THE firm that installed tiles at Wodonga’s WAVES pool says problems with them are “absolutely nothing to do with workmanship” or the “adhesive that was used”.
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Ratepayers are facing a potential $500,000 bill to replace tiles in the pool that opened in February 2013.
Melbourne company Ceramic Solutions was engaged by Lavington builder Zauner Construction to install the tiles in the pool.
Ceramic Solutions general manager Keron McCallum-Gaul said he was aware there were issues with tiles dislodging from the pool.
“Council has made some allegations and we’re in the process of writing back to our customer, a company called Zauner Construction,” he said.
Mr McCallum-Gaul claimed there was insufficient time between the concrete curing and the tiling and that was central to the problems.
“It’s a process that’s well known through the concrete industry as drying shrinkage,” he said.
“It is absolutely nothing to do with workmanship and absolutely nothing to do with the adhesive that was used.
“It has everything to do with a naturally occurring concrete phenomena.
“We have a lot of evidence to support those claims.”
Council managers would not speak to The Border Mail, instead a statement was issued.
“Works have taken place to address tiling issues at WAVES to ensure the pool is safe, clean and operational for the season,” it read.
“At the end of the season, the council will undertake major works to provide a permanent solution to the tiling issues.
“The council is continuing to work with the contractor to resolve the issue.”
Zauner managing director Garry Zauner made a short statement.
“Zauner is pleased to confirm that we are working closely with Wodonga Council and our engineers in relation to this tiling matter,” Mr Zauner said.
“Further, as we understand it, the works are the subject of a warranty provided by the tiling entity.”
After the $500,000 cost was raised at last week’s city meeting, councillor Tim Quilty suggested on The Border Mail’s Faceback page that a court remedy was possible.
“I understand council will try to recover the costs from the builders,” Cr Quilty wrote.
“But it may take time and legal action, so the repairs will be paid for by council upfront.”
Mr McGallum-Gaul said his company, which has worked on commercial pools across Australia, had been involved “some small repairs” at WAVES at the end of 2016 but had not done any work there since.
