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Inspecting Commercial Real Estate

On October 12, 2011, In Building, By Roger Frost

Certified Building Code Official performing Commercial Building Inspections. All of our Property Condition Assessments or PCAs use the baseline property condition assessment process as outlined in the ASTM E-2018 Standards and InterNACHI International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties. We use Thermal Imaging for Moisture, Overheat and Roof leak detection. Reports are detailed and contain detailed pictures and summaries to accurately describe building and conditions found.

The ASTM E 2018 guideline defines good commercial and customary practices for conducting a baseline PCA, the goal is to identify and communicate physical deficiencies to a user. The term physical deficiencies means the presence of conspicuous defects or material deferred maintenance of a subject property’s material systems, components, or equipment as observed during the field observer’s walk-through survey. This definition specifically excludes deficiencies that may be remedied with routine maintenance, miscellaneous minor repairs, normal operating maintenance, etc., and excludes de minimis conditions that generally do not present material physical deficiencies of the subject property.

Our network of commercial building inspectors follow industry accepted guidelines of ASTM E2018. These commercial inspection standards help both the commercial building inspector and the client to understand the scope agreed to for the inspection including the systems or areas to be inspected, and is used as a guide to develop said scopes and procedures.

Commercial real estate was one of the hardest hit sectors of the U.S. economy during the recession. It is seen as a strong indicator of economic health and how it performs greatly effects the rest of real estate sales. It looks as though this industry is gaining strength due to an important commercial firm showing great growth for this quarter. According to CB Richard Ellis, the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm, sales are up 12% to $61.2 million for this economic quarter. This growth has come with business growth in most sectors and especially office space rental throughout the world, including America.

The Commercial Building Inspector also provides Environmental Assessments. A Phase I ESA is an assessment of a property conducted in accordance with the regulations to determine the likelihood that one or more contaminants have affected any land or water on, in or under the property.
The Phase I ESA provides preliminary information about environmental conditions on the property; a determination of the need for, and where necessary, a basis for carrying out any Phase II ESA.

In the event that corrective action is required following the Phase II ESA programs, Consultants traditionally manage the process by arranging, supervising and overseeing the necessary Phase III ESA (Environmental Site Cleanup). Environmental monitoring and sampling occurs within the open excavations to assess for possible contamination and its extent. In the event that contaminated soils are encountered onsite, a remedial program is developed to achieve the property owner/client’s objectives.

The Commercial Building Inspector provides inspection services to most of Southern Ontario. With the experience of inspecting Plaza’s, Industrial Buildings, Warehouses, Offices, Combined Occupancies, strip plaza’s, churches, schools and hospitals, the Commercial Building Inspector can provide the expertise to protect your Commercial Property investment. As a Certified Building Code Official with the Ontario Building Officials Association and an experienced Thermographer in infrared technology your inspection will be detailed and comprehensive.

Learn more about Commercial Building Inspections in the GTA and Mississauga. Stop by The Barrie Home Inspector’s site where you can find out all about Barrie Home Inspector and protect your Real Estate investment.

Why Use Metal Buildings In Place Of Wood

On July 25, 2010, In Building, By Adriana Noton

When most people think of constructing a new shed or building, they think only of wood. This is what they have been constructed of for hundreds of years. There are alternatives to this type of structure in the form of metal buildings. They are swiftly becoming the most popular structures available for a wide variety of uses including sheds and even additional classrooms.

Barns are one of the most used buildings for farmers in the world. They house animals, equipment and supplies that are used on a regular basis. Wood was once the only material used in their construction. Recently farmers have began using metal because of the security they offer. There is less fear of fire and since they generally contain more doors and windows, in the event a fire does occur, their animals are more likely to be able to escape the flames.

School systems everywhere are using this same material to construct additional exterior classrooms. When they are no longer needed they can be torn down and used to erect other structures. The materials can also be recycled for other uses as well. There is a high level of sustainability with metal that other materials do not have. This makes them one of the greenest materials available.

If you live in an area they is plagued by extreme weather, metal is your answer. Because metal does not expand and contract with changing weather, it is the perfect material for buildings. These metal buildings can take the extreme heat or cold without having an adverse effect on the materials used in their construction.

Wood eating insects such as beetles, termites and ants can destroy a wood structure in a few short years. Metal resists insect infestations so they last much longer than their wood counterparts. The fact that wood molds and rots is another plus for metal. There is no worry about weather soaking into the material and the steel garages deteriorating after a few years of exposure to the elements with these buildings.

