Repair work on Qualicum Beach town hall is still in the early stages, but director of engineering Bob Weir said the town knows the extent of the repairs required.
The project could cost the town up to $350,000.
Work on the building started near the end of December, according to a notice on the town’s website, which explained that a portion of the alleyway and the underground parking would be inaccessible.
Weir said the eastern side of the building, which “gets the brunt of the weather” exposure, doesn’t have any overhang to protect it from the weather.
Weir said the town hall building was the last of the old system for building codes.
“The age of the building stems from the time when technology was changing to more modern rain screens which was required by building codes,” Weir said.
Weir said there has been water penetration on the stucco with rotting wood elements below, so workers will be going in and replacing the damaged elements as well as applying a modern rain screen.
Weir said the work needed to be done is the same idea as the “leaky condo” issue which was the result of condominiums being built in the 1980s and 90s with building codes that weren’t suited to a temperate climate. But Weir said they’ve already done very extensive investigations of the building, including opening inspection port holes — one of which is in Weir’s office — within the building, so they shouldn’t be caught off guard by any damage.
“We’re pretty sure we know its (the damage’s) extent, maybe within a couple per cent,” Weir said. “We’re reasonably comfortable it’s not going to balloon out.”
Town of Qualicum Beach CAO Daniel Sailland said that while work is in the early stages, they’re are on track for the allocated $350,000 for the repairs.
He said the budget was pre-established for any additional work and there is “no concern about going over budget.”
The mechanical room is on that side of the building, Sailland said, which might lead to a twist in the budget.
“It may be an element we feel deserves attention once the building is open (as a way to increase efficiency,” Sailland said, adding that it’s still too early to determine that.
Sailland said the town staff removed shrubbery from the eastern side of the building and now Knappett Projects Inc., based in Victoria, is slowly disassembling everything.
