LUCERNE, Calif. – Work on the Lucerne Hotel continues to move along rapidly, with the building getting additional cleanup over the weekend thanks to a round of power washing donated by a local contractor.
Paul Parlee, owner of Lucerne Roofing & Supply, said Sunday that the roofing job the county hired him to do is now complete.
Last Tuesday, Deputy Redevelopment Director Eric Seely had asked the Board of Supervisors to give Parlee clearance to do additional repairs, including fixing an active leak on the flat roof over the atrium at the back of the building.
Parlee said his crew finished up the main roofing job and that additional work this past week.
His crew moved rapidly through the work after the Board of Supervisors approved the roofing contract on Oct. 12. Parlee said that they had only one rain day that stopped work.
Parlee said the roof's three layers of tiles and shingles had come off more easily than anticipated, which helped expedite the work. The quicker work time also meant a savings in rental for scaffolding, which had to be brought in from out of county.
Seely told the board last week that county staff wanted to take advantage of the scaffolding while it was still in place to do the power washing, which may allow the county to put off painting the building.
At that time, county staff had estimated it would take about four days and cost about $2,500 to do the power washing operation, which Seely said would allow for better evaluation of the building's exterior.
But the county didn't have to worry about the additional costs after all.
The county has been so good to him, said Parlee, that he covered the cost of having his crew come out to power wash the side of the building facing Foothill Drive.
He said the roofing job was keeping food on the table for 13 workers and their families in what has been a lean economic time, and that inspired the gesture.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox and Seely came out on Sunday and marveled at the improved look of the building after a good wash.
Cox said the goal has been to use the building's renovation as an economic engine. He said there is already a long list of local businesses – like Lucerne Roofing – that have been, or are currently, involved with the project.
“It really is having the effect we want it to have,” Cox said.
By Sunday, most of the back of the building had been washed, and the difference was so noticeable that it looked like it had received a new coat of white paint.
The crew worked on areas including the seven story tower on Sunday, removing moss and stains.
Parlee said they'll continue working around the ends of the building, but they'll stop there, as he's concerned that the steep terrain in front of the building may present a dangerous situation for the crew.
Surveying the work his crew did on the roof, Parlee pointed out brand new wood that they installed around the dormers, necessary because of woodpecker damage.
Still poking up from the roofline on the half of the building that Parlee reroofed are the building's original rooftop sprinkler heads, a touch of historical authenticity that Cox wanted preserved.
The grounds also are looking sharp thanks to the Konocti Conservation Camp crew's recent landscape cleanup. The crews picked up the discarded roofing materials, pruned trees, cut up firewood and cleaned around the building.
Seely said having the building cleaned up will allow the county to focus on the building's high priority issues, including evaluating the condition of its stucco.
He said the county is considering doing a “color coat” over the stucco, which would both repair damaged stucco and add texture and new color. Seely said that may be a better choice than a simple paint job.
Cox said county staff is next working on getting a bid for new gutters for the building. The old, original gutters – many of them rusted through – were taken down for the roofing job and now are piled behind the building. Parlee said new gutters – especially over flat portions of the roof that sustained water damage – will help protect and preserve the roof.
“We're just trying to pinpoint all the problem areas,” said Cox.
Cox said a cleaning company is about to start work on the inside of the building.
Tours of some of the rooms reveal hardwood floors covered by carpeting. The goal, said Cox, is to restore the hardwood floors in the areas where meeting and conference rooms are planned.
In addition, the county is looking at restoring the rear entryway, which once stretched out far enough to cover cars that dropped off guests.
The original redwood roof tiles, found under two later layers of composite shingles, are stacked at the back of the building. Seely said the public is welcome to come and take the wood, whether for mementos or for use as kindling.
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