Another Book Recommendation!

This weeks Blog entry is dedicated to a woman by the name of Elli who recently commented on a Book recommendation I did a couple of weeks back (re: a book about Toronto Neighborhoods). Based upon that enthusiastic and encouraging commentary, I thought I would offer another recommendation about a couple of books that really ought to be " Required " reading for anyone contemplating the purchase of a Condominium (NEW and/or resale).

The books in question are entitled " The Fundamentals of Building Construction " (Materials and Methods) and " How Buildings Work. " Both books were written by Edward Allen, who is an American writer and educator in the field(s) of Architecture and Construction. The first book is in it's 5th edition (and was published by John Wiley & Sons) while the latter work was recently revised as of 2005. ie./ How Buildings Work is published by Oxford University Press.

The great thing about both of these books is that they tend to explain and describe all of those pertinent issues no-one ever wants to talk about when contemplating the purchase of a NEW Condominium -- " namely how the structure and/or edifice is being built " and whether or not the way it's being built is actually " the right way. "
I came upon these books (especially the first work) when I was relatively new in the business (some 8 or 9 years ago). As I started to really dedicate myself to selling NEWER condominiums in downtown Toronto, it occured to me that (should someone ask) I couldn't really explain the nature and process implicit in building a condominium, nor could I explain and/or warrant good building practices from poor and/or sub-standard construction. Based principally upon my own failings in this regard, I started to search out different resources that would bring me up to speed, and much to my surprise there was little if anything out there to help me educate myself. Needless to say, I was not only relieved, but quite impressed when I eventually came across Mr. Edwards' works -- as he dealt specifically (and in detail) with all the varying issues connected with this type of building construction.

ie./ The first book covers all of the technical details associated with topics such as Building foundations, tie-backs, piers, and anchoring systems etc... It also goes on to discuss issues such as how floors are built (and added upon) / how mechanical elements such as electricity / water and heating (cooling) etc... are brought into a building. Moreover -- it also gives one a rudimentary appreciation for how buildings are enclosed / how windows and/or fenestration is used to mitigate against weather, and what if any issues are related to all of these varying aspects and/or elements of the building process. In essence, then -- this book gives one a fundamental understanding of what's involved in the building process, and why and how some of these issues matter.

The second work is a little less complex and/or sophisticated in it's over-all descriptions about how buildings actually get built, but it is undeniably a great starting place. Although it deals with similar issues and/or concepts, it tends to go into less detail about some of the specifics of the building process, and hence may well be the easier book to both read and comprehend. It also tends to deal less specifically with larger scale projects and/or construction -- which again makes some of the concepts and ideas easier to digest and/or understand.

As to the relative signifigance of all of this -- without some basic knowledge of the building process per se, a potential Buyer is virtually incapable of asking a lot of the serious (more pertinent) questions which really ought to be asked and/or considered prior to deciding which project and/or development might be best for him or her. I don't think this is accidental, as not talking about all of these critical issues definintely keeps the Builder / Developer in something of a controlling position -- and if nothing else keeps the buying process quite simple (if not simplistic) and easily controllable. ie./ If it's only about " life-style " / " granite counter-tops " / " stainless steel appliances " and all of those other things complicit in the MARKETING process, the sales process is indeed much easier to control, much easier to facilitate and as a result much more straight forward. To put it yet another way, most people are forced into a circumstance where-in they have to base one of their most serious buying / investment decisions, on an almost excrutiatingly limited amount of information (which may or may not be pertinent to the final product being purchased). In a very real sense then, not knowing anything about the real " MEAT " of what's involved in construction means people are making some of their most serious buying decisions based solely upon marketing, floor-plans, a modicum of interior features and finishes and price. Without knowing any of the REAL details as to how a building gets built (and how your particular and/or chosen Developer/Builder might be contructing his project) a lot of people are consequently buying condominiums the way some people buy vehicles -- ie./ based solely upon the brochure, the number of drink(s) holders and/or the nature of the seats? Although this is definitely one way to buy a car, without considering the mechanical and/or critical features of the car, you're just as apt to be buying a lemon as a peach. If you've tasted both -- you know one leaves a whole other taste in your' mouth than the other.

To bring this back to the real situation in Toronto, most people might not realize that one of the biggest and currently most successful properties / developments in Toronto, is also the self-same company and/or business entity that was previously embrolied in the " leaky condo " debacle out in Vancouver. That situation, was principally an issue of how the fenestration and/or window systems were designed and installed out there, as opposed to anything you might have picked up upon within the marketing materials originally dispensed. Moreover, the issue out West hasn't as yet been rectified in any meaningful way -- which does in fact mean the original buyers are indeed the one's stuck with both the head-aches and the bills emanating from that mess. Finally, and this should scare anyone with an imagination, there have already been some similar complaints and/or issues with some of the fenestration systems being installed by this self-same Builder / Developer here in Toronto. I don't know, as I haven't myself suffered the kind of pain and anguish involved in the process of seeing one's investment compromised in this way, but I'm quite sure I wouldn't like it. I'm also quite sure, that if all of that information was readily available and/or out in the open, a lot of people here in Toronto may well have purchased elsewhere.

Hence, for anyone who geuniunely wants to go the extra mile, and wants to get better aquainted with some of the issues and/or questions that go into the " REAL " condominium building process, either of the two works cited by Mr. Allen are highly recommended starting points.

Thanks again Elli -- if this posting helps anyone out there (including yourself) you and Mr. Allen will be doing someone a great service.