Ridgedale Pedestrian Bridge | Minnetonka, MN

Posted on January 6, 2023January 6, 2023 by Lisa Willen

Western Specialty Contractors – Minneapolis Branch recently contracted with S and S Development to restore a damaged pedestrian bridge connecting the four-story Ridgedale Office Center to its parking structure.

Years of severe winter weather had deteriorated the concrete bridge, and ultimately the collision of a horse trailer into the structure prompted its immediate repair. Western worked directly with the engineering firm Walker Consultants to design a replacement bridge railing system and estimate the repair work.

The scope of work included removing the bridge’s old steel railing system on all sides, replacing the outer concrete edge, and opening the precast plank’s outer core.

After Western removed the concrete, the structural components were inspected by Walker, who put the design into place.

Western then installed new supplemental reinforcing steel embeds into the precast plank structure and poured a new supporting edge on the outside of either side of the bridge. To create the edge, Western utilized a fast-setting, ready-mix concrete from a local plant and placed the concrete using a conveyor system to speed up the process and complete the project before winter set in.

During the construction process, Western workers ran into unexpected damage that prompted a slight change in plans.

“After we removed the old railing, we found that the outermost edge of the precast planks had a shear crack running longitudinally on both sides of the bridge,” said Western Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager David Grandbois.

“It was determined that this had to be completely removed, and new reinforcing steel had to be embedded into the existing planks to allow for a new concrete edge to be poured before Western could install the new railings.”
David Grandbois, Western Specialty Contractors Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager

Western performed additional concrete repairs on the underside of the bridge and the abutments on either end. After completing all the concrete repairs, Western installed new galvanized railings and applied a traffic coating to protect the newly restored concrete deck.

Western completed the project in two months and within budget.

For more information about Western’s concrete restoration services, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com/concrete-services/.

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.

Offutt Control Tower | Omaha, NE

Posted on November 14, 2022December 7, 2022 by Lisa Willen

The Western Specialty Contractors Sheet Metal Division in Kansas City, MO, recently replaced leaking, improperly installed wall panels and flashings covering the control tower at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE.

Historic Offutt AFB is the headquarters for the US Strategic Command, 557th Weather Wing, and 55th Wing, the largest wing of the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command. With its history dating back to 1894, Offutt AFB has played an essential role throughout US history, including hosting one of the first major strategy sessions by President George W. Bush in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

With so many crucial military aircraft flying in and out of Offutt daily, it’s imperative that its airfield and control tower function properly at all times.

Western Specialty Contractors was contracted to replace leaking freezer panels and associated flashing on the envelope of the base’s control tower. The damage resulted from improper installation when the structure was built nearly 30 years ago.

Western’s sheet metal experts worked with project general contractor HHI Corp. to estimate/bid the job and design and fabricate a new Dri-Design wall panel system and associated flashings. Dri-Design is a 100% recyclable, pressure-equalized rain-screen architectural metal wall system that attaches to nearly any substrate without using clips or extrusions. Its interlocking design makes installation quick and easy, plus it comes in a variety of colors, materials, textures and custom perforations.

Western installed the control tower’s new metal panel system within a month and on budget. The architect on the project was Kenneth Hahn Architects.

For more information about Western’s KC Sheet Metal Branch, visit www.westernspecialtycontractors.com/projects/branches/kc-sheet-metal/.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Weeki Wachee Statue | Spring Hill, FL

Posted on September 27, 2022January 6, 2023 by Lisa Willen

The completed statue, after Western's restoration process — Completed statue, after Western's restoration process

The deteriorated statue, before restoration — Completed statue, after Western's restoration process

(St. Louis, MO, September 20, 2022) The Adagio Fountain, featuring a statue of two mermaids in an adagio pose atop a 25-foot pillar, has greeted visitors to Florida's Weeki Wachee Springs State Park since it was unveiled in 1966. Made of vintage masonry, the 56-year-old sculpture was experiencing cracks, spalling, deterioration, and other damage when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reached out to Western Specialty Contractors – Orlando Branch to resolve the issues.

The iconic fountain's mermaids were created by retired Weeki Wachee “mermaid” Diane Whatt McDonald, 91, of St. Petersburg. McDonald and other women performed as magical mermaids for audiences in the spring's underwater theater – a world-famous roadside attraction that started in 1947 and continues today. The park's spring is one of the deepest natural caverns in the U.S., with approximately 117,000,000 gallons of clear water flowing from it daily.

Western's restoration experts thoroughly evaluated the sculpture before crafting a plan for its restoration. Utilizing boom lifts, workers began the project by thoroughly cleaning the statue and making epoxy patch repairs to all exposed deteriorated locations.

