Sidewalk repair project underway at Hyart Theatre

A local businessman started a project this week to help the historic Hyart Theatre by repairing the sidewalk in front of the now 76-year-old building.

Jeff Peterson, owner and operator of Armor Coat, started work Monday to repair the sidewalk, which had suffered from cracking over the decades. He said he approached the Hyart Board a couple of years ago, and the two entities agreed on the project this year. Peterson is donating his labor and some material for the project.

“It’s quite a process,” Peterson said. “There are a lot of repairs to be made. I’m trying to make it look as good as possible.”

Peterson said the sidewalk was paved many years ago with resin-bound pebble material, which deteriorated over the years.

“It wasn’t installed correctly in the first place,” he said. “In colder climates where water freezes and gets between rocks and fractures them, it’s not the best application of that material. The new stuff that I’m applying goes down a lot thinner so it can have some flexibility with the movement of the (underlying) concrete.

“I use epoxy-based material for all of my repairs. Cement material doesn’t like to bond to itself.”

On Monday, Peterson removed the pebble paving and any loose tile that popped up over the years. He then applied a repair coat and broadcasted sand into the epoxy Tuesday so it could be ground and smoothed on Wednesday. With a movie to be shown Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the next phase will be done next week or the following week, depending on another project he is engaged in.

The final phase involves an epoxy with red quartz sand that will be applied in two coats, with curing needed after each coat. Peterson said he is donating his time and the epoxy, and the Hyart is buying the fine sand.

The sidewalk is good to use for this weekend’s movies, Peterson said.