Weather, Delays, and Draw Inspections: How Commercial Projects Stay On Track
May 7, 2025
A project’s ability to adapt is what ultimately determines consistent success, whether navigating weather delays or budget changes.
A project’s ability to adapt is what ultimately determines consistent success, whether navigating weather delays or budget changes.
Thermal imaging is being used more in commercial inspections, so let’s discuss how to use it to your benefit!
Answering the call for housing everywhere, 2024 was truly the year of multi-family properties, as over 500,000 new units were completed by the end of December. While 2025 may see a slight step back in completions, 2 million new apartments are arriving on the market by 2028.
There are a few features common to commercial buildings that are a rarity in the residential sector – features that have their own benefits and their own drawbacks. Today, let’s discuss one of those features that are nearly ubiquitous on commercial properties. That feature? Flat roofs.
Access to affordable housing has been an ongoing issue all across North America, and communities everywhere have been searching for their own solutions. In New York City, an attempt to address this problem has led to widespread debate and plenty of tension. That attempt? New zoning laws. To be a bit more specific, New York City has a regulation known as the Floor-Area-Ratio cap (or “FAR” cap) which restricts the maximum height of new residential construction within certain areas of the city, like the historic Hell’s Kitchen. We’ve previously discussed how developers have started to convert empty office buildings into apartments in order to add housing opportunities but NYC’s FAR cap might be limiting creative solutions like this. Spectators to this discussion may find themselves wondering if these zoning laws are such a hindrance, why were they put in place originally? And if some zoning laws are only a thorn in the sides of developers, investors, and the average renter, how have they lasted this long? Let’s discuss! What are Zoning Laws?Broadening the discussion for just a second, let’s dive into a few definitions and some background information on zoning laws. To simplify, zoning laws are the rules and restrictions
For every house, condominium, industrial complex, hotel, and convenience store, the number one source of concern is the same: water intrusion. Water has a terrible knack for worming its way indoors, finding or causing even the most miniscule cracks that grow and compromise a building’s integrity. Though it may sound surprising, architects and engineers have spent countless hours over the years designing ways to keep water where it belongs and protect occupants from health hazards like mold. Of all the features of water management that buildings have, none face the same relentless assault as exterior siding. EIFS synthetic stucco is one type of siding that has become increasingly common for commercial properties, but property owners who have investigated this exterior wall system may have encountered some alarming stories. So, what’s the deal? Should property owners with EIFS exterior walls be worried? Should investors looking to expand their portfolios steer clear of properties with EIFS? Let’s discuss! What is EIFS Stucco?EIFS stands for Exterior Insulation and Finish System and refers to a type of exterior siding that gained prominence throughout North America after World War II. Similar to traditional stucco, EIFS is composed of multiple layers and offers similar aesthetic and
As Bob Dylan once said: the times, they are a-changin.’ For office spaces, this means contending with the demands of remote workers. For warehousing, this means balancing the demands of a growing e-commerce industry with a normalizing retail sector. Factors that ripple out and affect many different facets of life certainly have their own touch on commercial real estate, but in an industry that’s frequently criticized as slow to adapt to the newest technologies, maybe the times are bringing more changes to CRE in 2024 than ever before. Proptech is a catch-all term referring to the cross section of new technologies with residential and commercial real estate. While some tech integrations with the every-day of property management and the buying/selling process have streamlined the commercial real estate industry already, some are looking at the residential proptech seen in smart homes and speculating at the eye-popping changes sure to come soon. Today, let’s review a few of those types of proptech that are creating waves in CRE in 2024! Virtual Tours and 3D Floor PlansIn general, proptech that’s been gaining popularity in CRE are the types that cut down drastically on wasted time, and a few techniques that are great at
As property managers and business owners, whether you’re running an office space, a hotel, or an apartment complex, setting a good first impression is important when it comes to bringing in new customers and quality tenants. We’ve already talked about things like landscaping and parking lot maintenance, which are essentials for putting a property’s best foot forward. Additionally, public art continues to be a powerful way to make a splash within the community and increase curb appeal. Still, when it comes to making a statement on a business’ culture there is perhaps nothing as impactful as a clean, professional entryway. Building owners want visitors to be impressed and instilled with confidence when they first walk in the door – not to be inclined to reconsider their options. The good news is that keeping an entryway up to snuff doesn’t have to break the bank. Follow these quick points to help secure high-quality tenants and attract more customers! Entrance Mats are an Unsung PowerhouseWhen picturing how you want your entryway to look, it’s important to consider all that this area needs to accomplish. Not only does your entry need to look good, it also needs to handle a large amount of
