Mississauga, ON – Beautiful views from floor-to-ceiling glass windows in high rises are very attractive but the long-term costs can be substantial warns Linda Pinizzotto, a REALTOR® with Sutton Group – Quantum Realty Inc.* and the Founder and President of the Condo Owners Association (COA).  Glass walls are energy inefficient resulting in steep electricity bills.  Serious and potentially expensive structural problems can also occur including cracks in the window caulking and the underground membrane of the building, which allow moisture to penetrate.  Temperature fluctuations cause the glass and caulking to shrink and expand loosening the seals and, in some cases, the seals are so weak that the glass falls out.

As an advocate for consumer rights, Linda strives to educate buyers on the risks, many of which are not covered by the home warranty.  “The Tarion/Ontario New Home Warranty is inefficient for these condominium buildings because they only allow one to two years of coverage on defects in work and materials.  The seven-year warranty relates only to structural deficiencies,” says Linda.  “Unfortunately, condo owners usually know very little about the deficiencies and problems in the common elements of their building and many of these do not surface within the one to two year time frame.”

Infrared images of the buildings prove that heat loss is greater from glass walls than from traditional wall structures.  “The fact that the municipalities allowed condos to be built without any energy-efficiency ratings is inconceivable,” says Linda.  “The building codes in Toronto, for instance, have been altered as of January 1, 2012; however, that won’t help the huge number of existing condos.  COA believes that extensive retrofitting or replacements will relate to window walls and other structure or foundation related requirements within 15 to 20 years.  Building codes need to be conducive to ensuring the longevity of these factors for at least 30 years.”

COA is the only registered, non-profit association representing and lobbying on behalf of condo owners and their Condo Corporation Board of Directors to all three levels of government, notes Linda.  “COA represents their best interests relating to Tarion warranties, municipal building codes, by-Law and zoning, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and all of the variables that can seriously affect the development, growth and sustainability of a condominium.”  For more details, visit: www.COAontario.com.

Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 8,700 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide.  To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com.  To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.

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Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. Contact:

Jon Chung                        604-691-1650             stories@suttonspirit.com

Sutton Group – Quantum Realty Inc.* Contact:

Linda Pinizzotto                 905-822-5000             lpinizzotto@sutton.com

*Independently owned and operated brokerage

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