Many lenders are more likely to finance a metal structure than wood because of the multiple uses and their durability. They consider the use of the building as well as future uses of it before offering financing. Because these buildings can be tore down and moved they make them more appealing to loan officers and banks. They know that the customer will not be back in a few years needing financing for a new building.

Once you have constructed one of these buildings, maintenance will not break the bank either. The surface does not require paint so there is no need for scraping and painting each year. This will save a great deal, over a long period of time, because you do not have to purchase additional supplies to care for your building.

There are many uses for metal buildings. The benefits of using metal over wood more than outweigh any disadvantages. Their economical value makes it easier to get funding for construction and they can be moved from one location to another easily. Before you construct your next building, consider using metal instead of wood for the obvious reasons but also for reasons you may not have considered before.

These future steel buildings provide storage solutions that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Choose from a wide range of steel garage kits at affordable prices.

Tagged with: Building • buildings • business • construction • DIY • Engineering • future steel • home • Home Improvement • house • renovation • steel • storage • warehouse

Strength And Long Life With Metal Buildings

On July 25, 2010, In Building, By Adriana Noton

In recent years, metal has become more and more popular as a building material. For many years, bricks and wood were used for most construction. The first large steel-framed buildings of the nineteenth century sparked the beginnings of a slow but steady trend. More and more smaller buildings are made of metal. It is used for roofs and walls today, in addition to its use for frames. Metal buildings are showing up everywhere.

Steel is not a modern discovery. It has been used for thousands of years to make sword blades and for other high value applications. What is new is relatively inexpensive steel. Since the Bessemer process of the nineteenth century, steel has been adapted to more and more applications.

There are many forms of steel that are commercially available. Many of these are susceptible to rust if they are exposed to moisture. This problem can be mitigated by using a surface treatment such as zinc plating, referred to as galvanizing. Many kinds of paint are also suitable for protecting steel from moisture.

Aluminum was also very expensive until about 100 years ago. Its cost today is quite reasonable. It is not as strong as steel, but it is easier to work with for most applications. Future steel buildings are naturally resistant to most forms of corrosion, so it doesn’t require surface treatment. For some applications, aluminum will be painted or otherwise treated for cosmetic effects.

Copper is not very strong and rather expensive, so it would not be a good choice for framing. It is sometimes used for walls or roofs. When it weathers it acquires an attractive greenish sheen. This is due to oxidation which does not penetrate enough to cause serious weakness.

Quonset huts appeared all over the place during World War II. The first mass produced metal buildings, they had a curved piece of galvanized steel that combined roof and sidewalls into one unit. These pieces could be stacked for easy shipping. They were easy to put up and easy to take down.

Quonset huts are mostly gone today. But future steel buildings and other such structures like standalone garages, are often built from steel. It’s strength, robustness, and reasonable price makes steel a good choice for these buildings. They are usually squared up instead of round for more effective use of the footprint.

Steel framing is entirely suitable for residential construction. Aluminum framing is also sometimes used in cases where the full strength of steel is not necessary. Computer controlled equipment for fabricating custom aluminum framing on the job site is available. Metal framing is very common in factory built modular homes. It is less common in conventional construction, but growing in popularity.

Sheet metal can be used to make roofing or wall materials. It can be made into objects resembling either shingles or wooden clapboards. It can be painted or otherwise treated to make it prettier and more weather proof.

Metal building are becoming more and more important. Doing anything to reduce the use of wood is a positive step. Thus, metal as a building material is generally environmentally positive. Also, most building metal is recyclable. Metal should be considered as a building material by anyone involved in construction.

These future steel buildings provide storage solutions that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Choose from a wide range of future steel buildings designs at affordable prices. Future steel buildings do not require prior construction experience.

Tagged with: Building • buildings • business • construction • DIY • Engineering • future steel • home • Home Improvement • house • renovation • steel • storage • warehouse

Why Do Metal Buildings And Weather Change So Effectively?

On June 30, 2010, In Building, By Adriana Noton

Is there a reason why metal buildings and weather change with such effectiveness together? Metal has the reputation of being durable, malleable, corrosion resistant and strong. The most common choice for the parts of a skyscraper and storage unit that are assembled before construction is steel. As an alloy made up mainly of iron, it is the strongest metal available.

While there are other metals like aluminum alloys, tin, titanium, chrome, silver, gold or brass that can be used in the construction of buildings, they are generally more expensive but not as strong or flexible as steel. Generally they are used for decorative touches or special features on a building.

It takes a lot of work to manufacture the quantities of metal used in building and this adds to its price. Steel is comparatively the most ideal solution.

