Anderson Excessive Faculty in Cincinnati, Ohio holds a particular place within the coronary heart of Luis Perez, proprietor of Hero Flooring LLC. As a former scholar and athlete on the college, he determined to return and provides again to the establishment that had given him so many cherished reminiscences. The duty at hand? A restoration mission like no different.
“Anderson is my alma mater, and I used to be on the staff that received a state championship in soccer in 2007-2008,” remembers Perez. “I’ve so many good reminiscences of Anderson. I jumped on the probability to have the ability to come again and do one thing for them.”
The gymnasium flooring at Anderson Excessive Faculty had seen higher days – significantly better days. Put in again within the Sixties, it had weathered a long time of neglect and minimal upkeep. It was a flooring that informed a narrative of numerous sporting occasions, dances, and college gatherings.
However as time handed, its situation had deteriorated to a degree the place it demanded consideration.
“The situation of their health club flooring was horrible even once I was there. The upkeep was
missing, and I believe they in all probability sanded and completed it each 15 years or so.”
Each inch of the floor bore witness to this downside, with noticeable heel marks, dents, and free boards turning occasions like homecoming into potential disasters.
“Boards had been coming free, and it was only a very dangerous scene throughout. I realized that they had been getting quotes from totally different firms and stored being informed that the ground wanted to be ripped out and changed. After I went and checked out it, I actually believed that it had
yet one more sanding left in it. As such, I requested for the chance.”
Perez’s familiarity with the college’s athletic director, who as soon as had been his soccer coach, performed a pivotal position. Belief in his character, punctuality, and dedication to guarantees made a big distinction. He requested an opportunity to show the ground nonetheless had some life left in it.
With permission granted, he began by sanding a small part close to the bleachers. To his aid, there have been no nailheads in sight, reinforcing his perception within the flooring’s potential. Regardless of the intensive work required, Perez provided a beneficiant deal.
“I gave them a steal of a worth, because it was my alma mater, and it was a ardour mission. It actually wasn’t concerning the cash, however slightly my eager to do stuff that I really like. Time handed, and so they reached out and requested me if I used to be obtainable to start work. In early July, we signed a contract, and I began in August.”
Perez took his time, continuing methodically. He started with a 24-grit Norton Purple Head on a
drum sander to aggressively stage the ground. Subsequent passes with 50, 80, and 120 grits smoothed out the scratches. Two coats of sealer adopted, setting the stage for the ground’s transformation.
One of many perks of this mission was inventive freedom. Perez used oil-based poly on the outer areas and water-based poly on the court docket’s internal airplane, creating an exquisite distinction. The important thing lanes obtained an ice-grey stain, tying into the college’s rebranding because the Raptors, a change from being the Anderson Redskins.
“Many had been upset concerning the identify change, so I actually felt some strain to make one thing that individuals would really like in relation to their new identify. I believe the ground got here out very well, and it’s one thing that Anderson can take satisfaction in.”
The ultimate consequence exceeded expectations. The health club flooring was not simply renewed; it was reborn. Anderson Excessive Faculty now has a supply of satisfaction inside its partitions. The group, deeply keen about their college, rallied behind the mission.
“The alumni love their college a lot, and to be the one in command of this new model and this new path was so humbling. They put their religion in me, and I needed to ship. To see them embrace the ultimate consequence means rather a lot.”
