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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A preliminary report on findings in a structural review of GAR Memorial High School found a cracked stone lintel spanning one window, a deteriorating concrete roof slab deemed in &#8220;fair condition,&#8221; and brick masonry that &#8220;was saturated wet and had degraded to wet sand.&#8221;</p><p>The report echoes previous findings of structural issues at Meyers High School: Much of the problem appears to stem from water infiltrating the spaces between the outside facade stones and the interior walls. The water has caused steel to rust and masonry to crumble.</p><p>Earlier this year, the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board approved a contract with Masonry Preservation Services Inc. to remove slabs of the facade in select places to inspect the steel and masonry between the facade and the inner walls. That &#8220;exploratory&#8221; work is intended to gauge work needed on the building, and estimate the costs.</p><p>The company submitted a brief preliminary report on findings behind one part of the facade:</p><p>&#8226; A large stone lintel &#8212; a structure spanning a window opening to hold masonry above the window &#8212;was not supported by a steel beam. Cracks were found in stone lintels, causing portions of the lintel to bear on the window itself. The idea of a lintel is to keep weight of masonry above it off the window.</p><p>&#8226; Steel strap anchors apparently installed to prevent the stone from rolling forward were exposed to the elements and, as a result, had corroded &#8220;significantly.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; A concrete roof slab behind the parapet &#8220;had numerous spalls&#8221; &#8212; sections where the surface peels or flakes off &#8212; but the remaining slab &#8220;appeared to be in fair condition&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; &#8220;We continued to find the back-up wall assembly was saturated wet and had degraded to wet sand,&#8221; the report notes. The back-up wall assembly is the masonry between the front veneer slabs and the inside walls. The picture shows shifting and cracking bricks with large gaps in the mortars.</p><p>Water infiltration behind facade stone work is nothing new in the district. Contractors reviewing masonry at Meyers have also blamed moisture behind facade work for damaging the masonry inside those walls.</p><p>This was the third &#8220;field report&#8221; on GAR since the work began. Prior reports outlined work done, and noted in both cases similar deterioration of masonry from water infiltration.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">This photo from a preliminary report on a structural inspection at GAR Memorial High School shows deterioration of &#8220;back up wall assembly&#8221; &#8212; masonry between the front veneer and inside walls. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_GAR-Decay.jpg</photo0><caption0>This photo from a preliminary report on a structural inspection at GAR Memorial High School shows deterioration of &#8220;back up wall assembly&#8221; &#8212; masonry between the front veneer and inside walls. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Report on GAR: Signs of deterioration