Commercial, Strata & Residential Serving Vancouver, North Van, West Van, & Burnaby

Resources & Maintenance Blog

Helpful articles, guides, and checklists compiled by our building maintenance specialists to help property managers and strata councils protect their properties.

Concrete Restoration: the strata & commercial guide

What causes spalling and rebar corrosion on Metro Vancouver concrete buildings, how repairs are scoped to CSA S448.1, when to repair versus replace, and how a BC strata runs the project.

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Balcony Waterproofing: the strata & commercial guide

Which membrane systems hold up on the BC coast, how to read the signs of a failing deck, and when to repair, overlay, or strip back to the slab and replace.

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BC Strata Building Envelope Guide

Depreciation reports, BECA assessments, who pays for balcony membranes — practical guidance for strata councils and property managers navigating the BC Strata Property Act.

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Exterior Coatings: elastomeric vs. acrylic for stucco & concrete

Which coating system lasts in BC's coastal climate, when to use elastomeric vs. acrylic, and why film build matters more than the paint brand.

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Building Envelope: repair, recladding & roofing decisions

Eight either-or decisions strata councils and building owners face on the BC coast: repair vs reclad, torch-on vs single-ply roofing, membrane vs sealer, and who to hire. Each guide gives the local building science and a decision framework, not a sales pitch.

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Sealant & Caulking: polyurethane vs. silicone for building envelopes

Which product goes where, how to read failure signs before water gets in, and what a full sealant replacement program looks like on a Metro Vancouver high-rise.

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Rope Access for High-Rise Buildings: Vancouver contractor guide

How rope access compares to swing stages and scaffolding — cost, safety certification, WorkSafeBC requirements, and when each access method is the right call.

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Building Envelope Repair Cost: Vancouver 2026

Real 2026 cost ranges for sealants, balcony membranes, parkade coatings, concrete repairs, and leak investigations — from the contractor's own pricing.

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Educational Resource

Spring and Fall Building Maintenance Checklist for Vancouver Strata Councils (2026)

A dual-season checklist for Vancouver strata councils and commercial property managers — spring post-winter recovery (April–May) and fall pre-storm prep (August–September). Covers balcony membranes, window sealants, parkade drainage, roof anchors, and concrete condition.

Read Full Article Jul 21, 2026
Educational Resource

Atmospheric Rivers and Your Building Envelope in Metro Vancouver

Atmospheric rivers drive extreme wind-driven rain at Metro Vancouver buildings. Here is how the storms find envelope weaknesses and what to check before the next one.

Read Full Article Jun 29, 2026
Educational Resource

Roof Anchor Recertification: WorkSafeBC Rules for Vancouver High-Rises

BC roof anchors for rope access must be engineer-certified and inspected yearly. Here is what building owners in Metro Vancouver must keep on file to stay compliant.

Read Full Article Jun 27, 2026
Educational Resource

Elastomeric Wall Coatings on Vancouver Concrete Towers: When They Work

Elastomeric wall coatings bridge cracks and shed rain on Metro Vancouver concrete towers — but only when the substrate is dry. Here is when they protect and when they blister.

Read Full Article Jun 25, 2026
Educational Resource

PMMA vs Polyurethane Traffic Membranes for Vancouver Parkade Decks

Comparing PMMA and polyurethane traffic membranes for Metro Vancouver parkades and balconies — cure speed, service life, cold-weather use, and resident disruption.

Read Full Article Jun 23, 2026
Educational Resource

Silicone vs Polyurethane Sealant for Expansion Joints in BC Buildings

Which sealant belongs in your building's expansion joints? We compare silicone and polyurethane for movement, UV resistance, and coating over on Metro Vancouver towers.

Read Full Article Jun 21, 2026
Educational Resource

Rebar Corrosion and Concrete Delamination in Coastal BC Buildings

Why concrete spalls on West Vancouver and waterfront towers — how chloride and carbonation corrode rebar, the warning signs, and how coastal concrete repair is done.

Read Full Article Jun 19, 2026
Educational Resource

Rainscreen Walls and the Leaky Condo Legacy in Metro Vancouver

Why rainscreen wall design exists in BC, what the leaky condo crisis taught the industry, and how Metro Vancouver towers still depend on it to shed wind-driven rain.

Read Full Article Jun 17, 2026
Educational Resource

The BC 2-5-10 Home Warranty and Your Building Envelope Explained

BC's 2-5-10 new home warranty covers the building envelope for 5 years. Here is what that means for Metro Vancouver strata owners and how it ties to envelope repairs.

Read Full Article Jun 15, 2026
Educational Resource

Coordinating a Strata Exterior Restoration Project in BC

From engineer to permit to resident notice — how a Metro Vancouver strata runs an exterior restoration project, and the BC rules that govern envelope renovations.

Read Full Article Jun 13, 2026
Educational Resource

What a Building Envelope Condition Assessment Covers in BC

A building envelope condition assessment (BECA) tells a Metro Vancouver strata what shape its exterior is really in. Here is what it inspects, tests, and reports.

Read Full Article Jun 11, 2026
Educational Resource

The July 1, 2026 Strata Depreciation Report Deadline in Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver stratas must have a depreciation report by July 1, 2026. Here is which building envelope and concrete work drives the 30-year reserve forecast.

Read Full Article Jun 9, 2026
Educational Resource

Parkade Slab Restoration in Vancouver: What's Eating Your Concrete From Below

Underground parkades fail from a different direction than balconies — de-icing salt, standing water, and chloride driving corrosion through suspended slabs and columns. Here's how Vancouver parkade restoration actually works.

Read Full Article May 31, 2026
Educational Resource

How Often Should High-Rise Windows Be Cleaned in Vancouver? (2026 Guide)

A guide to scheduling window washes for strata towers and commercial buildings. Learn how marine salt, traffic smog, and forest fire smoke affect glass lifespan, and why bi-annual cleanings prevent permanent mineral etching.

Read Full Article May 30, 2026
Educational Resource

Understanding Strata Balcony Membrane Maintenance & Water Ingress in Vancouver

Strata balcony membranes bear the brunt of Vancouver's intense rain. We review the lifespan of vinyl, liquid polyurethane, and PMMA waterproofing systems, outline maintenance duties under the Strata Property Act, and explain how to prevent moisture damage.

Read Full Article May 30, 2026
Educational Resource

Signs Your Building Needs Sealant Replacement

Don’t wait for suites to leak. Learn how to spot failing window perimeter caulking and expansion joints from the ground, what cracks to watch for, and why polyurethane sealant needs replacement every 8 to 10 years.

Read Full Article May 29, 2026
Educational Resource

What Causes Water Ingress in High-Rise Buildings?

Water ingress can cause major structural damage. We break down the top causes of leaks in concrete structures, from wind-driven rain bypassing failed window perimeters to structural expansion joint tears and cracked stucco.

Read Full Article May 28, 2026
Educational Resource

How Exterior Coatings Protect Buildings in Vancouver’s Climate (2026)

Vancouver’s rain is driven by heavy wind. Discover how elastomeric wall coatings create a breathable waterproof barrier that stretches to bridge concrete cracks, preventing water from seeping into building walls.

Read Full Article May 24, 2026

Protect Your Strata or Commercial Building Today

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