Week 14: Rain? So What? We've Got a Roof!

We were away in California this week.  All of the pictures except the last two were taken by our daughter, Susan.  Thanks, Sue! The week began with the roofers arriving in force and nailing on the asphalt/fiberglass composition shingles.  We elected the "high wind" installation method, which involves shooting six nails into each shingle.  It's supposed to withstand near-hurricane force winds.  Why not?



Ditto



Ditto.  In this photo you can also see the framing for one of the rectangular skylights.  More on skylights later.

We also decided to re-roof the garage.  The garage roof consisted of skip boards (1x4s and 1x6s spaced about an inch apart), on top of which were the original course of wood shingles plus two subsequent courses of composition shingles of some kind.  As long as we were about it, we decided to strip the roof down to the skip boards, add 1/2 inch plywood over the skip boards, and then new roofing material matching the house roof on top of that.



Ditto.  You can see that the original course of wood shingles had by now turned pretty much into powder.



At last!  The bullnose on the front of the front porch roof is gone, and the roof is now a true gable style to match the style of the roof on the main house.



This close-up of the front porch roof shows the roofing material used throughout the house and garage. 

With the roof on, spaces on the second floor have become rooms.  The change in feel is amazing.  This photo was taken from the bedroom looking north through the bathroom through Sandy's office to Broadway Park through the window.



While the roofers were doing their thing, our contractor's crew were adding blocking and other detail work to the framing of the second story.  This photo shows the blocks added at the eaves between each truss and the vent holes that will be screened, added to ventilate the attic.



Downstairs, the framing of the interior shear wall, which began in the basement, has been completed.  This wall will form one side of the stairway leading from the first floor to the second floor.  The structure in the center of the photo, which looks a little like a table, is, in fact, the initial frame of the stair landing.



Same location a day or so later.  The shear wall is now in place.



Also on the first floor, the opening between the living room and the little alcove leading to a coat closet, the first floor bathroom, and a room that will be used as a combination pantry and  playroom, has been reframed.



This photo shows the west side of the house roof on which are located two tubular and three rectangular skylights.  The tubular skylight and one of the rectangular skylights are new; the other two rectangular skylights have been recycled from the house prior to remodeling.  On the east roof of the house, there are two additional tubular skylights and one additional new rectangular skylight.  Let there be light!



This photo shows a close-up of two of the tubular skylights and the two recycled rectangular skylights.



This photo shows a new rectangular skylight and one of the tubular skylights on the east roof.  Also, at left in this photo, you can see the "vent stack," a cluster of vents that will provide flue ventilation for the upstairs furnace, the gas range, the gas fireplace in the living room, and the original furnace in the basement.



This photo gives you some idea of how the tubular skylights look from inside.

Ditto.  The tubular skylights in this photo are over the upper half of the stairway from the first to second story.



In "The Ladykillers," the professor, waxing philosophical, says to the old lady, "Who was it who said the eyes are the windows to the soul?"  The little old lady replies, "I don't know, but it is such a beautiful thought, I do hope someone expressed it."  Collected in our living room are the windows to the soul of our house.  We are hoping that installation will begin during week 15.



The back of the house as it looked at the end of the week.



And, the front of the house as it looked at the end of the week.