Problems with gym floor leave new building awaiting repair

Alleghany High School's basketball and wrestling teams won't be beginning the 2001-2002 season in the new gymatorium, and local students may not get to use the new facility at all this year.

The gym floor was damaged in late July by water released from a water heater in the locker-room end of the new addition. The damage wasn't severe enough at that time to warrant replacing the wooden floor, but has since spread to about 60 percent of the floor.

The floor's manufacturer, Action Flooring, has indicated that the damaged portion could be removed and replaced, but in order for them to completely warrant the floor, the entire floor including the underlayment and vapor barrier would need to be removed, the concrete substrate dried adequately and then a new floor installed.

"At the time we were hoping not much water got under the floor and it would dry and be okay," commented Alleghany County Schools Superintendent Duane Davis. "After about four weeks the damage was only on one end but it has spread. We waited to see how much damage there was....We needed to wait....It's good we waited because the damage has spread."

Davis added, "When we got the certificate of substantial completion it excluded the gym floor because it did not meet the contract specifications."

The cost to replace the gym floor has been estimated at $74,000, but the problem lies in who is responsible to pay that cost.

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