One step closer

The most recent construction site visit took place just yesterday.  If all goes well, it seems as though this will be the last time that the big guns will have to conduct progress inspections of this project.  All parts of the contract are substantially complete at this point.

Removal of the remaining scaffolding began this morning.  Within the next couple of days, it will all be gone, and the work of the past couple of months will be history.  A few minor details still remain to be attended to:

• The frames around the three windows (including the rose window) in the south wall of the church are currently being scraped and re-painted.
• The frame around the rose window will need some TLC probably next year to repair some wood rot that has been discovered.   In the meanwhile, a protective skin will be installed in order to guard against further water damage until the proper fix can be effected.
• The final segments of the access ladders are on site and will be installed in the next couple of days, then the hatches atop each of the access ladders will be bolted closed, but not before each tower opening is covered with bird wire in order to keep our feathered friends from invading the open spaces.
• Details of the design and installment of the louvers for the top of the towers will be prepared so that this segment of the repair can be completed in the Spring of 2012.
• There are four concrete slabs in front of the staircases which will be replaced because they have been damaged during the construction (or damaged segments have been identified and need to be repaired in order to guard against the possibility of potential injury from the public accessing the stairs, especially in Winter months).

It is estimated that most of this will be complete by next week, and that the concrete slabs will be repaired within the next three weeks' time.