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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Home Renovations!


Sometimes it isn’t something you WANT to do…..sometimes you just HAVE to do it.

Off of our dining room, is a little bonus room that was added as an extra family area in the somewhat distant past. When we were moving in, there were problems during the inspection with the leaky areas around the sky lights. Money was spent to correct these-supposedly- but after our warranty ran out and these were still leaky, we tried drastic measures to get it to stop.

“DANG SKYLIGHTS!” was an often heard exclamation around our house, any time it rained.

And then the sheetrock from the ceiling began to crack and fall.

This is the year we get RID of the sky lights – they were never installed right in the first place, and we really don’t want them. At the same time, we are replacing the roof. It’s going to be red metal! And I’m excited about it…our cottage will look much MORE like a cottage in the woods by the time we are done, and for those of you who said “oh, it will be too noisy when it rains!” Never fear – We are hearty stock! We lived in a single wide mobile home for the first 10 years of our marriage, and by the time we got a “real” house, I really MISSED hearing the rain on the roof!

Having a metal roof will also help tree debris from STAYING on the roof…my mom and step dad live up in Idaho and their house has a metal roof also, helping to rid roof of the copious amounts of snow they receive during the snow season. We don’t get THAT much snow, but knowing it is not sitting up there soaking in to anything or creating extra weight where it doesn’t need to be is another bonus.

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While I was gone to NY & CT, DH and Jeff started to do the demolition of the old ceiling inside, and boy, am I glad they did. This picture has way too much backlighting from the back yard to see well, but the demolition is in progress!

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The plywood will ALL have to be replaced…and the insulation was BLACK with mold. BAD SKYLIGHTS! BAD! I’m so glad to see them GOING AWAY!

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The work on this should be started in the next week or two. There will be a lot of pounding and hammering and nailing and hanging more sheetrock…..I am looking forward to the next time we get a rain storm, and I don’t have to worry about placing buckets strategically around this room!

The thing that makes me maddest? That company that did the orignal fixing – they never removed the sheetrock from the ceiling to find out just WHERE the leaking was coming from. They assumed it was all fixable from the roof side….but they never really investigated just where it was coming from and where, and so none of the repairs they made did ANYTHING.

This room is usually DH’s office and indoor bike trainer riding room. Needless to say, all THAT stuff is now pulled out and is clogging the living room, the dining room, and some of it has been moved down to the basement. I’d like to get it all back where it goes, and soon!

32 comments:

  1. Nice to get a new roof isn't it - I have several buckets strategically placed in the attic to catch drips and periodically DH or I go up there to check and see what is in them - did that after we got tired of it dripping through the ceiling - some major work to do later this year after all the stormy season clears out.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  2. Love the sound of rain on the roof. Wish I could hear it. Soon.

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  3. We traveled in 8' wide mobile homes for 13 years with my husband's job as a surveyor with the Dept. of Commerce - NOAA. We really missed the 'rain sound' when we moved into a house. It's sooooo soothing. Good luck with the renovation and here's to a NO leak future!!!

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  4. What a mess! You will all be healthier without the mold and happier without the buckets! LOL

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  5. I also worried about the noise level when we put a metal roof on our home, but honestly I don't notice any difference at all. And we LOVE the look!! Don't know how much snow you really get down there during the winter, but here in Missouri we have learned the value of installing snow guards on our roof. For several years any amount of snow/ice would eventually slide off the roof and smash our bushes or threaten passers-by. We finally put some up last year, better late than never, as we had many, many inches of snow this winter!

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  6. I love metal roofs! I wanted one on our house we were building in the mountains east of Albuquerque, but before we were ready to put the roof on we found out we were moving. So the less expensive shingles were used... I wasn't sure if I wanted red or blue.

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  7. I would love to put a metal roof on my house, love the look and and sound of rain on it. Great plan you have, rip it out and make it right.

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  8. I love the look of metal roofs. We want to do that too, what level of metal roof did you pick. There are some real expensive ones and less expensive ones?? I am in NC too, so a company name would be nice as well. :)

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  9. I'd love a red metal roof on a cottage! And I like the sound of rain on the roof - in the Pacific Northwest I had BETTER like it. Some people prefer cedar shake roofs, but I'll always remember a comment by a firefighter during forest fire season ... "why would you put kindling on your roof?"

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  10. Going to be pretty, love the metal roof and the sound of rain!!!

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  11. We started renovations on the kitchen this week, so I feel your pain! The new cabinets are sitting in our living room, and all the kitchen items, dishes, etc., are in our dining room right now. :( Can't wait for my new kitchen and for the rest of the house to be back to normal!

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  12. Last month a windstorm took a bunch of shingles off our house and hit my husband's new vehicle. Two insurance claims. Then a few days later two guys who committed armed robbery wiped out their stolen car in our front yard, taking out our fence, landscaping, and the corner of the awning over the porch slab. Another insurance claim! We are having a red metal roof put on now, and a new awning, fence and landscaping. Thanks heavens for insurance!

