ED-35-5J_HAAF_0145_15May05_Engineer_Report.pdf

SAUSSY ENGINEERING

400 Johnny Mercer Boulevard, Suite E

P.O. Box 30597 Phone: (912) 898-8255

Savannah, Georgia 31410 Fax: (912) 898-1882

May 5, 2015

Lewis Miles Engineering DPW

1480 Veterans Parkway, Bldg 1141

Ft. Stewart, GA 31314

Re: Review of HAAF Post Chapel

Project No. 15043

Gentlemen:

On May 5, 2015, I performed a visual review of several distressed areas at the above referenced structure. The noted distresses in the wood elements are a result of damage from water contact and/or termite activity. The following outlines out findings regarding each area observed:

1. On the west side of the building just north of the side entry doors, there is extensive damage to the skirt board at lower section of the wall. The siding materials are falling off due to the insect damage to the wood. The lower siding should be removed along the wall toward the south to determine the extent of the damage. This wood should be removed and replaced back against the existing foundation wall. See Photos 1 and 2.

2. On west side at the first window south of the exit doors, we noted that the lower section of the window jamb between the two windows is damaged either due to water or insect activity. We recommend that the damaged wood be removed and replaced and that the windows be reattached as needed. See Photos 3 and 4.

3. We removed a 12"x24" section of interior wall surface adjacent to the timber column just north of the west doors. We observed that the damage to the stud adjacent to column is minimal and limited to the interior surface of the 2x6 stud. The wood interior finishes are termite damaged and are loose due to the deterioration of attachment to the stud. See Photos 5, 6, 7, and 8. We recommend removal removal of a 16" strip of this wall all the way to the ceiling along north side of the column. A single or multiple plywood substrate should be attached to the studs with veneer interior finish attached to the plywood.

4. We removed an 18" square section of the interior wall surface south of the column next to the exterior doors to review the existing 2x6 timber exterior wall studs. See Photo 9.

The wall studs do not appear to be damaged by termites or water and the damage appears to be limited to the corner moulding at the interior face of interior wall surface and the adjacent timber column. We do not note any damage to the wood column itself. We recommend replacement of the wall corner mould to the ceiling level on both sides of the column. See Photo 10.

5. We removed an area of the exterior asbestos siding just south of the west wall door exposing the wood siding supporting the finish. It appears that a small section of the diagonal wood siding is water damaged and possibly termite damaged. See Photos 11 and 12. The siding at this area of approximately 12"x12" should be removed and reattached to the foundation wall to permit a substantial back-up for attachment of the asbestos siding.

6. The end timber joist at top of the exterior west wall at the north bay is extensively termite damaged and we recommend its removal and replacement. See Photos 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. Additionally, at the time this beam is removed, we should be present to observe the condition of the exterior timber stud wall behind the beam which is not visible at the time of this visit. This beam should be replaced with a pressure treated timber member of equal size and be attached to the column on the south end and the wall on the north end in a manner similar to current construction. We are unable to observe the method of attachment at each end at the time of this visit.

7. A review of the beam just south of the beam in item 6 above has experienced the same level of deterioration due to termite damage. See Photos 19, 20, 21, and 22. We recommend this beam also be removed and replaced in a similar manner with the ability to review the condition of the stud wall behind. At this location, we also observed that the wood over the window at the location of the header is damaged. See Photo 23. The window moulding supporting the curtain brackets has pulled loose and has rotated. See Photo 24. It appears that there has been some remedial repair by the insertion of a new screw towards the north end to hold it in place, however, this moulding should be removed and reattached to a vertical position to wood. The existing window header will need to be removed and replaced across the entire double window with a minimum 12" bearing on each end. Additionally, strapping of the window header to the window jamb studs should be provided in the form of double 1 1/4" x 24" coiled 16 gauge straps wrapped over the header and down the inside face of the wall studs.

8. At the top of the column separating item 6 and 7 above, there exists gaps in the fascia wood and finished wood surfaces causing voids. These voids should be refilled with wood or caulking during removal and replacement of the north and south beams which intersect this point. Refer to Photo 25.

At this time, I believe the structure is safe for day to day normal occupancy but should not be used as a shelter for pending wind storms.

It has been our pleasure to conduct this review and if we can be of any additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours truly, W. Hunter Saussy III, P.E.

WHS/rlm

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