10-6-08 Vinyl floor tile was finally able to be installed in the choir, band and computer classroom last week. Although moisture in the cement floor remained a bit high, the flooring manufacturer and installer together approved a new adhesive which adhere sufficiently AND keep the warranty in tact. This week, waxing of those floors will take place. Furniture is being assembled and installed in the offices and art room. Smart boards and remaining sound equipment installation will take place this week as well. A lot of final finish work is taking place, as the building committee held its walk-thru last week and created its punch list of items to finish/fix/ or re-do. Although it will be tight, everything appears on pace toward full completion and presentation by dedication on Nov. 2nd at 4:00pm
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9-22-08 This should be the last week that A.C.E will be on site full-time. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC should complete their final installations this week. Ceilings and painting of walls is complete. Installation of storage cabinets should also be completed this week, and display cabinets will be installed this Saturday and early next week. Five sound panels need to be replaced, and will be when they are received. Carpet is being laid in the offices and practice rooms this week. A "punch list" of any items to be fixed / touched up has been created and will be chipped away at this week and next. The last step to be addressed is laying of VCT floor tile in the band & choir rooms. The cement floor is still damper than preferred for installation of this VCT, so the flooring contractor, Kaeden Services, has contacted their supplier to provide any advice or insight as to how to proceed.
8-28-08 All exterior painting of the 1981 sections of the building is finished. Exterior concrete and repaving work are complete as well; marking lines for parking stalls will be finished today. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC continue to be on site for finish work as needed. The interior painting of the remaining interior rooms will begin today, with completion by the end of the week. Ceilings will be installed in each area as painting is completed. A.C.E. will begin hanging interior doors and installing hardware as each room is painted as well. Storage cabinets and lockers started to be installed last week and will continue this week. Landscaping will begin in the next week or so. Moisture in the floor continues to be a challenge, although the dehumidifiers and air conditioning is helping; installation of flooring remains a couple weeks out as it is contingent on lowering these levels.
8-19-08 Plumbing, electrician & HVAC continue to be on site as needed handling finish detail work. Excavation is being finished this week. Asphalt parking lots and sidewalks are all in; resurfacing of existing lots and line markings should be completed this week. The painter has been on site; the corridors are painted and the other rooms are getting close to being ready for paint. The exterior paint on the existing building is starting Tuesday. Interior cabinetry, instrument lockers, and music storage files will be installed this week in areas where painting is complete. A semi trailer load of equipment (lockers, risers, chairs, etc.) is getting delivered this week and will be installed as quickly as possible in the coming week. Ceilings are being installed in the corridors as they are painted.
8-11-08 Masons are complete with all their work. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC work continues as needed. Madson Tile & Excavating is working on the underground piping and rough grading around the building. New water line should be finished this week. Asphalt will be installed in the west lot on 8-12-08 and should be installed in the east lot at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. The exterior concrete sidewalks & curbing will be finished on 8-12-08. The painter remains on hold until the building dries out; the moisture content of block should be around 10% to paint and while it has come down remains between 15% and 35% depending where the test are taken.
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8-5-08 The HVAC is fully installed & running to expedite the drying out process of the walls & floor. Completion of the project could be delayed until the end of September due to the wet early summer and the subsequent waiting to be able to apply water-based wall paints and flooring adhesives. A.C.E. continues to be on sight doing as much miscellaneous work preparing for these finishes. Electricians & plumbers remain on site as needed. Omni Glass and Paint will be installing the vented windows in the art room . Madson Tile & Excavating continues to work on the underground piping and rough grading around the building. Vinton finished the planned curbs last week, although some extra curbing is pending. Exterior concrete should start Thursday. Temporary fencing around the work site is coming down today. The final amount of asphalt work for new and resurfaced parking lots will be determined this week.
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7-28-08 Weather continues to be a problem. Although we haven't had any heavy rains since late June & early July, pulling the moisture out of the cement floor and mortar & block walls remains a challenge. Until we get the relative humidity in those materials down sufficiently, walls can't be painted. Flooring & ceiling can't be installed until walls are painted. So, really, waiting on being able to paint is the big key right now. Dehumidifying started July 14th; and as soon as the HVAC is completed we can turn on the air conditioning to expedite the drying out. Other items of note this week: Electricians continue to be on site every day this week, pulling wires and getting ready for finish work. Omni Glass and Paint has the glass installed in the addition. All the art room glass is installed, except the vented windows. Madson Tile & Excavating is working on the underground piping and storm water unit. Vinton will be on site 7-29-08 to start curbs and should finish curbs on 7-30-08. Exterior concrete should start late this week or early next week. Asbestos removal on the remaining art room floor will take place the first week in August; this will require the computer server room to be relocated in the coming week.