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  13. You are going to love a metal roof. We have one and it is great. It is really not that noisy. Red will be so cute on your house.

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  14. I live in a mobile home with a metal roof, I love it when it rains, here in Portland that is almost everyday.

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  15. I want a green metal roof the next time around. Our shingles are starting to curl up so what we really need is one heck of a hail storm so insurance would help pay for it. Oops, guess I shouldn't say that too loud. I love the sound of rain so that wouldn't bother me a bit.

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  16. Good plan to leave while the messy stuff is being done! I always end up in the middle of it! Hope you love the roof. In Arizona red tile is pretty standard, but we have shades of grey that sort of mimic weathered wood. We had cedar shakes on our first house here, but after a few years had to replace as they dry out and are a fire danger. I do love the look of them, though!

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  17. Home renovations are exciting and frustrating all rolled into one. Here's hoping that your are painless and quick. One of my favorite things in the whole world, is the sound of rain on a tin roof!

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  18. I think you are VERY wise to get this mold issue taken care of NOW! Good luck - hope the project goes well.

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  19. My DS & DIL had the same problem with a house they bought 3 years ago. They finally got rid of all the mold after about the 3rd fix. Some contractors don't make sure things are done right the first time.......

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  20. We love the skylights in our big kitchen and haven't had a leak in the 6 years we've had them. But, I sure would like a metal roof since all the trees make MOSS grow on our roof even with treatments. That metal is SO nice.
    Maybe Jeff could rent himself out as a demolition pro now? I have a room that needs hammer and shovel.

    Lucy (in IN)

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  21. Good luck with your renevation - sounds like a really big jog. 1 1/2 years ago my son was up on our room cleaning the gutters and said "Mom, you know you have missing shingles????". We called to roofer that day and soon had a brand new roof (the existing roof was 25+ years old) AND leaf guard gutters -- no more CLIMBING on the roof!! Yeah!!! We got 80 inches of snow that winter -- IN SUNNY MARYLAND!!!!! We were sooooo glad we'd replaced the roof BEFORE we incurred any damage. Enjoy your new roof!

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  22. I had a metal roof on my home in Austin and it was no more noisy than a regular roof. The metal is laid flat on a plywood deck with tar paper between. Since there is no space between the metal and the plywood you hear no sound.

    And skylights are never a good idea - on roofs or in cars. They always leak.

    You'll love the metal roof. It will last you at least 50 yrs and lower your home owners insurance. One of the best investments you can make in a home.

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  23. I am so glad for you that you are getting your red metal roof! I am currently very depressed because my finished lower level of my split foyer home has water from the horrible rains we have had. All from ground water. Lived here for 18 years and it happened before 5 years ago and thought the problem was fixed. Insurance won't cover as it is considered flooding. Big sigh here!

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  24. Living in a 1950s home... we are right there with you. The roof, carpet, kitchen floor, side porch, landscaping.... where to start??? Good luck with your project.

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  25. The new roof sounds so pretty, and will be a great detail on your cottage. Hope it all goes smoothly and on schedule for you.

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  26. Metal roofs are very common here in Oz. You can get a thin layer of insulation which fits directly under the sheeting - i.e. between the metal and the wooden battens. This insulation is great for heating/cooling/noise but also helps reduce the sound of the popping when the sheets are affected by the heat of the sun. I highly recommend it - it makes a huge difference.

    It will be great to get your room back. Hope it all goes well with not too much drama.

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  27. Oh renovations are such a curse....just keep your minds eye on the end game and try not to let the messes get to you. Whenever we are in the thick of things my DH and I always laugh and say no wonder we see so many house in disrepair......its tough to go through this!
    Won't it be lovely? a red roof? And DH's space all new again.......and your son helping...that sounds good too.

    Happy sewing

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    http://quiltedeuphoria.blogspot.com/2011/04/updates-awards.html

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  29. Oh Bonnie what a mess, good to hear Jeff has been helping, maybe a new trade or interest will be sparked with the trades people coming. We live in Australia and have a Metal/tin roof new to us 3 years ago. To be 100% honest we never hear the rain, like Shari said we have a sheet of insulation between the roof and the battons then insulation in the roof itself. Unless the rain is hitting the windows we don't hear it at night like we thought we would. take care Jen

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  30. Yay for metal roofs. Our house was the cheapest house we ever bought, and had a newer metal roof. It's also the only house we've had that hasn't had a leaky roof. I love hearing rain on it, and being dry! I'm sure you'll be happy to have your renovation done.

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  31. Anonymous3:44 PM EDT

    And here I thought that maybe YOU were going to have a new space...... for sewing, storing, sorting.... you get my drift.

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  32. That's so funny! I always thought the rain noise on a metal roof was a PLUS! :-) I adore metal roofs, not just because they;'re incredibly durable and charming but because they give you that lovely noise when it rains. We don't have one now, and I miss it! :-)

    Good luck with the reno -- can't wait to see how it all turns out!

    ~Angela~

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