Moving into a new home is an exciting moment, but handling the logistics of each step can be a handful. When moving into a luxury home, it’s important to order a comprehensive home inspection for every purchase, but finding a professional equipped to do the job isn’t always so simple. If you’re struggling to find the right professional to perform a luxury home inspection, opting for someone with a background in commercial property inspections should be a top requirement. Luxury home inspections may have more in common with a commercial inspection than a standard home inspection due to a number of factors, including the property’s size, unique systems, and amenities, which are often modeled after commercial locations. To dive more into why commercial inspectors should be your go-to contact, let’s discuss a bit more about the process of a luxury home inspection. Why is it Important to Get a Luxury Home Inspection?Every homebuyer, whether they are purchasing a new or historic home, should always order a home inspection before closing. Homes experience a natural wear and tear over time that owners tend to ignore or overlook until these problems lead to major expenses or even safety hazards. On top of
Attracting and retaining high caliber tenants is the primary goal for every successful commercial property owner. But for these owners and their property managers, their additional responsibility to keep visitors and occupants safe necessitates an emphasis on maintenance. Increasingly, drivers are adopting risky driving habits within parking lots which are made even more dangerous by maintenance issues like large potholes, ineffective lighting, and inefficient traffic direction. According to the National Safety Council, 66% of drivers say that they are comfortable with making phone calls while driving in parking lots, among many other attention-diverting activities. In order to keep a parking lot appealing and safe, here are a few maintenance standards that every property owner and manager should consider. What Causes Parking Lot Deterioration?Any features that are forced to withstand direct impact from exterior elements are bound to experience routine wear and tear. For commercial properties, which are much larger and more complex than residential lots, this means a wider space to manage and monitor. In climates that experience excessive water and seasons of mounting snow, moisture that seeps into the parking surfaces can cause cracks to expand, potholes to develop, and further deterioration of materials. In general, concrete is more
A project’s ability to adapt is what ultimately determines consistent success, whether navigating weather delays or budget changes.
Thermal imaging is being used more in commercial inspections, so let’s discuss how to use it to your benefit!
Answering the call for housing everywhere, 2024 was truly the year of multi-family properties, as over 500,000 new units were completed by the end of December. While 2025 may see a slight step back in completions, 2 million new apartments are arriving on the market by 2028.
There are a few features common to commercial buildings that are a rarity in the residential sector – features that have their own benefits and their own drawbacks. Today, let’s discuss one of those features that are nearly ubiquitous on commercial properties. That feature? Flat roofs.
Access to affordable housing has been an ongoing issue all across North America, and communities everywhere have been searching for their own solutions. In New York City, an attempt to address this problem has led to widespread debate and plenty of tension. That attempt? New zoning laws. To be a bit more specific, New York City has a regulation known as the Floor-Area-Ratio cap (or “FAR” cap) which restricts the maximum height of new residential construction within certain areas of the city, like the historic Hell’s Kitchen. We’ve previously discussed how developers have started to convert empty office buildings into apartments in order to add housing opportunities but NYC’s FAR cap might be limiting creative solutions like this. Spectators to this discussion may find themselves wondering if these zoning laws are such a hindrance, why were they put in place originally? And if some zoning laws are only a thorn in the sides of developers, investors, and the average renter, how have they lasted this long? Let’s discuss! What are Zoning Laws?Broadening the discussion for just a second, let’s dive into a few definitions and some background information on zoning laws. To simplify, zoning laws are the rules and restrictions
For every house, condominium, industrial complex, hotel, and convenience store, the number one source of concern is the same: water intrusion. Water has a terrible knack for worming its way indoors, finding or causing even the most miniscule cracks that grow and compromise a building’s integrity. Though it may sound surprising, architects and engineers have spent countless hours over the years designing ways to keep water where it belongs and protect occupants from health hazards like mold. Of all the features of water management that buildings have, none face the same relentless assault as exterior siding. EIFS synthetic stucco is one type of siding that has become increasingly common for commercial properties, but property owners who have investigated this exterior wall system may have encountered some alarming stories. So, what’s the deal? Should property owners with EIFS exterior walls be worried? Should investors looking to expand their portfolios steer clear of properties with EIFS? Let’s discuss! What is EIFS Stucco?EIFS stands for Exterior Insulation and Finish System and refers to a type of exterior siding that gained prominence throughout North America after World War II. Similar to traditional stucco, EIFS is composed of multiple layers and offers similar aesthetic and
