Water penetration in the newly built Southmoreland Middle School should be corrected soon.
Originally, leaking flashing was believed to be the cause.
But now school officials have been told it was shoddy workmanship.
In March, Dave Esposito with Eckles architectural firm said the leaks were because of a design problem that had caused some flashing to leak.
But Esposito is telling Southmoreland School officials that attempts to make the area around the flashing leak have failed.
"We found that it is mostly a workmanship issue," Esposito said. "The control joints (in the walls) had never been sealed and there were several situations where the joints in the bricks were not completely filled with mortar."
Esposito met with a representative of the manufacturer of the flashing who concurred the leaks were due to workmanship issues.
Esposito said many of the problems have been corrected and there are still three small leaks the firm will continue to work to repair.
Renovations at Southmoreland Elementary School are on schedule said Ron Rink, clerk of the works.
The roof is 30 percent complete and the electricity, cable and other mechanical items are being roughed into the corridors before making penetration into the classrooms.
Rink said electricians are about 30 percent "roughed in." The school is still operating on the existing power, but by the end of the month, it should be on a permanent power source.
Acoustic tile may be added to some rooms. Additional insulation is being added around some windows.
"There have been no problems," Rink said. "Everybody has been working together and it's coming along."
