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 COASTAL CURRENTS |
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| June 2010 Update | Engineering News and Information from
Coastal Engineering Company |
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Protecting Your Property Investment
Protecting your property investment requires you to understand what you have, what the maintenance and repair needs are, and what the proper timetable for maintenance and repairs should be. Planning can help avoid emergencies and avoidable repair costs that stress folks emotionally and financially.
Obtaining a professional assessment of your buildings, site improvements, and utility systems and identifying potential threats is the first step in protecting your investment. An assessment by a registered engineering professional includes gathering the facts and forecasting the future needs and cost projections to assist property owners in making long-term decisions about their buildings, roads, drainage, sewage disposal systems, coastal structures, and other infrastructure.
Engineering Assessment Checklist: Property, Foundation, Building, Septic System, Stormwater Drainage, Flood Hazards, Permitting. |
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Property
Buyers and owners should become well-informed about the location of the property lines, the property's title history, whether or not the building or property is in a Flood Hazard Zone, the status of any permits issued, and whether or not the structure they want to purchase was built according to design. |
| Buildings
A building assessment can help determine the condition of a structure, identify building code issues, and provide a priority list and cost analysis for maintenance and improvements. Starting from the foundation up, property owners who maintain the structural integrity of their buildings take a proactive step toward assuring the soundness of their investment. |
Septic Systems
An inspection of your sewage disposal system can alert you to problems before you experience a septic system failure and may help you avoid costly repairs or replacement. Regular maintenance and checking the condition of your septic tank and other components of the system can prevent sewage back-up and leach field failure. For more information on septic system maintenance, click here.
Condominiums with five or more units are required by Title 5 regulations to have their sewage disposal systems inspected every three years. |
| Stormwater Drainage
If you are experiencing problems with stormwater runoff on your property, site conditions should be evaluated for the cause. In some cases, minor grade changes can be made to redirect stormwater flow and alleviate a flood issue. Pavement and drainage assessments can determine where there is degradation of the pavement or of the actual drainage structure. Recommendations can then be made to properly repair roadways and parking lots. |
| Flood Hazards
Of special interest to Cape Cod property owners, FEMA is proposing changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for communities in Barnstable County. If your property is located within a flood zone on the new flood maps, you may be able to reduce your flood insurance premium by purchasing flood insurance prior to the June 2011 effective date of the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. If your property is close to the boundary of a flood zone, you may be able to reduce your flood insurance premium by documenting that your structure is located above the 100-year flood elevation. |
Oceanfront Structures
For coastal properties, shorefront protection is a priority. It is critically important to know the soundness of any coastal structure or the shorefront conditions that protect your home or business from flood damage. Additionally, piers, stairs, and boathouses should be inspected annually and repaired promptly.
Environmental and regulatory permitting go hand in hand with oceanfront property. Residential and commercial property owners alike should be knowledgeable about permitting requirements before making renovations or repairs. An evaluation of a home or business located on the water should address the status of environmental and other regulatory permitting requirements. |
As a property owner, maintenance, repairs, and improvements to your property should be addressed periodically, whether it be to the land, buildings, support systems or infrastructure. Engineering professionals can identify areas of concern before problems arise and are skilled at synchronizing timelines and budgets. With adequate planning and professional engineering input, you will be well equipped to protect your property investment. |
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