Condo buyers are advised to take extra precautions before buying a condo in Calgary. With the light being shed lately on the leaky condos problem in the city, many experts have provided useful insights on the issue, how to solve it and most importantly what buyers should consider before taking the plunge.
The problem is caused when water, penetrated through the exterior layer of the wall system, got trapped inside between the cladding and the sheathing, allowing mold to grow and causing wall components to disintegrate. The problem is fixable but very expensive, "you'll find that a building envelope technician as part of the building process will go a long way," says Greg Christenson, past president of the Canadian Homebuilders Association to the CBC News, " and increasingly you're seeing a requirement for what we call a rainscreen."
Rainscreen, simply put, is a technology that allows the building envelope to breathe by providing a small air gap ( usually 3/8 of an inch) between the cladding ( stucco, manufactured stone veneer, etc...) and the building paper/sheathing. This will help in the drying process by redistributing the water on the surface of the material.
Randy Smith, a building science engineer, says in an interview with CBS News that any one looking to buy a condo needs to consider the following:
- Has the building ever suffered any kind of water penetration? If yes, you need to know how it was repaired and by whom? Was it repaired in way that is going to be long term and durable?
When you're ready to buy or sell a condo in Calgary, we are your real estate agents of choice. As Certified Condominium Specialists Calgary Home Team agents are fully trained and experienced to provide both condo buyers and sellers with the best available service, take care of the large amount of work involved in this kind of transaction, and help clients understand and verify the condo documents needed to close the deal.Be sure to use our quick and easy search feature. We're the experts, and we're here to help you! Contact Calgary Home Team today for more information on how we can help you achieve your real estate goals at 403-519-9102 or via email.
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