Building owners in Montreal must comply with several city-specific regulations. Although many hope for a relaxation of these rules, Montreal has, on the contrary, tightened these requirements. In 2023, the city amended its Building Maintenance By-Law 07-034, thereby placing an additional burden on owners.
The new version of this regulation says that all exterior wall parts of a building must be kept in good condition. Every building owner is responsible for keeping their property safe and preventing damage, whether the building is occupied or empty. This also includes exterior cornices, which must be checked and maintained on a regular basis. By following these rules, you can help protect your building, avoid expensive repairs, and stay in compliance with the law.
Why Comply?
Hefty Fines
If you do not follow this regulation, the City of Montreal may issue a fine. Fines range from $1,000 to $250,000, depending on whether the building is considered a historic property. In most cases, the city sends a notice before issuing a fine. However, this process can change at any time. The best way to avoid fines is to inspect and maintain your building before problems appear.
Increased Property Value
Keeping your cornices in good condition not only helps you avoid fines, but also increases the value of your property. Well-maintained cornices enhance the building’s overall appearance and demonstrate proper upkeep.
Extended Lifespan
Regular inspection and maintenance of cornices help prevent costly restoration work. By ensuring proper protection and maintenance, homeowners extend the lifespan of their buildings. In fact, maintaining cornices prevents premature aging of architectural elements. By protecting them from the elements, particularly through painting, you prevent them from deteriorating prematurely.
Preventing Water Infiltration
Cornices in poor condition can lead to significant water infiltration. Over time, this infiltration compromises the integrity of the materials and shortens their lifespan. Regular maintenance is therefore essential to prevent this risk and any potential damage to the entire building.
How to Maintain Your Cornices?
Properly maintaining cornices requires specific expertise. Unlike historic buildings, cornices are increasingly rare in modern construction. It is therefore recommended to entrust this responsibility to a professional who specializes in this task.
To provide the best solution for compliance with By-law 07-034, FinDécor offers a comprehensive exterior cornice maintenance service. This service includes inspection, material-specific cleaning, and paint application. The paint is applied using a next-generation sprayer, ensuring a smooth and uniform finish.
Our exterior painting specialists are highly qualified and experienced, guaranteeing you a job well done that will stand the test of time. With extensive experience painting multi-storey buildings, they are skilled at working at heights. They will, therefore, have no trouble reaching the target areas.
All in all, the new version of Building Maintenance By-Law 07-034 requires property owners to keep all exterior elements of Montreal buildings in good condition, which includes the maintenance of exterior cornices.
This new by-law has not been universally welcomed by property owners, but compliance is essential. Failure to comply may result in fines of up to $250,000. To avoid these costs, contact our team of experts, who can restore your exterior cornices to like-new condition.