“The extent of deterioration of steel in the mermaid's lower flipper caused crews to treat the steel with caution during the restoration process. Therefore, the statue was barricaded off from pedestrian traffic, and extra care and precaution were taken when we had to completely remove, clean, and re-attach the flipper,”
Taylor Thomas, Western Specialty Contractors Orlando Project Manager

“Western crews worked 480 tedious hours to sculpt and match the art of the original sculptor's work to complete the project and restore the statue to its original glory,” said Western Project Manager Taylor Thomas.

The work also included restoration of the statue's interior steel frame. Workers removed rust from all deteriorated steel, then installed a corrosion inhibitor and a thin set of cementitious epoxy adhesive to align the steel with the curves and details of the mermaids' bodies.

To complete the month-long project, Western applied two coats of a historic protective coating, Neogard Ureprime HS4 Epoxy Urethane Primer (Dual Component Primer), to match the statue's existing color. The clear coat Neogard Acrylithane HS2 Urethane (Dual Component Top Coat) was applied over the primer for exceptional chemical resistance and to protect the statue from future weathering.

Despite any challenges, Western was able to complete the project on time and within budget for the park's visitors to enjoy once again.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Auburn University Stadium | Auburn, AL

Posted on August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 by Lisa Willen

Western Specialty Contractors – Atlanta Branch recently tackled the job of restoring the stadium at Auburn University.

The iconic stadium was originally dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 1939, before the first varsity football game was played. Although known primarily as a venue for football, the stadium has also hosted appearances by evangelist Billy Graham and musicians James Brown, The Beach Boys, Miranda Lambert, and Kenny Chesney, among others, throughout its history.

The concrete stadium seats 87,451 people and is one of the top 15 largest college stadiums in the U.S. Expanded 14 times since its original construction, with significant renovations in 2004 and 2017, the stadium required restoration and maintenance to prepare it for the 2022-23 football season.

Most sports stadiums and arenas in the United States are made of reinforced and precast concrete with steel seating supports and railings. Unfortunately, an even more universal characteristic is their openness and vulnerability to the elements — in addition to the wear and tear they receive from fans — all of these forces take a toll on a stadium’s structural integrity.

Without routine maintenance and protection, these concrete structures are subject to cracking, spalling, and structural damage from movement and reoccurring freeze and thaw cycles.

Western Specialty Contractors worked with Project Engineer Stephen Ward & Associates of Madison, AL, to analyze the type and extent of damage present in the stadium and recommend cost-effective, remedial measures to extend the facility’s life and keep fans safe. Cutting-edge, long-wearing deck coatings are often recommended to restore a stadium and protect it from future damage.

Western switched the primer on the treads to an epoxy primer due to the concrete having a concrete surface profile (CSP) of 8, with the coating manufacturer requiring a CSP of 3-4. The epoxy primer allowed workers to smooth out the overly rough areas before adding sand to the epoxy to give it the correct profile.

Western’s Atlanta team completed the project in August 2022, right on time for the university’s football season to begin.

About Western Specialty Contractors

McLean County Museum Roof | Bloomington, IL

Posted on July 29, 2022September 27, 2022 by Lisa Willen

McLean County Museum of History during its repairs

An aerial view of the new roof, replaced by Western Specialty Contractors Peoria and Springfield branches — McLean County Museum of History during its repairs

TPO Roof system mock up pull test passed with flying colors maxing out the gauge over 1000lb pull resistance before separating the system. The system consisted of Fully adhered 80mil Firestone TPO, Foam attached 5/8” dens deck prime, Foam attached 2” polyiso, and V force Vapor Barrier directly over clay tile deck. — TPO Roof system mock up pull test

Reinforced liquid flashings being installed over the termination bar to achieve a 30 year warranted system on the gutter edge. — TPO Roof system mock up pull test

(St. Louis, MO, July 27) Extensive water damage from an aging roof threatened to destroy treasured artifacts housed at the McLean County Museum of History in Downtown Bloomington, IL. The water intrusion resulted from a 30-year-old, damaged roof that had exceeded its useful life span by more than five years, allowing rain to leak through the roof and insulation, clay tile, and mortar down into the building’s ceilings and interior rooms.

The nationally accredited, award-winning museum occupies the former McLean County Courthouse, an American Renaissance-style structure built between 1900 and 1903. The building features a limestone-clad facade and solid masonry construction with a steeply sloping roof connecting the built-in gutter to the clocktower dome rising from its center. The old roof consisted of a 4-ply, built-up asphalt roof over one-inch perlite insulation mopped to the clay tile deck.

Although the McLean County maintenance staff had repaired the roof over the years, it no longer functioned properly and needed to be replaced immediately, along with the historic building’s drainage system. According to reports, as much as 14 gallons of water had leaked into the building after heavy spring rains, causing extensive damage. Although the water had damaged no artifacts, one area of the museum had to be closed off, and an office relocated due to the leaking roof. a 4-ply, built-up asphalt roof over one-inch perlite insulation mopped to the clay tile deck.

