Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Middle School Emergency Generator


I certainly hope the mechanical engine and electrical switching is in better condition than the housing.
The Middle School Emergency Generator

I certainly hope the mechanical engine and electrical switching is in better condition than the housing.

The Middle School


The Middle School completed in 1998 has serious roofing problems. It is a metal roof which usually last 50 years. I have only walked around and have made no tests. The water is overrunning the gutters and washing away soil on the ground. The water is supposed to fall into the gutters down the many pipes empty into the retaining pond and gradually leach into the soil. The problem could be a faulty design in which case the architects and contractors should have been held liable during the guarantee period. If it is a design flaw we certainly don’t want our new buildings with the same flaw. Is it a lack of maintenance? Clogged gutters perhaps. Regardless this large flow of ground water is impacting the fields below and probably should be piped downstream of the complete school site. The water going over the edge of the roof is freezing and carrying away parts of the soffit. Contributing to mechanical damage. When money is tight it seems maintenance not janitorial is the first to suffer.

Ashly School


Spalling is the deterioration of a brick's surface brought on by moisture. Brick is porous and when the water it absorbs expands due to freezing temperatures, it causes the brick to break apart, or spall. Spalling can happen in their basement, but it's most common in chimneys.

And here's the really bad news: spalled brick is almost impossible to repair. Damaged bricks have to be cut out and replaced. It's an expensive, slow and tedious process. But there are a few things you can do to help prevent spalling:



A masonry sealant can help prevent the problem as long as it allows the brick to breathe.

Keep moisture away from brick foundations by providing proper drainage away from the house.

And if spalling is confined to just a few bricks, leave them alone. They won't compromise the stability of a wall or a chimney.
If spalling is severe, consult a professional. It's necessary for the safety of your home. But be prepared to watch your checkbook balance crumble, along with the brick.

We Recommend...
How to Repair a Brick Ledge
Secure loose bricks and crumbling

The Fausey School


These are Home type Air conditioners in a comercial setting. Normaly they would be removed for the winter. Here they are wasting heat all winter long and the spring. And since they are installed at waist level in a playard the children have crushed the soft aluminum fins making them useless. This is a security problem as many thieves force the AC down, step on it and gain entry. If these have freon as a refrigerant the release of same to the atmosphere is forbidden and punishable by stiff fines