Shared Walls Owner Maintenance Responsibilities


— By Caitlin Traub, CMCA, AMS, PCAM of Hammersmith Management — T


he Puget Sound has always been home to a plethora of traditional condominiums, townhomes, and other attached unit


associations. As more owners move into the area and space remains at a premium, the need only increases for these types of associations.


Many owners move into attached unit associations for possible reduced individual unit maintenance.


Maintaining Vital Components


Many owners have initially chosen to move into attached unit associations for possible reduced individual unit maintenance responsibilities and thoughts of a “low- maintenance lifestyle.” However, in recent years, both


18 Community Associations Journal | October 2022


new and older attached unit associations are subject to governing documents that place the responsibility for maintenance, repair, and replacement for exterior components, like windows, siding, and roofing, on the owner. Such components are generally referred to as “building envelope” items.


Building envelope items have a major effect on ventilation, climate, noise transfer, and water intrusion.


The building envelope is the physical separator of the exterior from the interior. These elements have a major effect on ventilation, climate, noise transfer, and water intrusion. While possibly not an early maintenance concern for most owners, as communities age the need for maintenance of building envelope items invariably increases, often leaving owners and associations under-prepared to navigate how such projects should be handled.


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