“The entire job was very challenging. We had to stage materials on the grounds as we needed them because the old clay tile deck could not be overloaded. Tearing off the old roof every day was equally difficult because we had to crane materials down and up from the street as we progressed.”
Jared Osterman, Western Specialty Contractors Peoria Assistant Branch Manager

In 2020, the McLean County Board agreed to hire Scharnett Architects & Associates of Bloomington to perform architectural and engineering services to replace the building’s roof and improve its drainage system. Western Specialty Contractors’ Peoria Roofing Branch was contracted to replace the historic building’s damaged roof, with work on the project starting in May 2021.

Western’s crew removed the old roof and replaced it with a Firestone UltraPly TPO roofing system consisting of an 80 mil white membrane over gypsum coverboard, Polyisocyanurate insulation, and vapor barrier directly over the clay tile deck.

The architect designed the new TPO roof system to go above and beyond what the manufacturer recommended, with double membrane thick valleys and ridges and built-in gutters lined with TPO and terminated with a liquid flashing, three-course step. The liquid flashing was use in place of counterflashing to minimize the use of mechanical fasteners in the historic structure. The job also required a 30-year, 80 MPH Firestone Roof warranty, including hail, cut, and puncture resistance.

*A team member from Western's Springfield branch grinding out a reglet*

Western’s Springfield, IL Branch also participated in the project by grinding out reglets, reworking the clay tiles around the drain replacements, and cleaning and sealing limestone at the gutter edge.

Performing a successful mock system pull test to ensure the new roof’s viability and strength, Western completed the roof replacement in September 2021. The museum had been closed to visitors during the roof replacement project while its restrooms were remodeled and its lighting fixtures replaced.

Julie Emig, the museum’s Executive Director, noted that the staff was relieved when the roof was restored. “The quality of Western Specialty Contractors’ work, especially given the complexity of this project, was outstanding. We no longer worry that the next rainstorm could damage our award-winning collections and exhibits.”

About Western Specialty Contractors

Beat The Heat | Seven Tips To Stay Cool

Posted on June 15, 2022September 27, 2022 by Lisa Willen

A member of Western's crew staying hydrated to beat the heat

Summer is a great time for construction work but a brutal time for construction workers. Excessive temps and sun exposure pose significant dangers, such as sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Every year, construction workers become ill on the job, and some even lose their lives due to heat exposure.

To protect its workers from the extreme summer temperatures, Western Specialty Contractors manages a heat illness training program and a safety hotline for its employees.

As part of the program, training is provided to all employees and supervisors who work in high temperatures. Training topics include how heat can affect the body, how to identify the signs and symptoms of various heat-related illnesses, and what to do if a co-worker is experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness. Western also regulates the hotter environment by providing water and shade to workers and having supervisors and safety managers monitor the heat index so that the proper protective measures can be taken.

“It is important, particularly during the summer months, that outdoor workers drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, which is the primary cause of heat cramps and exhaustion,” said Alex Jeffries, Safety Director at Western Specialty Contractors.

Alex, who has training and experience managing the health and safety of outdoor workers, offers the following tips for preventing heat-related illnesses on a construction job site:

Western's crew staying hydrated during the summer heat

Drink water frequently and drink enough water that you never become thirsty. Drink water or other non-caffeinated electrolytic beverages, and ensure your drinks are always cool, not room temperature. Adding a lemon slice to water can make plain water more drinkable.
Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing made from natural materials such as cotton. Avoid wearing non-breathing synthetic clothing. Wear safety glasses with UV protection, sunscreen, and brimmed hard hats.
Gradually build up to heavy work. If possible, do the most demanding work during the coolest time of the day. Workers who are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment face additional hazards to their health and safety. New workers and those returning from time away need to be extra careful in ensuring they stay hydrated.
Take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity. Move to the shade or an air-conditioned area when possible, but try not to go in and out of air conditioning too much as it will make it harder for you to adjust to the temperature. Use cooling fans whenever possible.
Select your lunch carefully. Junk food is high in fat and preservatives and will put a high caloric load on the digestive system. Try eating a big breakfast, so you're not as hungry at lunch. Eat light lunches that include fruits, vegetables, and salads.
Keep an eye on your co-workers and be alert for signs of heat exhaustion. Early symptoms include lethargy, disorientation, stumbling, dropping tools, slurred speech, or unresponsiveness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring a 911 call and immediate cooling.
Check your urine frequency and color throughout the day. Water intake is adequate when urine is clear or light yellow. When the desire to urinate is less than twice per day and/or you are producing dark yellow urine, you may be dehydrated.

By training employees on the early signs of heat exhaustion, taking the proper precautions, and employing tips like those listed above, outdoor workers can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related dangers.