Printed From Acorn-Online.com
SCHOOLS: 40 leaks in new Scotts Ridge
roof
Dec 27, 2005
A leaky roof at the new middle school and a continuing problem of
mold at East Ridge have school officials fuming about the
performance of O&G � the firm hired by the town as a
construction manager for the school building projects.
�The
Scotts Ridge roof has over 40 leaks,� School Superintendent Kenneth
Freeston told the Board of Education on Monday, Dec. 12.
He said
the leaks have resulted in a lot of finger pointing.
�It�s a new
building and a new roof � no one is going to take responsibility for
40 leaks in a new roof,� he said.
Dr. Freeston said O&G has
been particularly unresponsive to the ongoing problem of
unidentified moisture in a corridor at East Ridge Middle School. �We
are not satisfied with O&G�s performance on this issue,� he told
the school board.
�There is a continued moisture and odor issue
in the corridor at East Ridge. I am not going to allow the corridor
to be used again until we know the source of the moisture...
�It
is unacceptable to me to have wallboard being put back up in places
where it has been removed until they fix the problem.....It�s not a
small issue.�
First Selectman Rudy Marconi agreed that O&G
has not been sufficiently helpful about the moisture problem at East
Ridge.
�As far as the corridor is concerned, I�m not pleased
with O&G�s response to this,� he said. �We have removed
sheetrock and done an examination. We�ve replaced flashing.�
Lots
of roof problems
Mr. Marconi said the Scotts Ridge
roof has had �a multitude of problems,� which are being addressed,
some by O&G and some by the roof�s manufacturer.
�The brick
has been sealed,� he said. �Some flashing has been partly taken care
of. There are penetrations on the roof, possibly from people walking
on it. We�ve locked access to the roof. We�re reviewing everything
on the roof.
�The roofer has gone bankrupt, but the manufacturer
is standing behind it. We have addressed it.�
Scotts Ridge
Building Committee Co-chair John Mannuzza said there are problems
with the brick, with the rooftop duct work for the school�s air
systems, and with the membrane of the roof itself.
He said
O&G was �leading the response to remedy the duct issue� and also
working with the school custodian on the brickwork.
But he said
the membrane problems were not being addressed by O&G.
�It�s
a membrane roof, and it�s not designed for having pedestrians walk
up there,� he said. �It�s supposed to last 25 to 30 years. But
there�s some evidence that water is coming through. Now we have snow
up there. You can�t repair a roof with snow up there.�
He said
most of the moisture is being caught by the ceiling tiles, which are
being rapidly replaced.
�They have to be replaced,� he said,
noting that moisture can lead to mold, which would be a safety
hazard to the students.
Dr. Freeston said some insulation has
been removed because of moisture. �It turns out the insulation is
the wrong one � it�s not what was specced.�
He said some of the
blame had to be laid at O&G�s door.
Dr. Freeston said the
school is going through boxes and boxes of ceiling tiles. He said
the wet insulation would also have to be replaced.
But Mr.
Mannuzza said the question of whether to replace the insulation was
still open.
�There�s some controversy about the insulation of the
duct work,� he said Wednesday, Dec. 21. �It has not been finalized
whether we will replace the insulation.�
�
Copyright by Hersam Acorn newspapers