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A lot of grumbling in this thread about construction quality for apartments. Is there some actual evidence that construction standards have changed in recent years? Have the economics of rental units changed so much that developers have shifted build quality downward? (Which seems somewhat contrary to the other frequent complaint here that apartments are getting too fancy and expensive.)
I did pause on this "quality standard:"
Quote:
Originally Posted by saturnfan
Kitchens/baths painted in flat not semi-gloss. Not cleanable and easily stained.
Neither our kitchen nor any of our bathrooms in this or the past few houses I've owned have been pained with semi-gloss paint. Most have typically been flat paint. We've never had a problem with cleaning, and our walls don't get stained. (What does one have to be doing to stain a wall, anyway?)
as to construction quality, I feel pretty confident they are built to a commercial standard - above standard residential. I know for a fact they have greater fire systems in place than your average home.
A lot of grumbling in this thread about construction quality for apartments. Is there some actual evidence that construction standards have changed in recent years? Have the economics of rental units changed so much that developers have shifted build quality downward? (Which seems somewhat contrary to the other frequent complaint here that apartments are getting too fancy and expensive.)
I did pause on this "quality standard:"
Neither our kitchen nor any of our bathrooms in this or the past few houses I've owned have been pained with semi-gloss paint. Most have typically been flat paint. We've never had a problem with cleaning, and our walls don't get stained. (What does one have to be doing to stain a wall, anyway?)
LOL...I always paint in eggshell! Don't like the look of semi-gloss on walls! I do like semi-gloss on my trim!
Saturnfan...stop throwing that spaghetti sauce around the kitchen and you won't have any problems!
A lot of grumbling in this thread about construction quality for apartments. Is there some actual evidence that construction standards have changed in recent years? Have the economics of rental units changed so much that developers have shifted build quality downward? (Which seems somewhat contrary to the other frequent complaint here that apartments are getting too fancy and expensive.)
I did pause on this "quality standard:"
Neither our kitchen nor any of our bathrooms in this or the past few houses I've owned have been pained with semi-gloss paint. Most have typically been flat paint. We've never had a problem with cleaning, and our walls don't get stained. (What does one have to be doing to stain a wall, anyway?)
Years ago, most apartments went up as one or 2 floors. Now, we are seeing 5 story+ frame buildings. no fire escapes, so the residents must hope the sprinklers work and the alarms give proper warning.
The buildings we occupied in NYC were 14 floors built of steel, concrete, and brick. There were fire hose standpipe connections in every level, and all doors were steel.
No fire spread beyond one room in one unit.
The crap now allowed by code provides much less protection.
One day, a tinderbox high rise will have a major fire with considerable loss of life. That will possibly get proper building codes in place, but at an awful cost.
Building "quality" which is extremely subjective and building codes are two entirely different things. In general building codes become more stringent with each subsequent revision. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any instance where building codes became less stringent in a later revision. The same applies to Energy Codes, etc. The IBC, NEC, IFC, IMC, etc books don't get thinner with current revisions :-)
Things like paint quality, caulking quality, quality of appliances, etc, are not (and should not be) code issues. I can only imagine the increased size / bureaucracy of the local building authorities if these types of things were now subject to inspection.
Right near where I live, there are more than five of these new stick-built apartments that are wrapped around parking decks. Two new hotels have also been built right nearby, but they used steel and concrete construction. Does anybody know why different construction methods were used? The hotels aren't any taller.
There is a correlation with Stick vs. Concrete and Steel Construction. It all boils down to the available stair cases and also Fire Sprinklers, the more fire sprinklers the higher they can build and get away with without the building being Concrete. It's somewhere deep in the Building Codes. Also Elevators can change things.
Right near where I live, there are more than five of these new stick-built apartments that are wrapped around parking decks. Two new hotels have also been built right nearby, but they used steel and concrete construction. Does anybody know why different construction methods were used? The hotels aren't any taller.
Different occupancy classifications under the building code, and therefore subject to different requirements and standards (lots of overlap though too). If I recall correctly, hotels are R1 and apartment complexes are R2.
Different occupancy classifications under the building code, and therefore subject to different requirements and standards (lots of overlap though too). If I recall correctly, hotels are R1 and apartment complexes are R2.
Thanks. It would be interesting to know the common sense rationale for the different standards. I can see how people might be packed-in slightly tighter in a hotel, but on the other hand, it seems like a lot more electrical appliances would be used in apartments.
I just don't see a huge difference between a 400 sqft hotel room and a 600 sqft studio apartment.
Thanks. It would be interesting to know the common sense rationale for the different standards. I can see how people might be packed-in slightly tighter in a hotel, but on the other hand, it seems like a lot more electrical appliances would be used in apartments.
I just don't see a huge difference between a 400 sqft hotel room and a 600 sqft studio apartment.
You are so right.
Many hotel chains may not franchise a tinderbox because of the negative effect a tragic fire might have on the whole brand.
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