Western Specialty Contractors’ Seattle branch restored the Kittitas County Jail in Ellensburg, Washington.
Located at 205 W 5th Ave, the Kittitas County Jail is operated by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office and serves as a detention center for individuals awaiting trial or serving short sentences. The jail was built in the 1980s to house about 45 inmates. In 2012, the Annex was completed, which significantly increased its total capacity to 209.
The Kittitas Jail restoration project, started in May 2025, encompassed a broad range of structural and aesthetic improvements. General contractor Belsaas & Smith hired Western Specialty Contractors to perform the jail’s exterior work, which included application of exterior sealants, epoxy injections, and concrete repairs.
The exterior work was accessed by manlifts and scaffolding while protecting the surrounding landscape. Western’s crew removed and replaced expansion joints and rustication joints using a DOW 790 silicone sealant. Small cracks were injected with an epoxy resin, while larger cracks were routed out and patched back. Concrete spalls were sounded for delamination, demoed and patched back with Sika VOH. Any exposed steel was treated with Sika Armitec. The work was performed on the jail’s exterior wall and the exterior recreation area.
The epoxy injection scope addressed cracks using Sika 35 Hi Mod epoxy. This process included preparing the substrate, installing injection ports, applying bridge seals, and grinding the surface after injection.
The concrete repairs covered approximately 3,200 square feet, during which cracks and spalls were routed, saw-cut, and patched with Sika VOH Mortar. Exposed reinforcing bars were treated with rust inhibitors and patched to match adjacent surfaces.
The plaza restoration involved removing up to one inch of deteriorated concrete using chipping hammers. Western Specialty Contractors completed the restoration in compliance with OSHA standards and contractual obligations, delivering a revitalized facility with enhanced durability and visual appeal within budget and on schedule in October 2025.
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About Western Specialty Contractors
Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com.