Dec 23 2010

Roofing day 22

It is day 22 now and I can see the end in sight.  It was not all that cold temp wise today (52f) but the wind was howling so the wind chill was probably in the low 40’s.    I find it interesting that this December has entered the Charleston record books as the coldest EVER recorded since record keeping began (in the 1800’s). 

Yesterday, I completed the upper front and side roofs.  This side roof was the most dangerous part of the project.  It is 2.5 stories up and the with a 6 pitch (30 deg).    I purchased and wore a safety harness the whole time I worked in this area and carried my cell phone just in case so I could call 911.  Talk about slow going as the safety line and air hoses were constantly getting tangled up.  Back when I built the house (1993-1994)  I just worked close to the edge and never thought much about it.  I must have been total crazy to take such chances back then. 

Today I completed the most complex area of the house..  The upper chimney side if the roof.

There is a lot of flashing to be done around the chimeny to prevent leaks which I am totally obsessive about.  One item about the chimney I didnt like was the HDTV antenna wires (which was originally  for two satellite dishes).  Tony even commented on how bad the wires looked running under the sofits.   

 

I decided to weld a custom flashing  out of aluminum for the wires to travel through. 

 

I also removed the orginal flat flashing on the inside face I installed years ago to properly flash the chimney with a cricket.  I think the only reason it didnt leak years ago is that I double flashed it.    Heck I didnt know any better back then.

The cricket is like a mini hip ridge which directs the water around the chimney instead letting the water slam into a flat surface and then having to find a way aroiund it.

The chimney roof was completed today.  Tomorrow I’ll finish off the remaining upper roof and install the ridge vent and the ridge caps.  At that point I’ll be totally weathered in and should be leak free. Just in time as on Saturday (Christmas Day) I am taking off and there is a prediction of 40-70% rain with the possibility of snow.  

Hell, I might even treat myself to an entire 2 days off in a row!