HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Trustees 04/05/1997a:
"N iVED
TRUSTEES OF THE MANSFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY CFRCE
MINUTES OF THE SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1997WMTM Ptj L. 4 0
rimr%3i lcLD
ATTENDANCE: Nancy Breef-Pilz, Leonard Epstein, Chris Cb'ir�Is,Eitjc$
Lipson, Vivian Sweet, Leslie Pasch
The April meeting of the Trustees of the Mansfield Public Library was held on
Saturday, April 5, 1997 in the Certuse Room of the library. Nancy called the meeting to
order at 8:15 AM.
Secretary's Report. Chris read the secretary's report which was approved with no
corrections.
Treasurer's (tort. Linda presented the treasurer's report. Our current balance is
$14,616.53.
Correspondence. A letter was received from the newly elected Charter Review
Commission inviting Town Board's comments and recommendations with regards to the
current Town Charter. Leonard will draft a letter to this Commission citing the Mass
State Laws that govern our particular Board of Trustees and explaining how the current
Charter works for this library.'
Librarian's Report. Leslie highlighted the librarian's report. Patrons can now
access the Ebsco periodical database through MLIN from their homes on the Internet
(with a valid library card). This is a new option which has worked well in test libraries and
appears easy to use.
CLD BUSINESS
Roof Update. The Selectmen directed Town Counsel Bob Mangiaratti to begin
proceedings to file a suit against the original contractor and manufacturer in connection
with defects in the roof. The Thompson and Lichtner Company, Inc. report was
completed on their evaluation of our roof. (see attached). Based upon Greg Cauldwell's
estimate, the Capital Improvement Plan Committee will be requesting $60,000.00 at town
meeting for the repair of the roof, specifically, replacement of the asphalt shingles.
Budget Update. The Board engaged in a discussion of the budget, particularly
with regards to the state requirements which give the Board of Trustees the authority to
decide where funds (granted the library in State Aid) will be appropriated. (Chapter 151,
Acts, of 1996). Leslie reported that after two additional meeting with the Finance
Committee, the budget which will be submitted on behalf of the library is $368,051.00.
The Board agreed to defer discussion of its use of the current State Aid grants totaling
$25,532.74 until after the town meeting.
DDayMme of Trustee Meetings. The Board discussed the possibility of changing
the day and time of the monthly Trustee meetings. After some discussion, it was decided
to keep the meetings on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM for May and June.
NEW BUSINESS
Computer Bids. Leslie presented the three bids for Mary's new computer.
Leonard made a motion, seconded by Chris to allow Leslie to choose the computer that
best suits her needs. The Board authorized her to spend $2500.00 from MEG money.
Vote was 4 -1 in favor of proposed motion.
Unusual Items in Attic. Leslie brought to the Board's attention several
unusual/old items in the attic.She is unclear what to do with these items, or where they
belong. After looking them over it was decided that Leslie will call the Historical Society
and Peg Bradner to find out more about them and where a more appropriate place for
them would be.
Approval of April Programs. Two April programs were approved: Eating for
Reasons Other Than Hunger, April 10th at 7:00 PM; and Boo Boo the Clown, April 24th
at 10:30 AM. Linda made the motion and Leonard seconded that these programs be
approved. Vote was unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 AM.
The next meeting will be Saturday, May 3, 1997 at 8:00 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
wJ- &tib �,
Chris Cormier Hayes
MRP. 04 197 11:06
THE THOMPSON & LICH'TNER COMPANY, INC.
P.2I
Consulting Engineers i
Engineering and Testing lsb4at' s
111 First Street
Cambridge, Massachusetw
Tel (617) 992-2111 Fax (61p)'
March 4,1997
Ms. Leslie Pasch, Director
Mansfield Public Library
255 Hope street
Mansfield, Massachusetts 02048
Re: Evaluation of Roofing
'Mansfield Public.Library
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Dear Ms. Pasch:
At your request, we met with you on January 29, 1997 to examine water
leakage conditions in the Mansfield Public Libdition of the roofing
rary and the con
materials covering the building, The purpose of the examination was to determine the �.
relationship between the condition o the roofing materials and construction, and the }
various leakage conditions in the library.
