Mountain View County council has approved funding to repair deterioration problems on the exterior of the county administration building, located off Highway 2A between Olds and Didsbury.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The $280,000 repairs of the exterior insulation finish system (EIFS) at the office were recommended in a Williams Engineering Canada Report commissioned by the municipality.
“Over the past two years it has become evident that there is a drainage problem under the exterior windows at the county administration building,” Ron Baker, director of operational services, said in a briefing note to council.
Last year Williams Engineering tested the EIFS system, which is used to direct drainage around the windows, council heard.
“At that time four windows were tested, and the results showed two proper installations and two improper installations.”
Earlier this year Williams was hired to do more extensive testing.
“There is probably two sides of the building that will require repairs which is estimated to cost $280,000. This is an order of magnitude cost estimate that will be further defined with more testing.”
The Williams Engineering Report stated that tests confirmed that an EIFS assembly has been installed on the Mountain View County building that is not in accordance with EIFS manufacturer specifications, council heard.
“Based on the moisture damage observed on the northwest elevation from cut tests, the EIFS wall cladding and moisture barrier has failed. It is recommended that the EIFS on this elevation be removed and replaced with a manufacturer-approved EIFS assembly.”
The work would likely require sheathing replacement due to the observed underlying condition.
“Most of the cut tests around windows confirmed proper lapping of the sill membrane with the surrounding building paper. Several cut tests confirmed improper lapping. These areas should be opened and repaired to ensure proper lapping over the exterior wall’s moisture barrier.”
The repairs can be completed without removing the windows. However, 150 mm – 200 mm of EIFS below the windows would need to be removed to correct the upward lap in the building paper.
“The EIFS can then be repaired. However, some colour variation between the new and old may occur. To address the window tie-ins, improper building materials used in the EIFS assembly, as well as repair the moisture damaged sheathing, full EIFS replacement may be considered over isolated repairs.
“This work can be sequenced by first starting on the highly exposed and damaged northwest elevation first.
“This will allow for all building envelope tie-ins to be reviewed, and repairs made, utilizing a manufacturer-approved EIFS assembly with sound building envelope detailing.”
The funding will come from the building reserve as part of the 2019 budget.
Playground funding OK'd
Meanwhile, council has approved $10,350 in funding for the purchase of playground equipment for the county-owned Water Valley Campground day use area.
Construction of the new bridge structure on Rge. Rd. 52 north of Water Valley near the campground has changed the recreational usage of the area, council heard.
“Previously, there was a gravel bar that was utilized by many residents to access the Little Red Deer River,” director of legislative services Chris Atchison said in a briefing note to council.
“For 2019, a project has been put forward for council’s consideration to create a day use area within an area of the Water Valley Campground that is currently underutilized on the south side of the campground.”
The requested playground equipment is the Bouncing Buddy Bus and the Bouncing Train.
“These units are manufactured using allied flo-coat steel tubing, covered with an ultra-durable polyester powder coat for exceptional fade free durability,” he said.
“The plastic components that are used are high density plastic that stands up to years of heavy use on public playgrounds.”
The playground equipment comes mostly pre-assembled, with some minor assembly still needing to be completed on site, council heard.
“Maintenance on these units should include occasional inspection to ensure hardware is tightly fastened, and to ensure there is nothing unsafe present on the equipment,” he said.
