Courthouse fixes closer to beginning

The domes atop the Luzerne County Courthouse should soon be buzzing with contractors repairing the terra cotta tiles and scraping off layers of waterproofing.

The primed tiles will then be coated with fresh sealant, transforming the main dome and four smaller ones from white to a historically accurate gray.

Project specifications should be issued to interested bidders in about two weeks, said county Engineer Joe Gibbons.

Six contractors passed the county’s pre-qualification procedure, which means they will be eligible to bid on the project, he said. County officials will identify the contractors when the bids are submitted.

The project, estimated at more than $5 million, will stop leaks that are damaging interior plaster and artwork and repair all three exterior staircase entries, officials say. Past bond funding and grant money will fund the project, officials said.

Gibbons had hoped to bid out the project sooner but said he needed to spend more time fine-tuning the bid specifications.

For example, the county had selected the type of coating that would be applied to the tiles, but the manufacturer has switched owners and would not honor a warranty on that product, he said.

The county had to test other coating systems by applying layers to a small section of a dome accessed by a ladder, Gibbons said. The samples were applied to tiles and left to cure before being hammered to test adhesion and durability, Gibbons said.

“It’s almost like crash testing. I want something that will last 50 years or more,” Gibbons said.

The winner is being used as a standard in the bid documents, requiring the chosen contractor to use that product or one that meets or exceeds its performance, he said.

Removal of the old layers of coating will be involved because some of the material contains hazardous lead paint and asbestos, he said.

Much of the courthouse will be encased in scaffolding for work above the roof line. The dome lights will be repaired and replaced, and stained glass windows must be removed, refurbished and reinstalled, Gibbons said.

At ground level, the granite exterior steps will be removed and stored while the staircase frames are replaced, Gibbons said.

One general contractor will be selected for the work because it primarily involves masonry, Gibbons said.

Samples of terra cotta tiles will be displayed in the courthouse when the project begins to give the public an idea of the project phases, Gibbons said. The contractor will also be required to periodically photograph the work to give the public a close-up view of the progress, he said.

“Damaged pieces will also be on display so the public can see what condition the tile was in and why it needed to be repaired,” he said.

The project will take about a year to complete. Gibbons said he will have a better idea on the estimated completion date when he receives the bids.

The domes’ deteriorated waterproofing has allowed leaks inside during heavy rain, causing interior plaster to swell, turn to dust and dislodge in pieces. Once the top of the building is sealed, the county will focus on repairing water-damaged plaster.

The artwork and interior stone must be repaired and cleaned, including expensive tile work and gilding. County officials have not yet figured out how they will fund these interior repairs.