WALDPORT – The Alsea Bay Historic Interpretive Center & Museum had to close Friday due to a leaky roof and will remain closed until further notice.
The city hired TGMC of Corvallis to spray a sealant with a 50-year warranty on the metal roof in September in hopes of finally stopping what has been an on-again-off-again leak issue since the city took over ownership of the building in late 2020.
“We had gone through one rainstorm with no leaks and thought it had been sufficient,” city manager Dann Cutter said Monday. “However, this was the first big storm leak, where not only did we have rain, we also had accompanying driving wind. And it is very clear that somehow, not only did it not work, it seems to have gotten worse.”
The city considered replacing the roof last year, but at nearly three times the cost – $130,000 to $140,000 with prevailing wages – opted to instead use the sealant at a cost of just under $50,000.
The city’s public works department attempted a couple of repairs over the years but leaks persisted, Cutter said. Contractors who later inspected the roof told city officials the roof seemed to be in good shape and likely just had some cracks that needed to be sealed.
The sealant is highly-rated for rain and wind, said Cutter, who suspects some of the leaks were likely addressed, which then forced the water to new locations. He will meet with the contractor Thursday to inspect the roof again and possibly remove the roof caps to reseal with spray.
Crews with the city’s public works department helped interpretive center staff cover and protect exhibits Friday. Center director Reda Eckerman posted on social media Saturday that the museum has had some leaks since it opened “but (that) yesterday’s more extensive perimeter leaking was in danger of affecting the wall displays …”
— Garret Jaros/Lincoln Chronicle