As Bob Dylan once said: the times, they are a-changin.’ For office spaces, this means contending with the demands of remote workers. For warehousing, this means balancing the demands of a growing e-commerce industry with a normalizing retail sector. Factors that ripple out and affect many different facets of life certainly have their own touch on commercial real estate, but in an industry that’s frequently criticized as slow to adapt to the newest technologies, maybe the times are bringing more changes to CRE in 2024 than ever before. Proptech is a catch-all term referring to the cross section of new technologies with residential and commercial real estate. While some tech integrations with the every-day of property management and the buying/selling process have streamlined the commercial real estate industry already, some are looking at the residential proptech seen in smart homes and speculating at the eye-popping changes sure to come soon. Today, let’s review a few of those types of proptech that are creating waves in CRE in 2024! Virtual Tours and 3D Floor PlansIn general, proptech that’s been gaining popularity in CRE are the types that cut down drastically on wasted time, and a few techniques that are great at
As property managers and business owners, whether you’re running an office space, a hotel, or an apartment complex, setting a good first impression is important when it comes to bringing in new customers and quality tenants. We’ve already talked about things like landscaping and parking lot maintenance, which are essentials for putting a property’s best foot forward. Additionally, public art continues to be a powerful way to make a splash within the community and increase curb appeal. Still, when it comes to making a statement on a business’ culture there is perhaps nothing as impactful as a clean, professional entryway. Building owners want visitors to be impressed and instilled with confidence when they first walk in the door – not to be inclined to reconsider their options. The good news is that keeping an entryway up to snuff doesn’t have to break the bank. Follow these quick points to help secure high-quality tenants and attract more customers! Entrance Mats are an Unsung PowerhouseWhen picturing how you want your entryway to look, it’s important to consider all that this area needs to accomplish. Not only does your entry need to look good, it also needs to handle a large amount of
Moving into a new home is an exciting moment, but handling the logistics of each step can be a handful. When moving into a luxury home, it’s important to order a comprehensive home inspection for every purchase, but finding a professional equipped to do the job isn’t always so simple. If you’re struggling to find the right professional to perform a luxury home inspection, opting for someone with a background in commercial property inspections should be a top requirement. Luxury home inspections may have more in common with a commercial inspection than a standard home inspection due to a number of factors, including the property’s size, unique systems, and amenities, which are often modeled after commercial locations. To dive more into why commercial inspectors should be your go-to contact, let’s discuss a bit more about the process of a luxury home inspection. Why is it Important to Get a Luxury Home Inspection?Every homebuyer, whether they are purchasing a new or historic home, should always order a home inspection before closing. Homes experience a natural wear and tear over time that owners tend to ignore or overlook until these problems lead to major expenses or even safety hazards. On top of
Attracting and retaining high caliber tenants is the primary goal for every successful commercial property owner. But for these owners and their property managers, their additional responsibility to keep visitors and occupants safe necessitates an emphasis on maintenance. Increasingly, drivers are adopting risky driving habits within parking lots which are made even more dangerous by maintenance issues like large potholes, ineffective lighting, and inefficient traffic direction. According to the National Safety Council, 66% of drivers say that they are comfortable with making phone calls while driving in parking lots, among many other attention-diverting activities. In order to keep a parking lot appealing and safe, here are a few maintenance standards that every property owner and manager should consider. What Causes Parking Lot Deterioration?Any features that are forced to withstand direct impact from exterior elements are bound to experience routine wear and tear. For commercial properties, which are much larger and more complex than residential lots, this means a wider space to manage and monitor. In climates that experience excessive water and seasons of mounting snow, moisture that seeps into the parking surfaces can cause cracks to expand, potholes to develop, and further deterioration of materials. In general, concrete is more