District considers masonry repairs to stop water intrusion at Murray Avenue and middle school

The Lower Moreland Township School District discussed a proposal from Weatherproofing Technologies Incorporated to repair active water intrusion at Murray Avenue Elementary and the middle school, district staff said during the Aug. 25 board meeting.

The work described in the proposal targets identified leak locations, including Rooms 20205, the library and the assistant principal’s office at Murray Avenue and the guidance counselor’s office, Room 211, and the copy room at the middle school, Bob Hunter, a Weatherproofing Technologies representative, told the board. Hunter said the repairs include removing spalled concrete, cutting out and replacing sealant, replacing window sills where needed and repointing mortar joints.

Why it matters: Board members were told the quoted repairs aim to address the root causes of recurring water intrusion rather than temporary patches, and that untreated leaks have led to secondary damage such as ceiling-tile and carpet replacements and concerns about mold.

Hunter said prevailing wages, performance bonds and procurement compliance with the Pennsylvania school code were addressed in the proposal. He also said Weatherproofing Technologies identified additional similar conditions throughout both buildings and offered to perform a full building evaluation at no cost.

District facilities staff member Lance (surname not specified in the transcript) told the board that prior repairs had provided only temporary relief in some areas and that more comprehensive work would be a “step in the right direction.” He described how flashing and sealant issues can allow wind-driven rain to enter behind window flashings and into wall assemblies.

Board members asked several operational questions. Hunter said the base schedule for Murray Avenue included a 15-day period in the proposal and that equipment rental in the quote covered roughly an eight-week window, weather permitting. He said much of the work would be coordinated to reduce intrusive mechanical work during school hours and that the contractor planned to use an 80-foot reach device where feasible.

The contractor also offered an alternate line item, roughly $5,600, to remove and reseal two expansion joints that run the length of one building; Hunter recommended including alternates because remobilizing later could increase costs if leaks persist in sections that were not addressed initially. When asked about warranties for window or sealant repairs, Hunter said the district would be given a warranty period and the district would follow up to obtain the specific warranty length.

District staff recommended a follow-up full building evaluation to quantify needs and consider phasing repairs rather than repeatedly responding to active leaks, and they said some masonry repairs had already been flagged as maintenance items in a 2025 facilities assessment.

No formal vote on the Weatherproofing Technologies proposal appears in the meeting transcript. Board members asked staff to return with additional details, including warranty length and scheduling logistics, and staff said they would obtain that information.

The board moved on to student-services agenda items after the discussion.

Ending: District staff said they will get the follow-up evaluation and warranty information from the contractor before the board acts; the transcript does not record any final approval or contract award on Aug. 25.