RECplex roof replacement to cost $1.13 million

The price to replace the roof on the RECplex is in: slightly more than $1.13 million.

The bid was awarded to Atlas-Apex Roofing at the Feb. 12 council meeting. They plan to start the job March 1 and have it complete after 80 working days.

“It’s a big project, but we have to do it,” said Al Jellicoe, Tisdale’s mayor.

The roof has cracks in it, causing leaks. There’s a bad spot in the lobby, as well as a few in the hockey arena. There’s evidence there’s leaking in the curling rink as well.

The roof last saw repairs in 2004. At that time, spray foam was applied. It wasn’t installed properly. The town cannot go after that contractor as the six-year warranty is long over.

Greg Howes, a roofing consultant who developed the bid documents for the town, went over the possible options with council after the bids were received.

“I’d say that I’m pleased with the pricing that came in,” he said, adding that he was expecting the price to be higher.

Howes didn’t recommend any of the bidders, only giving advice to council relating to his experiences with them.

“The system that we’ve specified for the roof here is exactly what they put on the Hillberg & Berk warehouse in Regina,” he said. “They did a good job, the system went down, the Carlisle [Construction Materials, the makers of the roofing system] tech rep was happy with their work and there were no concerns with that job.”          

One major concern council had was how the roof replacement would affect the rodeo.

“I really don’t think it’s going to impact you on the rodeo because we can tell them to shut down that weekend,” Howes said.

He told council it’s possible to move most of the construction items on the roof or within a small area blocked by a chain link fence. Even the bin used to remove rubble from the old roof could be moved away from the building for a couple of days.

“It’s going to be a pain in the butt for somebody, whether it be the pool or the rodeo or playoff hockey or whatever,” Coun. Mike Hill said.

As for the pool, Lesley Thibault, the recreation and parks director, said she expects swimming won’t be disrupted.

“It will be open. We’ll proceed just like normal.”

The director is hoping most of the rubble from the old roof – and the mess that comes with it – will be gone when the pool opens.

“We’ll cover the pool with a tarp and the girls will have to check the pool and check the filters just a little bit more closely.”

Thibault said she would have to meet with Atlas-Apex to get further details on how the project would affect the pool.