Hamburg school to replace gymnasium floor

HAMBURG — Hamburg Borough School will begin replacing the gymnasium floor on Monday, a project that is expected to be completed by Oct. 1.

The first phase of the project — originally scheduled to bring during spring break — involves asbestos abatement. Core samples showed that the adhesive layer connecting the plywood layer to the concrete sub-floor contained asbestos. In order to ensure student safety the entire project was delayed until the summer to remove the floors and asbestos abatement.

The original floor was composed of rubber and plywood, which was glued to a concrete sub-floor.

According to the Chief School Administrator Roger Jinks, Jr.

“We’ve had to make individual repairs to tears in the seems and in certain areas the floor is beginning to buckle.” Jinks said. “The warranty on a rubber floor is only 8-10 years and the basketball lines need to be repainted every summer. With hardwood, the lines are under polyurethane and are basically permanent.”

Phase one is demolition the bleachers will be removed and stored on the stage. From there, the flooring will be removed and the asbestos abatement can begin. Upon completion of demolition, the second phase of the project, construction of the new floor will begin.

“Our contractor is using a full containment method where the air will be constantly monitored inside and outside of the gym, with full verification it is all contained in the gym.” Jinks said.

With full containment in the gym and constant air monitoring, student safety can be ensured and the project will not affect the summer pre-school and special education programs.

The project should take 2 1/2 months to complete and the goal is to have everything completed by Oct. 1, 2014. So as not to disrupt the school year, contingencies are in place to ensure that students will receive their physical education when they return in September, such as holding gym classes outdoors in appropriate weather. When completed the gym will have a wall-to-wall hardwood floor.

“The reality is hardwood will give us many more years of use,” Jinks said. “Rubber is not as effective, (hardwood) is better for student safety. We are looking forward to it.”