On Thursday, CP Bok, our structural engineer with CTLGroup, came to perform his assessment of the ceiling plaster on the south side of the sanctuary. This assessment was done by sounding (tapping with a hammer) the plaster to listen for the change in sound from place to place. Areas where there is a hollow sound are areas of concern and were marked with chalk for removal. Areas with a “ping” sound are solid and will not be removed.
Unfortunately, CP determined that a signifiacant amount of the ceiling plaster needs to be removed. This is approximately 50% of the total ceiling area on the south side of the sanctuary. He is very interested to see the condition of the concrete underneath.
Once CP finished his assessment and marked the areas of plaster to be removed, the contractors went to work. The installed plastic sheeting to contain the dust and installed plywood along the art galss windows for protection.
The contractors from Zera Construction then began removing the plaster in the areas designated by CP. The plaster is being removed because it has seperated from the concrete structure and could potentially fall. The engineers also need to be able to assess the condition of the concrete structure underneath the plaster to determine what repairs are necessary.
On Friday, the contractors will finish removing the areas of plaster indicated by the engineer. They will also carefully remove some of the decorative wood trim so that it does not get damaged during the concrete repair process. CP Bok, our structural engineer, will also return to assess and sound the concrete structure to determine areas of concern and develop a repair plan. n
