Toiling over Tiles

The tile area around the pools at the Beede Swim and Fitness Center is being replaced this week, although no one can figure out why the tiles are cracked and falling out of place.

"There was a problem with the tiles almost from the beginning," said Pam Higgins, pool manager, "but we couldn't identify what it was."

The architectural firm Thoughtforms in Acton that designed and built the pool jumped in to isolate the problem, but after not finding anything wrong with the adhesive or the tile itself, the company nonetheless decided to replace all the tile for free.

"Thoughtforms is spending their own time and money to replace 95 percent of the deck," said Higgins. She said the tiles were cracking and falling, but the problem stumped tile experts and manufacturers.

"Their findings were kind of inconclusive," said Higgins.

Thoughtforms spokesman Marc Doughty said the company examined every aspect of the work, even using an electron microscope, and found no manufacturing defect.

"It started six months after the Beede Center opened," said Doughty. "There is a warranty for the workmanship, but we don't know what the problem is. It's no one's fault, but we are stepping up to fix it."

Higgins said the replacement cost is north of $100,000.

"We are trying to be good citizens and not have the thing go to arbitration," said Doughty.

Higgins said Thoughtforms has been "wonderful" in that "they haven't backed away." She put the replacement cost at $250,000.

"The work is not costing the membership or the town anything," she said.

The pools are closed all week. The water is still in the pools, she said.

The fitness center will be closed for about 10 days from Aug.28 to Sept. 7.