New roof flawed at Dexter Elementary

DEXTER — Four months into Phase 1 of the General Brown Central School District'scapital construction project, the project's architectural and engineering firm noticed problems with the new roof at Dexter Elementary.

Jason S. Jantzi, architect with Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown, said five issues were discovered before Oct. 22 when the firm checked on construction progress.

Membrane wrinkles were found on the new roof because the membrane wasn't rolled flat when it was laid. There also was puddling of water at the mechanical room door "that was due to the slope of the roof pitching the opposite way originally shown on drawings, and that's been since taken care of by the roofing contractor," Mr. Jantzi said.

Another problem was the lipping at the roof extension, which prevented water from flowing back to roof drains. An existing roof drain was located in the wrong spot, which accelerated the deterioration of the roof membrane. The height of the new roof drains installed were higher than the roof, so water cannot drain.

"These are minor issues," he said. "Obviously when we say the roof doesn't drain it sounds bad, but they'll be fixed before the school will be issued a warranty."

All of the issues are expected to be fixed within the next couple of weeks, Mr. Jantzi said.

He didn't want to comment on what subcontractor did the roofing work, but it was reported to the Times that the $485,000 roofing contract was awarded to Gouverneur Roofing, Siding & Sheet Metal.

Michele A. Traynor, district business administrator, said the Board of Education and district administration "certainly have concerns with the Dexter roof issues in Phase I of the current project." She said the district is confident that there is an appropriate course of action to ensure the roof issues are resolved.

Aside from minor roofing problems, Mr. Jantzi said, the project is going smoothly. Phase 1 of the $13.3 million capital project includes the replacement of roofs, doors, and windows at Dexter Elementary and Brownville-Glen Park Elementary.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jantzi said Dec. 10 is the targeted advertised bid date for Phase 2.

The second part of the project will include installing boiler systems at Brownville-Glen Park and the junior-senior high school, doing electrical and plumbing work and replacing doors and windows at the junior-senior high school. The high school's artificial turf field and track will be completed in the second phase.

Mr. Jantzi said it will be late winter or early spring before contractors can replace interior lighting, install the video security system and replace the fire alarm system. Heating systems will be replaced during the summer.

Phase 2 construction is expected to be completed by Christmas 2010.