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7-22-08 The masons will finish this week, and electricians will be site every day this week, pulling wires and completing the server room. HVAC ductwork and equipment is being installed. Omni Glass and Paint has all the windows installed in the addition, and will complete the windows in the remodeled art rooms later this week. Now that the building is sealed off, dehumidifying is under way with three large machines drawing moisture out of the cement floor and mortar blocks. The dehumidifying is necessary before walls can be painted and flooring installed with water-based materials; this is the main cause of delays at this time. Madson Tile & Excavating is working on the parking lot and will be working to complete it this week (weather permitting) after rain pushed them off site last week. Asbestos removal on the remaining art room floor will take place the first week of August, so the server room will be relocated the week of 7/28.
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7-8-08 A.C.E. will be on site every day finishing demo, doing some framing on bulkheads and furring the wall in the server room. The masons pulled off site until they can finish the openings going into the stage and the block in the art room. The electrician should be on site every day this week Hoping to have power on in the addition late this week or early next week. Madson Tile & Excavating is working on the parking lot and will be starting the underground this week. (Weather permitting)
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6-24-08 Last week we had a good week. The masons finished the south side brick and the block on the east side. A.C.E. opened the block up into the existing building. We also tore down the stud walls on the second floor. This Weeks Upcoming Work: A.C.E. will be on site every day finishing the concrete on the interior of the building, and doing some framing. The masons should be on site every day this week, finishing the brick on the east side and working on the block on the interior of the building. HVAC will continue to tear the old boiler apart, and should complete the boiler demo on Tuesday. They also will be starting the install of the new equipment and ductwork. Craft roofing should finish the roof this week, although some flashings and trims may remain. Omni Glass and Paint should be here Wednesday, they are hoping to complete doors and windows and close in the building within a week. Dehumidifying the interior will start next week. One surprise did pop up: A structural engineer should be on site Tuesday to address a concern on the second floor with a spongy floor in front of the new door connecting the upstairs corridor with the new addition. Some time in the past, an interior wall was removed below this area, and the amount of flex in the floor is a concern that will need to be addressed.
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6-17-08 Last week was a bad weather week, but the weather didn't mess with us too terribly; we are currently about four days behind schedul. If weather cooperates, we can still make up that time to be on pace for a mid-August completion. Concrete & mortar will be given a little extra time to cure due to all the moisture. Asbestos abatement (ie. removal of floor & celing tile) in the second floor hallways and old band room was completed on Thursday. All roof joist are now in place, and the piano lift from the back wall of the stage to the new music center was set.
This Week's Upcoming Work: A.C.E. will be on site every day finishing the first floor concrete, finishing the metal decking on the roof, starting to prep the second floor for concrete and doing demo to the existing building to prep for tie in of the two buildings. The masons should be on site every day this week, finishing the exterior brick on the south side and finishing the block wall on the east side where the access was left for building. The electrician should be on site every day this week, and plumber will be on site as needed. HVAC will continue to tear the old boiler apart. They will also demo the registers on the second floor in the old band room (new art room) and the registers on the stage. Craft Roofing is set to be on site Wednesday or Thursday to start the roof. The building should be enclosed by the end of next week.
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6-10-08 Last week went a little slower because of the weather. This Weeks Upcoming Work: A.C.E. will be on site every day working on roof decking, demo and the west canopy. The masons should be on site every day this week, finishing the brick on the west side and starting the south side brick. They should also finish the walls that divide the band and choir rooms. (Weather permitting). The electrician should be on site every day this week. Plumber will be on site as needed. HVAC will be doing demo on the old boiler and work on the roof curbs to prepare for the roofers.
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6-3-08 Last week was another good week; good weather does wonders. Masons and electricians will be on site every day this week as interior walls are finalized. Plumbers and HVAC will also be on site as needed. The piano lift from the new addition to the back of the existing stage wall should be installed next week. Asbestos abatement of the floor tiles in the old music rooms and second floor hallways should start next week.
