1 Week on the Roof = No Sunday Morning Run

I didn't run my typical Sunday morning run.  I've been consoling myself with the fact that I've been getting in 15 - 20 miles each Sunday morning.  That still makes me a runner - right?

My running shoes dry out by the front door - the only evidence that there is a little athlete inside the carpenter who lives here.

But I could barely get out of bed this morning - after sleeping nearly 11 hours straight.  This is among the hardest weeks I can remember.

Last Saturday Tim, Dillon, and I spent 9+ hours tearing off shingles... Then each day this past week I worked my real construction job until around 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon and then headed up onto the roof...

Monday

Removed plywood and constructed eaves at large rear gable

Tuesday

Removed plywood and constructed eaves at transition gable

Wednesday

Same again at the small side gable

Thursday

Removed approx. 5 sheets of plywood and approx. the same number of rafter tails at various locations around the roof.

Friday

Stripped plywood around the skylight to determine exactly how much damage was done by the leaks and formed a plan of attack for Saturday

Saturday

In running terms - this was a double marathon.  ...shored up the dining room ceiling, remove the wiring above the light fixture, remove final sheets of plywood, remove damaged sections of rotting rafters, installed 5 new rafters, repaired various framing around skylight, installed new insulation as needed, new plywood, new skylight

I don't remember ever being as beat as I was on Saturday night.  I had been on the roof for nearly 12 hours straight.  I was blessed with cloud cover most of the day - an unexpected blessing on a day slated for 90 degree highs with clear skies.

So this week I plan to spend much less time on the roof (there are still 6 or 7 sheets to replace) and a little more time on the more artistic elements such as the "bird boxes" at the soffit corners, and paint prep.  My friend Gary comes over later in the week to help me figure out a nasty transition on the roof which is guaranteed to be problematic if we don't change something.  

Hopefully, this week, I don't put my tools away in the dark every night.  Next Sunday morning I want to hit the trails again...

Roof - Gone : And a Little Backpacking

The first full week of August came and nearly went without any work being done on my roof.  My critical path had the roof coming off in August and going back on in September. (Oh how I love these long dry summers.  This plan would be completely untenable in wetter climates.)

The first few days of the month I spent with Ella backpacking in the Lost Coast wilderness area near Highway 1 along California's northern coast.

Then the second Saturday in August blew the roof of my house.  Well, actually Tim from church, Dillon from next door, and I scraped, pried, cut, and sweated 3 layers of old shingles off.  And no real surprises.  We discovered a significant amount of bad plywood - approx. 15 - 20 sheets, with about that many more coming off to facilitate the installation of the new eaves and soffits at the gable ends.

All of that carpentry work is supposed to be done by the end of this month to keep me on track.  I think it's doable, but wow is it hot work.  Some opportune tidying up in the attic is nudging out the schedule, but as I open the roof and find it remarkably easy to access those normally dark and cramped spaces, it seems a shame to not deal with some insulation, electrical and other house keeping items - so I do.

It has also occurred to me that I need to have the decorative fascia, some soffits, and some corner trim installed and painted prior to the gutters and roof going up.  This month is getting shorter and shorter.

Constructing the eaves on the rear gable.  The siding looks like it has the pox as it waits for paint.

Much easier to drop that insulation into the attic from the top...

Constructing the eaves at the transition gable

Daylight and fresh air makes working around in the attic space a little less awful

The completed eaves addition at the transition gable

No danger of her becoming a roofer any time soon.

I used my attic access to wire up and install a 3rd light on the patio.

The good news...I've hired a roofer who will be installing the gutters and shingles in September while I start working on the soffits and paint.

Siding Completed

The last piece of siding went on the wall shortly after 1:00 this afternoon.  The 4x8 panels at the back of the house still need a little work as I didn't caulk any of the joints or trim boards, and a handful of locations need to be nailed off, but it's sweet relief to have the place buttoned up.

My secondary objective has been to preserve the plants and bushes along the way.  So far, so good.

I would love to get rid of the ugly utility meters.  Alas.  The Orange tree helps.

OK, so technically there is the water heater closet door , and a small transition gable on the roof which are "siding."  The door should be installed Monday and the transition gable has to integrate with the roof - so I'm still considering the siding "done."

I love how these corners turned out - they are a compromise that Bec and I came to.  They are certainly worth the immense effort that went into them.

Not much will get done next week with a backpacking trip at the end of the week.  I'm relying on the preparation of years past to make this trip possible.  Ella comes along this year, so all of the preparation that has taken place over the past weeks has been aimed her direction.

So in brief I've met my objectives for 2 months running.
Preparation for siding in June - Done.
Started installing siding on July 4th.
Siding completed by end of July - Done-ish. (I've got a few days to make that reality)

Moving forward...
August:
Strip roof, repair roof plywood, repair rafters, create gable soffits, and in a word - prepare for shingles.

September:
Gutters, shingles, soffits, paint.

October:
Details, details, details, and whatever didn't get done in September.

November:
Rain.

Death Ride - House Project Update

Tour of the California Alps Death Ride 2013 is in the bag.
I finished with a decent time and am pleased to have it behind me.  What's odd is that I've basically decided that it will be my last DR.  Of course my resolve and desire may change over time, but frankly I think 4 times over those particular mountain passes is enough.  My cycling for the season may also be nearly at an end.

I've been hanging in there with my training - but just barely.  I wanted to enjoy my DR experience so I've maintained a modicum of training.  But the consummation of the event means my cycling training for the year is officially over.  I will be running more, and working even more.

And yes, much of that work will be on my own house.

Following are updated pictures of my progress.

Some window trim goes on the new Hardi Panel siding - still need to figure out that threshold trim...

New rear windows trimmed out and gable siding installed.

Laundry room wall and gable 

Front trim nearly completed - ready to start hanging the lap and shake siding.

Sketched out the soffit lines in order to set the front corner trim - Can't wait to get rid of some of those rotting rafter tails.

Forgot 1 phone line - We'll run that one through the new soffit.

Mock up of the "ledge" going around the front of the house - will divide the lower lap siding from the upper shake siding.

Should get a lot of this siding up on Saturday - if God wills.

Summer Project Update

Getting down to bear bones

Some new color options...

A side project.  We were given the flagstones and I couldn't wait to create the path.  Even the girls helped with the layout and stones.

The house is feeling more snug already

Some old siding, some new siding, and some no siding yet.

New siding and flashing.  Still need trim, caulk, paint, putty...

Busy Summer - No Excuses

Yes, you can do everything - if you don't sleep.

I'll start filling some posts with pictures of my current diversion.  Now I remember why I didn't start cycling or running until my job transitioned away from working "in the field."  Construction is hard work.

I'm re-siding and re-roofing my house in the evenings and on weekends.  Cycling and running is happening around the edges.  Don't expect too much news there.

New awning over rear patio door

Home-made trusses

First hip roof in at least 10 years - all cuts and angles were perfect, first time.  Thank you Gary  Brenner (now deceased) for those lessons many years ago.

Removing stucco, and exposing the termite damage...  These walls will get insulation for the first time.