Middle School Roof Project On Schedule

The Newtown Middle School roof project is 65-percent complete with most of the main exterior roof work expected to be completed by the end of next week, according to a consultant who gave an update on the project at Monday's Board of Finance meeting.

“We should be finished with re-roofing probably by the end of the middle of August, end of the third week,” said Charles Boos, of Kaestle Boos, a consultant hired to oversee the project, adding that some edge metal and interior work will be ongoing. “There is a lot of ceiling work that is beginning as of the end of this week that will be ongoing.”

With teachers expected to report back to school Aug. 25, crews are expecting to be substantially complete with their work by then as long as there is no rain or other conditions that might delay the project, officials said. However, even as classes begin, some work will still need to be done, though they will be scheduled around the school day, Boos said.

"Ninety-five percent would be complete," he said. "Any work that would be necessary would be done after hours."

In general, officials had nothing but praise for the project, particularly Boos and the main contractor, Silktown Roofing.

“This is by far the best organized school project that I have ever witnessed,” First Selectman Pat Llodra said, citing the weekly owners meetings to be productive, with everyone in attendance from the consultant to subcontractors.

“Charles Boos is at every single one of those meetings and that is not typical of my recent experience,” she said. “His presence there keeps the meeting focused.”

In addition, Llodra said paperwork that is prepared for the weekly meeting lists every subcontractor with the expectation by Silktown that a representative will be at the meeting.

“The contractor is very good,” she said.” People are held accountable.”

In addition, although town officials were concerned about whether the air conditioning units on top of the roof would be able to withstand the re-roofing, so far, they have had no problems with the units, officials said. The real test, however, will be when the work is done and they power up the air conditioning, officials said.

The project also has had some additional costs but they have been within the project budget, including about $30,000 to $40,000 in overtime, $15,000 in asbestos dust removal and work to correct a pre-existing condition, namely adding fire rated materials to the corridor walls in the ceiling area after workers found the pre-existing walls did not extend far enough up.

Officials also said no mold issues were found.