BEDFORD – The Bedford Board of Works and Safety met in a special session Monday afternoon, to discuss a contract change order with Umphress Masonry to apply a sealant to City Hall for the preservation of the building and bricks.
When the contract was awarded to Umphress Masonry in April 2022, the original plan was to remove the old paint and repaint the building. Following the removal, it was then decided to leave the building as is, with the brick showing, unpainted.
This decision proved to be a challenge, as the brick had years of paint seep into it, causing the brick to become soft. Umphress Masonry began looking into a solution to the issue, finding a sealant that would work to preserve the brick, leaving the finished look as planned.
The sealant will need to be purchased, calling for the second change order to complete the renovation process. Originally, the approved proposal called for $12,000 for paint services, but an additional $4,600 will need to be approved for the sealant, which costs $1,500 per five gallons. The recommended amount of five-gallon containers needed for the project is 13.
The board discussed the requested amount and approved to have the sealant used to preserve the brick as well as any additional cost for the second coat. It was determined that the second coat will need less than the original 13 five-gallon containers.
The sealant will need to be touched up within seven years, and once that occurs, the city can facilitate maintenance of the brick with any type of waterproof sealant.