The library building occupies the north end of a one-story structure that was
occupied in 1989. The roof of the building consists mainly of hip roof areas with about
a five over twelve slope, Above the library, there are two relatively flat roof areas .
above the sloped roofs. The sloped roofs are covered with Summit asphalt shingles i
manufactured by,Georgia Pacific. 17�e flat roof areas are covered with an EPDM rubber
roofing membrane that is adhered to the roof deck. The roof framing we were able to j
observe consists;bf deep wood trusses set about 8' apart in the open central area, +
combined with conventional 2 x S framing, 'There are several aluminum -clad skylights
on the sMngie-clad roof areas. Two of the skylights were removed due to water leakage
at the skylights. One was not replaced and ope was replaced with a different kind of
skylight, The water leakage we were shown consists of (a) leakage above and adjacent..
to a skylight in the central area, (b) leakage above the book stacks north of the central
area, and (c) several leakage locations at the roof eaves along the north and east
elevations, In addition to the skylight work on the roof, repairs to EPDM joints and
some metal edge flashing repairs were observed where the edge of the rear EPDM
membrane area meets the shingles. i
The soffits below the roof eaves are covered with a vinyl panel set in aluminum {
trim. The panels have about 150 1/16 diameter holes for venting placed every 12
There is an aluminum, gutter in front of aluminum fascia trim which is lapped by an 1
1
a uminum drip edge below the shingles. We found an ice and water shield membrane.
below the shingles at two eaves we examined. 'Mr. Fusco, the contractor who removed_
the skylights, stated that there is a layer of 15 -pound felt on the deck below the
shingles and that he observed prop vents between the insulation and the underside of
the deck in the area he opened up,
On the roof, we examined the shingles, the EPDM roofing, the flashings, and the
i ridge vents. We also examined the skylights that had been removed from the roof. We
MAR 04 '97 11:07
P.3
THE THOMPSON & LICHTT%'ER COMPANY, INC.
Y
Mansfield Public Library'
Ile: Evaluation of Roofing ,
March 4, 1997
Page 2 of 4
Observed a considerable number of vertical splits that have occurred in the shingles
above the butt joints of the shingles below the split shingles. These splits vary from
P to 4' in length. The shingles at splits are mostly flat and level with the roof plane
but a few are at locations where the shingles`are lifted. Two splits are located directly
above the leakage above the center area skylight. Most Splits are located where there
are no leakage conditions below, The shingles abutting the top edge of some original . ¢
skylights have expanded and buckled, leaving voids between the shingles and the base
of the skylight. We observed that the original skylights have only a 2-1/2° flange
around the frame, which is closer to a nailing fin for a window than the width required i Q
for a skylight installed in a shingled roof. The ridges of the roof above the shingled i
areas have a ridge vent formed with 3' long sections of a pre. -formed plastic vent i
covered with cap shingles. Between each section of vent, there is a butt joint i
positioned above the shingles. The end of one vent was only partially sealed with a
Piece of foam stuffed into the end void.
The EPDM roof areas are located above the shingled slopes. The EPDM i$
adhered directly to the plywood deck. We observed a significant number of deck
fasteners that had backed out and were protruding up under the membrane, causing '
the membrane to stretch. The front EPDM-covered section is flashed over the shingles
by carrying the EPDM over the shingles and attaching the edge with a termination bar #
fastened with screws penetrating through the shingles, The fasteners were left exposed } .
to the weather without being sealed. We found one 2' long area where the EPDM y
membrane had pulled out from under the termination bar, and a failed vertical seamj
above the bar. We also observed other seam failures at the edges of the roofs that had
been repaired with patches or had been sealed with white sealant. One repaired area
was directly above the leakage area to the right of the central area skylight. Repairs.. ¢
were also observed at seams along the top edge of the rear EPDM-covered section, • {
where the EPDM membrane runs under the shingles, and at the ends of the metal edge . { {
flashing on the roof area where it meets the shingles..' These repairs were above he j
leak at the book stacks north of the central area. The metal edge of this area was
fastened above the shingles with unsealed exposed screws and some joints in the metal .
were butt joints rather than lap joints. The only venting of the space below the EPDM
roofs was from several small pressure -relief vents designed to vent below the roofing
membranes.
The eaves at ice dam conditions contain joints between the aluminum flashings
and the fascia that will allow water to penetrate under the ice and water shield
membrane if the ica dam originates in the gutter. Some gutters on the north elevation l
were partially filled with leaves. {
Based on our examination of the building and the roofing materials, we have the
following opinions, conclusions, and recommendations regarding the roofing materials
and the leakage conditions: i
I. The leakage we observed appears to be due to two separate conditions. Some
leakage appears to have resulted from failures of the roofing materials, such as
EPDM membrane seam failures, roof penetrations, split shingles, faulty.
'_ flashings, and possibly the ridge vents. Another source of leakage is ice dam
MAR 04 '97 11:08 P.4
THE THOMPSON & LICHTNER COMPANY, INC.
