The Roof Repair

Hmmmm… This seems kinda odd! Here I am, with my shovel in hand, and yet it doesn’t look like I’m in my vegetable garden! They say, “Give a man a shovel and he can do anything!” I think that ‘they’ might be right!!!!


This is one of the reasons why my garage roof is in need of repair. Extreme heat on the south side of the building has caused the shingles to lift and curl – not a good thing!


This is the other reason why my garage roof is in need of repair. Extreme moisture build-up on the north side has caused the roof supports to rot – not a good thing, either!


The biggest reason for both of these extreme conditions is poor air circulation. One of the causes is the many overhanging branches from my big maple tree.


There! Now air will move easily in any direction the wind may blow.


Now, my working area is filled with all of these branches – getting in my way!


I decided to use these in ways that will benefit my garden. First, the leaves are stripped from the branches. The branches are broken into small lengths and over the course of the next several months they will dry in preparation of my Autumn garden fire – which will add nitrogen to my soil for next year’s tomato plants!


I put the leaves through my ‘leaf shredder’ (my most favourite garden tool to date!!) and then this mulch is added to my vegetable garden. The mulch will dry up and decompose adding nutrients to the soil and the mulch will discourage weeds from growing while retaining moisture in the soil.

I think it’s great that things that could be considered to be ‘garbage’ can actually be used in many useful ways around my garden. Talk about recycling – eh!


The joint between the roof’s north slope and the awning that was later added by the previous owner of my house was not constructed properly – thus all the water damage! The shingles were damaged, the roof sheathing was damaged and all the chipboard ceiling panels, underneath, collected all of the water and were rotting away.


I added a few 2” x 4” roof beams to steady the structure…


… and then I added some stronger pine boards to strengthen the roof itself. I forgot to take a picture showing the metal valley that was also added to this area. With all of this new structural support, I’m sure that I won’t be having any water problems for many many years.


The materials that I would need to continue on with the top part of this roof weren’t due to arrive until the next day, so I continued working away on the underside of the awning. The red, rotted chipboard ceiling was removed and then I began adding nailer strips between each beam that will support the new ceiling I will soon be adding.


One problem that we had with the old awning was that bees and wasps were finding their way into the openings in the awning and building their hives. I do love bees and I appreciate that without them I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any fruits or vegetables, but I figure there are better places for them to build their homes.


A fresh coat of outdoor paint was added, along with some more nailer strips of wood. It’s hard to see, but I added window screen to each opening – between the roof beams to keep out the bees and wasps.


Man! Was I ever tired after all of this work. It was time to take a load off and enjoy the evening sunshine!!! While I was doing that, I noticed something very special. Can you see what I saw?


Let’s take a closer look…


Wow!!! How cool is this?! This is the very last day lily in my garden and because of the time of day and the angle of the sun, this flower glowed like a spark of intense light! I was definitely at the right place at the right time.


Even though my body ached, I was inspired to get off my butt and snap a few pictures before the moment passed. This is my favourite one!


The next day, the delivery truck filled my driveway with the materials I would need to complete my job. By the end of this day, the roof was covered in a protective layer of roofing felt – very strong and durable.

I got this roof protection on just in time, cuz it rained lightly throughout this evening and into the next morning. Even though I couldn’t continue with the topside of the roof…


… the underside of the awning was nice and dry and so I continued working in this area. I decided to use vinyl siding to create the ceiling for this area. If, for some strange reason, water did get into this area again, it won’t be able to collect on wood boards and rot. Vinyl won’t rot. If water does get in, it will collect in smaller quantities and eventually it will evaporate.


A little while later, I decided to try out my brand new toy! A Circle Hole Saw. I felt like Tim-The-Toolman-Taylor – LOL!!!!


By cutting many holes along the underside of the roof’s soffits and adding these metal vents, I am able to increase (by many times) the amount of air circulation within the garage. This will take care of the problem of having my shingles bend and curl due to the extreme heat.


By the next day, the roof was dry and I was able to start adding the shingles. I found myself in many awkward positions and even now, my body aches from the strain I’ve put on all my muscles. I’m not complaining tho’ – it feels invigorating when you can feel every single muscle in your body!


There! Not bad for a day’s work!!


The next morning, I began by bracing the inside structure of my roof rafters so that I could add two vents to the upper portion of the roof. These, along with the soffit vents I added two days before, will ensure that the whole garage will get lots of air circulation.


Now, the one side of my roof has been completed! The valley between the garage roof and the awning has never looked better and the added roof vent went in without a hitch! I guess that’s why Joanne keeps me around – I’m a pretty handy guy!!!

During this whole process, I had lots of time to think about things. One train of thought led me to compare this roof repair to the task of bringing peace to our planet…

The roof is like our Industrial society. Both were created by humans and both are in need of repair.

My roof was rotting and if left to continue on its present course it would soon find itself in ruin. Our world’s environment is in a very critical state and if we don’t correct our present course we will soon find ourselves in ruin.

Something had to be done to heal my roof. Something needs to be done to heal the Earth.

At first I was a bit overwhelmed with the scope of the work that needed to be done. I had never done anything quite like this before. The scope of the work needed to change our relationship with our world is quite overwhelming, as well. We need to completely change our attitudes and ways of doing things if humanity is to remain on the Earth. Humans have never done anything quite like this before, either!

I started by examining the many problems facing the future of my garage roof. We need to start questioning our actions to realize the consequences that they will have for future generations.

I started to understand what needed to be done. We need to start understanding what it is that we need to do.

I began the work… slowly, taking my time to think and plan - to ensure success. We have also begun… slowly, taking our time as we learn more about ecosystems and how they have a greater value than savings found in the aisles of Wal-mart!

The roof structure was built very soundly, but mistakes were made in its design. Our societies have also been built very soundly, but mistakes were made in their design.

My roof needed a new change, one that incorporated the idea of working with Nature to ensure adequate air circulation. Our world needs a new change, one that incorporates ideas of working in harmony with Nature to ensure the quality of the air that we circulate.

While completing my roof, small mistakes were made, but I continued to forge ahead. As we work towards building a peaceful world mistakes will be made, but we will need to continue forging ahead.

Nearing the end of these thoughts I came to realize that there is indeed one significant difference when comparing my roof repair to the Earth repair…

I have the ability to repair my garage roof unassisted.

Jim

PS – I couldn’t think of a better way to end this story than with a fun and inspirational song about roofs… and being up on them!

Up On The Roof – The Drifters 1962
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F_opWg9_qI