HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-14 OPH Ltr to SSII Residents Re 12-16 Testing Report ire, , z
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd N.•Box 2007.Oak Park Heights,MN 55082•(651)439-4439•Fax 439-0574
January 14,2004
Residents of Sunnyside II
6375 St.Croix Trail North
Stillwater,MN 55082
Dear Resident,
The City has had an opportunity to review the results provided in the December 16th report of the testing
performed at your building by Stork Twin Cities Testing Corporation.Enclosed you will find specific
commentary from the City's Engineer-Mr.Jerome Mulvihill,P.E.as to his analysis of the December 16th
report.
Generally,the testing that has been completed to date has found the following:
• flaws in connecting the decks to the buildings structure(missing rim joists),
• inadequate cantilever support depth lengths,
• that better than 60 percent of core samples showed levels of deterioration.
As a result of this additional testing,the City can draw no other conclusion than that these decks be
removed and reconstructed.In the interim prudence dictates that you do not utilize these decks for any
reason.We appreciate that your homeowners association is working on the issue and we encourage you to
cooperate in that process.
Sinely,
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ez .,:,
.Jim Butler
City Building Inspector
Cc:Sunnyside II Condominium President
City Council Members
Bonestroo,Rosene,Andertik and Associates,II in Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
Bonestroo and Employee Owned
" Rosene Principals:Otto G.Bonestroo,P.E.•Marvin L.Sorvala,P.E,•Glenn R.Cook,RE.•Robert G.Schunicht,P.E.•
IIIJerry A.Bourdon.P.E.•Mark A.Hanson,P.E.'
vil Andertik& Senior Consultants:Robert W.Rosene,P.E.•Joseph C.Anderlik,P.E.•Richard E.Turner.P.E.•Susan M.Eberlin,C.P.A.
• Associates Associate Principals:Keith A.Gordon,P.E.•Robert R.Pfefferle,RE.•Richard W.Foster,P.E.•David O.Loskota.P.E.•
Michael T.,Rautmann,P.E.•Ted K.Field,P.E.•Kenneth P.Anderson.P.E.•Mark R.Rolfs,RE..• David A.Bonestroo,M.B.A.•
Sidney P.WIlliamson,'P.E.,LS.•Agnes M.Ring,M.B.A.•Allan Rick Schmidt.P.E,•Thomas W.Peterson,P.E.-
Engineers&Architects James R.Maland,P.E.• Miles B.Jensen,P.E.• L Phillip Gravel Ill,P.E.• Daniel J.Edgerton,RE.• Ismael Martinez,P.E.
. Thomas A.Syfko.P.E•'Sheldon J.Johnson• Dale A.Grove,P.E.• Thomas A.Roushar,P.E.• Robert J.Devery,P.E.
. Offices:St.Paul,St.Cloud,Rochester and Willmar,MN•Milwaukee,WI•Chicago,IL
December 31,2003Website:www.bonestroo.com • • . •
City of Oak Park Heights • f o"�
14168 Oak Park Blvd. •.
P.O.Box 2007 .
. Oak Park Heights,MN 55082-3007 •
Attn: Mr.Jim Butler,City Building Official . ,, i _ ' .
. . . tr ''
Re: Balconies at Sunnyside II—Building 6375 • ', '
• Observation and Testing of Structural Wood Members ••
"
BRA File No. 55-02-121 •
' Dear Mr.Butler •
This letter is in response to the •observation
, and testing results of the structural wood members ori all '
balcony units,on Building 6375. •The company hired by the association to perform this work was Stork
•
Twin City Testing Corporation and their report is dated becember 16, 2003.' A copy of this report is
enclosed.
• The purpose for obtaining the information Was to determine whether wood members are deteriorated and,
. if so, to what degree. The intent of this testing was to focus on the deteriorated conditions of selected
wood members. During testing however, it was also discovered that many of the rim joists needed to
support the deck ledger boards were missing. In another situation, cantilevered deck joists were
discovered to.have a back span of only 2-feet in length. Both of these are separate and potentially more
serious issues that must be addressed as well. These findings raise concerns about the adequacy of the
basic framing of decks,and may indicate that unsafe conditions exist apart from the loss of strength of the
structural members. Only an in-depth investigation of each deck can verify whether code-compliant
• construction methods were used.
In regards to the'deterioration of wood members, there wasa total of 165 borings taken. Of these,there
were 102 borings that indicated a wood backup member 'or rim joist was present. Of the 102 borings .
indicating the presence of a backup member,65 showed some level of deterioration. It is our opinion that
there is enough deterioration occurring in the members that they are unsafe for use.
Please call me at(651)-604-4781 if you have any questions or need more detailed information regarding
the testing methods or results. •
Sincerely, • ' ' '
BONESTROO ROSENE ANDERLIK&ASSOCIATES;INC. '
4.1.761/ -01.e c"..k..) V;ZR,,/,!//('
Jerome W.Mulvihill,P.E.
Cc:File,'DMP—BRAA .
Mr.Mark Vierling—City Attorney—City of Oak Park Heights
Eric Johnson—City Administrator—City, of Oak Park Heights
2335 West Highway 36 ■ St. Paul, MN 55113 ■ 651-636-4600 • Fax: 651-636-1311