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5-19-08 Last week went really good. The bar joists were not completed this past week, as masons need to get all interior walls up prior to remaining bar joists being placed; fortunately this does not delay the overall project timeline. This Weeks Upcoming Work: A.C.E. will be on site every day working on concrete slabs, bar joist and decking. The masons should be on site every day this week, starting exterior brick this week. The electrician should be on site every day this week. Plumber and HVAC will be on site as needed. A.C.E. will be doing demo this week to the existing building (current music rooms on second floor being remodeled into art class rooms) so the floor can be tied in. Color selection on all interior finishes are being received from the furnishings & decorating committee.
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5-19-08 Last week went really well; weather finally worked with us and we remain on schedule. This week's upcoming work: A.C.E. will be on site every day working on concrete slabs, pouring interior floors. Monday the plumbers will be on site doing ground work. All this week: the masons will be finishing exterior walls and working on interior walls; electricians will be on site. Friday the steel roof joist should be delivered to the site.
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5-12-08 Last week went pretty well. We made alot of progress on the masonry and the Spancrete was set on Friday. The masons should be on site every day this week. Color selection and final locations for all sound system components will be finalized. The rest of this week's upcoming work: Monday the plumber and the electrician were on site doing there ground work. Tuesday the masons will be finishing up the exterior block walls. Plumber and electrician will be on sitedoing more ground work. Wednesday the masons will continue to lay up the rest of the block walls that will be used for bar joist support. Thursday and Friday the same subs should be on site. A.C.E. should be starting to form for concrete.
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5-5-08 Last week we had two days of rain. That made the masons fall behind a couple of days. Other subs should be on track. Hopefully this week we can make up ground. The masons should be on site every day this week. Monday A.C.E. was on site, setting steel. All steel for Spancrete is set. Electrician was on site all day and the HVAC and plumbing contractors were on site as needed. Tuesday the masons will be finishing up the walls to set Spancrete. Wednesday the masons will continue laying up the exterior block walls. Thursday we are expecting to set Spancrete. Friday we expect Spancrete to finish up, and the masons to continue. We will need to get an approval on color sample for the interior doors and floor tile this week.
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4/28/08 Last week things went pretty good. We had a little weather to deal with, but the schedule still looks to be on. Work for this week: The masons weren't on site Monday because of the weather, but should be here the rest of the week. Monday A.C.E. stripped the interior footings and cleaned up the site. We also worked in the basement, getting the water to flow to the sump. Spancrete was on site to field verify the wall layout so they can start to produce the plank for next week. Tuesday - Thursday the masons, electricians and HVAC personnel will be on site. Thursday & Friday A.C.E. should be also setting steel, preparing for Spancrete next week.
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4/21/08 Things last week went almost according to plan. Work for this week: The masons should be on site every day this week, except Wednesday. Monday the foundation crew poured the remaining exterior wall. Tuesday the foundation crew should be done pouring walls and off site on Wednesday. Wednesday the excavator will be back in to finish backfilling the building. While the excavator is using his compactor, the masons won't be on site. The compactor messes with wet mortar. Thursday the masons will be back and A.C.E. will be starting on interior wall footings. Friday A.C.E. will be working on interior footing and the masons will start the interior masonry walls.
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4/14/08 Well, the project is well under way. Here is a run down of what has been going on and what will be going on in the next week: Last week Monday we poured the east and most of the south foundation wall. Tuesday we had the gas service moved. While moving the gas we found an old fuel oil tank underneath the existing asphalt which had been abandoned around 1990. Also on Tuesday we stripped the foundation walls that were poured on Monday. Wednesday we started to back fill the walls, but were rained out. We also had a person (Jesse Rose) here to advise us on the fuel tank. After review with Jesse and Jim Reis (MLHS Facilities Mgr) it was decided to remove the tank. Excavation of the west wall was put on hold until after the tank is removed and the bad soils are removed. Thursday we did more back filling and water pumping. Friday was the grade school ground breaking. Mother nature didn't want us to work, so we didn't.
The week coming up should be something like this: Monday we will be back filling inside the building and the mason will be starting to lay block. Tuesday we are planning on removing the fuel oil tank. Masons should be working on block. If the tank goes well we will dig the remaining foundation footings. Wednesday the foundation wall footings should be going in and the masons will continue. Thursday the foundation walls should be formed and poured. The masons will continue. Friday the walls should be stripped and wall contractor should be cleaned up and off site. Mason will continue. A.C.E. will start to form the interior footings.