I recently received a note from the PR agency for Matcor, Inc., a company involved in corrosion engineering, warning that 80 percent of balconies on multi-story condos in Florida are “infected” by corrosion.

The message continued: “While the symptoms of corrosion (brownish rust stains and cracking concrete) are an eye sore, the real problem is that it is weakening the structure and putting lives at risk. Imagine residents stepping out onto their balcony and falling. Maybe the fall would take out other balconies below it, and more lives with it.”

Is this a scare or a serious problem? I don’t know. But if you’re investing in high-rise apartments or condos, especially ones located in coastal areas, you may want to do some additional research and be sure you do your due diligence before buying.

Jackie