A Reserve Study is a budget-planning tool used by Homeowners Associations that identifies the current status of the Reserve Fund and establishes a stable and equitable funding plan to offset anticipated common-area expenditures. They contain an evaluation of property condition and serve as an indispensable tool in projecting costs and managing Reserve accounts. A quality Reserve….
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Fire Safety Checklist
Did you know that a general safety check is included in our Standard Home Inspection? Your engineer will look for safety issues such as handrails, egress windows, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, etc. While this is not considered a code inspection or an official fire/safety inspection, it will provide you with a lot of information….
Building Envelope Maintenance, An Organized Approach
What is there to do during a winter in New England? Certainly snow sports, a good book, or dreams of spring golf are all excellent pursuits. However, for the chairperson of a condominium maintenance committee, winter is a good time to be planning building envelope repairs. The building envelope comprises the roof, siding, and foundation,….
Turn the Water Tank Temperature Up or Down? It’s a Hot Question.
Is your hot water safe? It’s not as simple of a question as you might think! Too hot and you can be seriously burned. Not hot enough and your hot water may harbor dangerous bacteria. What is the “correct” temperature at which to set a water heater? The question is more complicated and more debated than you….
Tools to Use After Your Home Inspection
A home inspection can be overwhelming, your inspector just pointed out every flaw in your dream house and now you’re left wondering if you should run for the hills! When you work with a Criterium-Lalancette & Dudka engineer, we are here for you from start to finish and well into the duration of your home….
Exciting News!
After 30 years Criterium- Lalancette Engineers has been acquired by the Massachusetts affiliate Criterium- Dudka Engineers. As of March 1, 2019, the new entity will be known as Criterium-Lalancette & Dudka Engineers. Richard Lalancette, Founding President of Criterium-Lalancette Engineers states, “I am excited both personally and for the staff by the infusion of fresh energy….
The Many Faces of Siding
Is all siding the same? Of course not! Choosing the right siding is more than just color, design, aesthetics, and curb appeal; durability is also very important, as well as energy efficiency. When it comes time to sell the property, the right siding can up the resale value as well. Siding acts as a barrier….
Basement Water Can Be Managed
If a house has a basement water problem, digging around the foundation, which can be an expensive and back breaking undertaking, is not necessarily a required first step to diagnosing the problem. In an existing home, how the foundation perimeter was completed is not always known. Acquiring the “as built” plans of the home from the….
Safe and Effective Wood Stoves
There are several important safety considerations that must go hand in hand with the use of solid fuel (coal and wood) stoves. These stoves are responsible for many fires every year. In some parts of the country, wood and coal stoves are the number one cause of house fires. In general, when properly used, coal….