Mansfield Public Library
Re: Evaluation of Roofing
March 4, 1997
Page 3 of 4
conditions where ice forms along the eaves of the roof, causing melted snow
running down the roof to back up under the roofing and enter the building.
2. The shingles on the roof have a significant number of splits. We understand
from a letter sent by the shingle manufacturer that, according to them, the
cause of the splits is the movement of the flexible roof framing system, which is, i s
not covered by their warranty, Some of the splits have raised ridges, indicating i
that shifting of the substrate may have caused the splits, while the majority of '
I. the splits are still flat. The cause of these splits would have to be evaluated by i
taking roof cuts at the splits and performing laboratory tests on the shingles. 1
L If substrate movements are the cause of the splits, we would expect the 15- '
pound felt below the split shingles to be split as well, Splits may be the source
of the leakage above the skylight in the central area. Other splits do not appear
to be sources of leakage at the present time, due to the presence of the 15. i
pound felt underlayment. The split shingles should be replaced to maintain the i
integrity of the shingle roofing, and prevent present and future leakage
conditions.
3. The ice dam leakage conditions are caused when snow melts as a result of
building heat .passing through the roofing system when ;the ambient.
temperature is below freezing. This water re -freezes at the eaves, causing ice. �.
dams which force the water to back up the slope and under the roofing. The
roof appears to have a waterproofing membrane at the cave designed to..preveni
this type of leakage. Assuming this, membrane is properly installed, it appears 1
that the formation of the ice in the gutter forces the water to back up under,this
membrane, if this is the cause of the leakage, the removal of the gutters on the
north and east elevations, which are not visible to the public, should allow the
water .to drain off the roof, creating icicles, without backing up under the
roofing. The best method of controlling ice dam formation is to vent the area
under the roof deck, removing the building heat from the roof deck and keeping
the roof cold. The small number of soffit vent holes is`irsufficient for this size
roof, and there is no venting of the roof at the EPDM membrane.
At a minimum, the area of soffit venting should be increased and venting of the
EPDlvf membrane should be performed. Roof openings are required to evaluate. i
the adequacy of the ice and water shield membrane and the adequacy of the j
continuous venting from the cave to the ridge vent.
4. The EPDM membrane appears to be inenerally satisfactorycondition, except.
at the edges of the membrane and at backed -out fasteners. Te present flashing .
has exposed fasteners that let water into the roofing system and will eventually
# become loose from the deck rotting around them. This edge flashing should
II have been made using a continuous cleat termination bar fastened over the
shingles, which would then be covered with an aluminum flashing ,that is
stripped along the top edge with a rubber membrane so that no fasteners are
r.
11AR 04 '97 11:09
THE THOMPSON & LIC147MR COMPANY, INC.
P.5
Mansfield Public Library
Re: Evaluation of Roofing
March 4, 1997
Page 4 of 4
exposed to the weather. The joints of the membrane edge flashing have failed at .
several locations and have several types of previous repairs.
The metal flashing on the rear section has exposed fasteners and unsealed
joints, and the termination of the end of the flashing at the shingles has been s
temporarily repaired at both sides of this roof area.
The EPAM roofs should be inspected for defective conditions, The fasteners
that have backed out should be removed and reset. The rubber flashing joints
should be sealed with a strip of membrane. The 'edge flashings should be I
replaced with a properly installed metal flashing with no exposed fasteners, it. j
should be possible to design these flashings to provide venting at the top of the
shingle slopes to help eliminate the ice dam conditions.
5. The skylights have an insufficient flange to be properly installed in a shingle.
roof unless set in roofing cement or flashing material, since the narrow flange
will not be able to redirect water back above the shingles. The skylights should
be replaced or a flashing could be formed around the skylights using W. R.'
Grace Ice and Water Shield membrane adhered to the flange and lapping over
the shingles below the skylight to collect water and direct it back to the surface.,
of the shingles.
b. the ridge vents could be a source of leakage at locations where the butt joints
between sections or nail penetrations allow water to enetrate below the
PI
shingles. Water testing of the vents would have to be performed to locate the
leaking joints.
The present leakage conditions appear to be (a) ice dam -related, (b) below
relatively recent repairs to the EPDM flashings, or (c) below shingle splits. We
recommend that, after the repairs outlined above are made to the 'EPDM
flashings and to the shingle splits, water testing of the roof surfaces be., {
conducted to determine if other leakage sources are present.
Very truly yours.,
THE THOMPSON dz L1CHTNER COMPANY, INC,
Ro er" t. ilk
Senior Manager
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