Upper Dublin School District staff told the finance committee on Aug. 20 that roof replacement work at Maple Glen Elementary is finished and that two change orders were required after crews discovered extensive plywood deterioration beneath the shingles.

Facilities staff said the plywood used in the original roof installation had warped and curled as it aged, a condition consistent with pressure-treated plywood the industry later abandoned; the district’s architect and roofer inspected exposed areas during removal and confirmed the deterioration. The contractor’s bid contained unit pricing for plywood replacement at $3.91 per square foot, which staff said covered the first change order of $265,254.40. A second change order covered three additional units of Tekton decking at $2,400 per unit, totaling $7,200. The combined change orders total $272,454.40.

Committee members asked if the roof failure reflected improper original installation or materials not disclosed at the time. Staff said the building was constructed during a period when plywood manufacturing and treatments were changing, and that some plywood manufactured at that time later proved prone to early deterioration; nationwide litigation over affected plywood was referenced by the architect. Staff said they did not believe there was a viable construction-claims path and that the contractor’s bid had already included unit prices for deck replacement.

The district reported that the architect, Michael Johnson, inspected roof decking as shingles were removed and again approved each sheet as it was installed. Committee members expressed appreciation that the work was completed before the school year began and noted the large unexpected cost was addressed through the contract’s unit-price structure.

The committee approved moving the change orders forward. Staff characterized the work as likely to end a recurring roofing problem traced to the underlying plywood condition rather than to the current contractor’s work.

Questions left for follow-up include whether further warranty claims or latent-defect processes might apply; staff said they would continue to monitor and report as necessary.