The atlas / House types
Start with the building you own. Construction, additions and past repairs matter more than a style label alone.
A style is a starting point, not an inspection. Look for original materials, later additions and the systems that cross between rooms or units.
Start with its construction, then follow the questions that fit your rooms and materials.
Masonry walls. Shared edges. Original details.
Three floors, connected systems, shared decisions.
Complex rooflines and details worth understanding.
Traditional forms, layered repairs and additions.
Compact houses with important roof-space questions.
Your home, the common areas and the work between.
Plan access and repairs across floors, units and common areas.
Three floors can share one roof, several plumbing routes and a surprisingly complicated repair history. A useful triple-decker maintenance plan follows the building vertically and gives every household a clear way to report problems.
Condominium ownership describes a legal arrangement, not a building type. A Boston condo may occupy a brownstone, a triple-decker or a newer building, and a water problem can cross both physical and ownership boundaries.
The stain is inside your unit, but the repair may involve several owners and a shared building assembly. Good documentation connects the source, the affected spaces and each person's responsibilities without turning guesses into accusations.
Find out what needs assessment before old finishes are removed or covered.
A brown ceiling mark is a reason to investigate, not a complete verdict on the plaster. The central questions are whether the leak has stopped, whether the plaster remains supported and whether the concealed assembly can be inspected and dried.
Raised board edges look alarming, but appearance alone cannot settle a flooring decision. The type of floor, its attachment, the condition below it and the water exposure matter as much as what you can see in the afternoon light.
A fieldstone wall can show moisture through dark joints, powdery deposits or water at its base. Those signs deserve a careful record, but they do not all mean the same thing—or call for the same repair.
