of them steeped in history, culture, and architectural significance. Fortunately there are various groups and agencies dedicated to preserving the distinct character of such properties and sustaining the vibrancy they add...

In 2012, the New York City Department of Buildings implemented stricter requirements for Special Inspections to ensure that contractors perform construction work properly and that completed projects adhere to building code. Most repair and upgrade projects require Special Inspections, which...

When residents plan to renovate their apartments, it’s critical for the board to have the proposed alterations reviewed by an engineer or architect to determine if they will have any adverse effect on the building as a whole. In RAND’s...

Often what you can’t see in building can be more telling than what you can see. That’s the idea behind infrared thermography, a diagnostic tool used to monitor building conditions that can’t be identified in a visual-only survey. In RAND’s...

The roof is one of the most critical elements of a building in preventing leaks. Many property owners and managers will at some point find it necessary to replace the roof of their building to keep it watertight. In RAND’s...

To gain a better understanding of your building’s needs and how to best allocate short- and long-term expenditures, a physical condition survey is an invaluable tool. A survey report provides property owners with a comprehensive description of their building systems...

If there’s a construction site next to your building, you know firsthand the potential problems: Not only are there noise and dust, but you may also be facing facade cracks, shifted walls, deflected floors, foundation settling, and structural instability. In...