Replacing Superior gym floor

The Superior High School gymnasium is having a new floor installed. Several years ago, a water pipe in the utilities room adjacent to the gymnasium broke in the middle of the night. The leak was discovered by a Superior police officer on routine patrol but the damage had been done. Water had infiltrated under the floor in the bleacher area as well as the performance area. The decision was made to resurface the floor. The original Wildcat logo in the center of the court was replaced.

Fast forward six years. The affected area of flooring was warping and buckling. Because of several refinishings over the years, another refinishing job was not feasible as the wood was too thin.

A claim was submitted to the school system's insurance company for a total replacement of the floor. The claim was approved so there is no cost to the school system for the replacement.

Because of the demand for the services of the few companies which specialize in wood floor replacements, the decision was taken to undertake the job at the present time rather than wait for summer. The expectation is the gymnasium will be ready for use prior to graduation.

JWood Sports Flooring, Hudson, Wis., was chosen to install the flooring.

A sub-contracted crew of workers removed the old flooring last Monday. A crew then installed an anchor system, beginning last Tuesday, to the base floor of the gymnasium. This consists of a two-layer, with inserts, boards which are attached with lag screws. The hard maple flooring is attached to the anchoring system. The installed floor is then sanded.

The floor will have two coats of a polyurethane sealer applied. Two coats of an oil-based finish coat are then applied.

The Superior School Board met for a special session Wednesday to determine, among other items, if or what logo should be placed on the floor.

After the finish coats are applied, the floor will need to cure for at least a week before anyone can walk upon it.

The new floor should serve the school for many more years.

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