Leaky Market Square getting new roof
Downtown’s Market Square is getting a new roof this month to stop numerous leaks around the dormers.
Director of transportation and environmental services Dan Dillon said there have been issues of water getting in at the seams where the dormers meet the metal roof and leaking into the interior.
After multiple attempts to plug the leaks, the city decided the upper roof has to be removed and an ice and water shield needs to be installed across it.
“Unfortunately we can’t salvage the old roof when we take it off,” Dillon said. “It doesn’t come apart that nicely.”
Ice and water shields were put in along the eaves when the structure at 91 King Street was built in 2001, but not across the entire roof.
Dillon said because the roof is metal and is subject to different temperatures, there has been a lot of expansion and contraction over the years in the seams where the problems lie.
The new roof’s waterproofing will be similar to what was done at the new pavilion in Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie.
Costs for replacing the upper roof at Market Square are $145,000. The lower roof that hangs immediately over farmer’s market vendor trucks is not being replaced.
Work begins soon and should be completed by late October or early November.
The St. Catharines Farmers Market will continue to operate its regular hours during construction. The city is replacing one half of the roof at a time so the building can be functional.
Parking will be limited to one side of the building while the work takes place. Accessible parking won’t be affected.
The Market Square building was opened in September 2001 at a cost of $1.9 million. The building, which has retractable garage-type doors and overhead heaters, replaced a former canopy structure.
The farmers market is held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.