Does your building show the telltale signs of dry rot?
Bubbling paint. Spots of orange-brown spore dust. Brittle or spongy wood that crumbles at the touch.
Tenant complaints of a fungus growing out of the wood on a fifth-floor balcony in Berkeley were repeatedly ignored until 2015, when that balcony collapsed, killing […]
Victorian and Queen Anne mansions were once all the rage. These stately and ornate structures, with brightly colored facades, turrets, spires and wrap-around porches, were built to impress — reflecting the optimism and opulence of a society experiencing unprecedented prosperity from industrialization and improvements in transit and communication. It was […]
Coastal communities provide an abundance of breathtaking views, often enjoyed from rows of balconies facing west to the ocean and setting sun. These perches are iconic in seaside communities — a big draw for tenants entertaining friends, relaxing with a book, or enjoying their own piece of the outdoors.
Considered a […]
Is it economically and environmentally more viable to extend the life of an existing building through renovation – or to demolish it, dispose of it, and rebuild?
Researcher Peter A. Bullen of the Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, asked building owners that question and found 83% of respondents felt […]
Happy Building Safety Month! This low-profile, international observance for safe and sound structures, rarely gets noticed outside the industry. It’s the unsung understudy to fun causes nearer and dearer to people’s hearts – taking a back seat to ice cream, talking like pirates, even clowns.
But buildings play an ever-present and […]
How would a major earthquake impact California’s growing homeless population?
In 2019, the number of people in the state without homes grew by more than 21,300 people, or 16.4% — more than all other states in the nation combined — the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported. It rose […]
Southern California’s mountain ranges are a regional treasure, providing a spectacular backdrop to the communities that make Greater Los Angeles their home.
These natural beauties are the result of a complex web of earthquake faults – ranging in length from less than a mile to hundreds of miles long – crisscrossing […]
The most recent maps prepared by the California Geological Survey reveal that San Diego’s earthquake risk is significantly higher than previously thought.
Recent information reveals the region’s fault zones are significantly larger and far-reaching than assumed – stretching along the Rose Canyon Fault from La Jolla down through the airport and […]
Nobody knows exactly where or when the next major earthquake will strike, but we do know that quakes are inevitable in California and many other states.
It’s also clear what types of buildings will likely suffer the most damage from seismic shaking.
Beyond these basic points, it’s always best to assess your […]
Did you feel that jarring 4.0 magnitude jolt of an earthquake recently?
People across San Diego County reported feeling the Jan. 30 temblor, which struck near the Palomar Observatory but could be felt from Chula Vista to Escondido, and into parts of Riverside and Orange counties.
“It was really powerful,” Valerie Mitchell […]