People living on farms, cities and towns are turning to metal structures for home and business purposes. Factories are manufacturing many forms of prefabricated or pre-engineered steel for uses such as storage facilities, security purposes, protection from the weather and even living spaces.

With a metal structure you need little labor or expertise as they are easy to erect and maintain to keep stock safe. Future steel buildings make a retailer remarkably flexible as the metal buildings can scale up or down as is needed according to demand. Speed is a great money saver and there is no time needed with pre-engineered construction for material to cure or set as there is with a conventional buildings, which can cost almost double to construct. Even remote locations with no electricity can use these buildings as they do not need to be welded. Every component is bolted and riveted before delivery or as constructed. Easy to dismantle the buildings can move with the company to a new location or the metal can be recycled.

Metal buildings are very durable and withstand extreme weather phenomena better than brick and mortar structures. When manufactured steel does not release pollutants into the atmosphere. Also wood is no longer used in the construction process, making the structures fire resistant and ecologically sound. Insurance premiums are low and a metal structure offers good returns on your investments. It is even possible to design the future steel buildings so that it is aesthetic to look at as steel can be moulded into any shape or form.

Insulation is essential and must be chosen according to one’s needs as there are so many varieties available. If the metal structure is not insulated, it is impossible to use the structure if it is too hot or cold. Once the insulation is in place though, you will not need much energy to maintain the temperature within.

As the structures are largely prefabricated, colours, sizes, textures and shapes can all be determined by the purchaser. A company with strong branding for their buildings can work these features through to their metal structures. Large scale material pre-printed pictures are also available which can be applied to the metal and give the illusion that it is an old-fashioned barn or garage.

Durable, inexpensive, long-lasting metal structures not only weather changes well but are also put to many varied uses.

Among the best in the industry, these future steel buildings offer state-of-the-art engineering. The future steel buildings come in many practical designs at affordable prices. Fulfill your storage needs with future steel buildings today.

Tagged with: autos • Building • business • construction • DIY • Engineering • home • house • improvement • renovation • steel • storage • vehicles • warehouse

Steel Building Design For Earthquakes And Safety

On June 30, 2010, In Building, By Adrianna Noton

Our living planet is an ever changing entity often prone to violent earth shifts. In specific zones earthquakes are commonplace and the need for steel building design for earthquakes is a very necessary safety consideration. The unpredictability of earthquakes makes it necessary for buildings to be earthquake ready at all times.

Many years and many millions of dollars have gone into research surrounding the subject of earthquake resistant building materials and designs. Steel designs have been discovered to have greater resistance to the forces of nature than concrete. Steel can flex and absorb shock waves whereas concrete shatters.

The best metal, by far, is considered to be steel for building earthquake resistant buildings due to the fact that it is a highly ductile material. The overall design and the way that the steel is used is also a very important factor. Some designs are going to better withstand natures destructive forces than others. There is a specific art and science to designing a building that can resist earthquakes.

An important factor to take into account when designing a building that will be erected in an earthquake zone is its weight distribution. The upper stories of the future steel buildings should be constructed of lightweight materials, with the bulk of the weight being kept at the base of the building. As with any building, if it is top heavy it will be more likely to topple when subjected to the full force of an earthquake.

Steel rebar should be used to reinforce the structure at its base, but as the building should be bottom heavy, the use of lighter weight materials should be employed for the construction of the upper floors. Often these buildings can house thousands of workers and in an earthquake zone the responsibility of building an earthquake resistant building should not be taken lightly.

Careful design and construction can save the lives of thousands of people in the event of an earthquake. It can also minimize repair costs after the earthquake. Poorly designed buildings can topple as the earth shifts, damaging surrounding buildings and the general infrastructure of the entire area.

Many elements can be put together for a successful design. Trusses, diaphragms, shear walls and concentrically braced frames all add to the strength and flexibility of a design. Diaphragms are useful for dissipating the horizontal movement caused by violent earth shifts and will absorb a high percentage of this type of movement.

A large consideration is the purpose of the building. Will it be a hospital, a school, or perhaps a public library? Weight distribution is very important and with a library, it should be situated on the lower floors for better inertial damping. The heavier the load, the closer to the foundation it should be and where possible, nearest the centre of the building.

Symmetrical designs are better at withstanding these forces than asymmetrical designs. Try to use lightweight materials for building design and use steel rolled products, like H bars, flanged cruciform, box sections or I and boxed W shaped sections to reinforce the integrity of your design.

Among the best in the industry, these future steel buildings offer state-of-the-art engineering and production values. The future steel buildings come in a variety of practical designs at affordable prices. Fulfill your storage and safety needs with future steel buildings today.