Request for Quotes: Masonry for the "Pink Library" in Lewisburg

The Greenbrier Historical Society (GHS) requests proposals from qualified masonry contractors to provide services to repoint the 1834 Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia Law Library and Study building, also known as the “Pink Library”, in Lewisburg, West Virginia.  Interested contractors must submit a written or electronic proposal by 3:00 pm on Friday, November 18, 2022, to Al Emch, Greenbrier Historical Society (alemch235@gmail.com; 814 Washington Street, Lewisburg, WV 24901).

The “Pink Library'' was built in 1834 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The building is in need of selective masonry rehabilitation due to water intrusion from faulty gutters and downspouts and the application of a latex paint over brick. This project is funded in part by Preservation Alliance of West Virginia in partnership with the Paul Bruhn Rural Revitalization Grant provided by the National Park Service. As such, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation must be followed.  

A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

The project will include:

1. Remove paint from brick on the east and north elevation where specified in photo 1. Paint removal must be by the gentlest means possible following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Methods must be approved by PAWV in writing in advance of work.  
2. Repoint approximately 128 square feet of brick using an appropriate lime mortar mix which must be approved in advance by PAWV in writing.  The mortar has been tested by an architectural conservator whose report is attached to the rear of this document. The mortar must match the color, composition and texture of the original historic mortar. Deteriorated mortar should be removed to sound mortar or a maximum depth of ¾ inch.
3. Masonry joints will not be widened or otherwise damaged.
4. Joint will be repointed and tooled to match the historic profile.
5. Although we do not expect this, should any historic bricks need to be replaced, they must match the color, composition and texture of the original.
6. Contractors must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Treatment for Historic Properties
7. Contractor is responsible for any permits.
8. Contractor is responsible for all tools, labor, materials, equipment, supervision and associated items related to the rehabilitation of the Pink Library masonry repair.

Add-Alternate pricing is requested for the following:

1. Removal of all exterior paint from masonry on the entire building using the gentlest means possible and cleaning the brick with the gentlest means possible.
2. Additional spot repointing where necessary per square foot cost

Contractors must meet the following qualifications and submit the following:

1. Have at least 5 years’ experience working on historic masonry projects
2. Submit a letter detailing previous historic preservation experience including a statement that the contractor has read and understood the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
3. Provide at least 3 examples of previous work with names and contact information of references.
4. Provide WV Contractor Number
5. Contractor must carry WV Workers Compensation and Insurance Certifications with the Greenbrier Historical Society and City of Lewisburg as additional named insureds. 
6. Have the ability to complete the project by December 31, 2022.
7. Provide Price for the above listed base bid work (repoint and remove paint on approx. 128 square feet)
8. Provide price for add-alternate pricing for removing paint from entire building 
9. Provide price for additional spot repointing where necessary per square foot cost

Contractor selection will be based on experience, proven ability to complete a project and cost.  All proposals must provide 30 days for acceptance from the due date.  

The GHS and PAWV reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive minor administrative oversights.  The contractors will be reimbursed for services rendered up to the contract amount. All changes in scope must be pre-approved by the GHS and PAWV. Contractors will not be reimbursed for travel expenses, or any costs incurred in preparation of this proposal. The contractor will be paid in increments based on satisfactory completion of specific stages of the project. The balance will be paid after approval of the work by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. ​

Photo 1. Approximate area of rehabilitation outlined in red with approximately 48 square feet of repointing and paint removal on the façade and approximately 80 square feet of repointing and paint removal on the gable end.

 

Mortar Analysis
Pink Library
Lewisburg, West Virginia
​August 22, 2022

On Thursday, August 18, 2022, David Arbogast, architectural conservator, of Davenport, Iowa received a mortar sample from Sandra Scaffidi of Practical Preservation in Fairmont, West Virginia. The sample was taken from the Pink Library in Lewisburg, West Virginia and was submitted for analysis to determine its composition. 

The analysis commenced on Saturday, August 22, utilizing the acid digestion testing procedure developed by E. Blaine Cliver, former Regional Historical Architect of the North Atlantic Region of the National Park Service. This relatively simple procedure dissolves the lime and/or cement content of the mortar using a 20% solution of hydrochloric acid. The carbon dioxide released as a result of the reaction displaces water, which is then measured and used to calculate the soluble content of the mortar. The insoluble fines and sand remaining from the reaction are factored into the equation resulting in a final result. In the case of cement samples, the remaining fines are used to calculate the cement content of the mortar. The remaining sand is then carefully sieved and graded by grain size to provide a means of identification of the various sand types encountered. 

The sample was brown and exceedingly soft in its consistency. It had a fast and foamy reaction which resulted in a moderate water displacement. The sample filtered rapidly with the filtrate color being the typical yellow-green. There was an exceedingly large proportion of brown fines. They most likely were dirt. All of the aforementioned attributes are indicative of mortar consisting of lime and sand only. The sand sieve analysis revealed very fine sand. All of it passed through the largest sieve with nearly exactly 3/5% stopped in the second largest sieve. Some of it was present in the third largest sieve, although not enough to register any weight with almost exactly 1 3/4% caught in the fourth largest sieve. A smidgeon more than 19 2/5% remained in the finest sieve with just less than 78 1/4% travelling through all the sieves to the base.