Small Town News

Courthouse windows being checked for possible problems

---

The requirement for historical accuracy down to the last detail has resulted in the contractor for the Wharton County Courthouse doing a window-by-window inspection of the glazing on the building.

Wharton County Facilities Maintenance Director Paul Shannon said the glazing, the material used to secure the glass in the window frames, has not been performing like expected when the windows were installed during the restoration.

"We're still in the warranty phase so the county determined something needed to be done now," Shannon said.

"The glazing was not performing as it should. It was not sticking in places and flaking off in others. They are pulling the glazing from select windows and will analyze it to try and determine what's wrong. And they are going to inspect all of the windows to get a total of each window with a problem."

To date, Shannon said there have not been leaks or drafts reported due to the problem. He added that in those windows where the glazing is being removed, the contractor is experimenting with an alternate material.

"Because of Texas Historical Commission restoration requirements, the architect for the restoration project (Ray Bailey Architects) used a glazing material that was available at the time the courthouse was built in the 1890s," he said.

"The material they are substituting wasn't available then but we're hoping the architect and THC will allow us to use it. The county doesn't want this to be a continuing problem. And it isn't like the material will be visible. It will be painted over."



Copyright 2009 East Bernard Express, East Bernard, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 East Bernard Express East Bernard, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from East Bernard Express