As we move forward into 2017, we took a little time to look back at the previous twelve months with pride. During that time, we’ve improved efficiency for our clients with drone-enabled inspections, and launched an inspections tool that vastly increases the speed of Property Condition Assessments and Construction Loan Inspections, while producing better reports than ever before. In September, we responded to Hurricane Matthew and saved a lot of money for clients by ensuring their moisture intrusion incidents were addressed quickly and thoroughly. We’re still helping new clients who didn’t have us onboard prior to the hurricane, as they respond to moisture issues that are just becoming evident.
We also had a successful year on our blog. We’re proud that we provide quality information for property owners and managers, construction loan providers, and employers on topics ranging from environmental engineering to inspections, assessments, renovations, and much more. Here’s a look back at our top ten most-read articles in 2016, counted down from #10 to our most popular #1.
Ten: Asbestos in Buildings: Myth vs Reality
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about asbestos, and this piece busts the biggest ones. No, new buildings are not exempt from asbestos regulations, nope, your municipality’s lack of specific regulations does not mean you don’t need a survey, and no, your operations and maintenance plans are probably not sufficient to cover you. Explore these myths & the reality with us here.
Nine: Brownfield Sites: What Developers Need to Know
What exactly is a brownfield site, and why might you choose to build on one? This article explores the pitfalls, as well as the potential benefits of brownfield development, and what you need to know about due diligence in order to invest profitably in this sector. You can read the article here.
Eight: Three Exciting Ways Drones are Set to Revolutionize the Assessment Industry
New FAA rules and the falling cost of unmanned aerial vehicles make these little flying “toys” a solid investment for assessment firms like ours. This article explores three key ways that drones will reduce the cost and increase the effectiveness of inspections, much to the benefit of property owners and managers. Take a look at the article here.
Seven: Phase I versus Phase II Site Assessments
This was one of several pieces we produced on site assessments, and by far the most popular. We define the two types of assessments, explore the differences, and explain the purpose and content of each type. It’s useful information for anyone investing in property, to understand what you need to do to protect yourself from environmental liability. You can read it here.
Six: Estimating and Controlling Commercial Renovation Costs
Considering that renovation costs can vary from $35 per square foot to more than $250 per square foot, it’s no surprise that readers were very interested in understanding the elements involved in estimating and controlling those costs. This piece explores six key factors that impact costs, and outlines seven steps to containing them. Read more here.
Five: Five Environmental Issues Every Renovation Must Take Into Account
Renovation projects can breathe new life into an investment and provide for many decades of additional use. They can also uncover a host of environmental issues you may not have realized even existed. These will cause you no end of headache and heartache if you don’t address them. Find out what to look for and your legal obligations on each in this piece.
Four: Indoor Air Quality: Understanding the HVAC’s Role
Many property owners were surprised to learn the central role that the HVAC plays in ensuring good indoor air quality. Not only does it impact the temperature and amount of ventilation, the HVAC can be at the heart of odor problems, mold proliferation, the spread of cold and flu viruses, and much more. This piece explores the HVAC’s role and what property owners and managers can do to ensure theirs plays a positive role in indoor air quality. You can read it here.
Three: Repair or Replace: What to Do About Your Aging Asphalt Parking Lot
An aging asphalt parking lot can be a source of major headaches for a property owner. Beyond issues of aesthetics, a cracking or crumbling parking lot can cause safety issues, damage vehicles, and impact the flow of stormwater–all of which can lead to costly liabilities. Whether to repair or replace can be a complex question, but this article breaks the decision down into simple criteria
Two: Three Common Causes of Pavement Failure and Their Solutions
Two of our three most popular blogs this year were on pavement topics. Clearly, this is a matter of interest for our readers, and for good reason–a parking lot is a major investment, and you hope it will serve you well for 30 years or more. Unfortunately, when problems arise, they can be expensive to diagnose and repair. This article outlines the most likely causes of your problem, and what to do about them.
One: Four Indoor Air Quality Problems and Their Solutions
Indoor air quality was on everyone’s minds this past year, as witnessed by the popularity of our most-read article on the topic. While there can be many causes of poor indoor air quality, including something as simple as an air intake next to the janitor’s musty mop, four of them pop up again and again. This article lists those four and explores symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and what to do if you suspect a problem. You can read it here.
Was one of these your favorite this year? Did we leave one out that you found particularly helpful? What would you like to see us write about in 2017? We look forward to your comments.
