A New Roof

The old gravel (and moss) was first shoveled off the main roof onto the garage. Then it was shoveled off the front of the garage into a disposal bin below. Good thing we built that garage to be strong (at one point there was probably 3 yards of gravel on a pile in the valley between the garage and the entry.

Weather has been great here so we finally got the roof replaced. Our house has an almost flat roof – it would be like a 1 in 12 or something (1 foot rise for 12 feet of run). The previous roof was tar & gravel. The new roof is a torch on membrane – much nicer and cleaner.

We thought that the old roof had a couple inches of insulation, but it didn’t – just a layer of donnacona board – like that is going to do anything to keep you warm! In the new roof we installed 2″ for foam isoboard. This will help!

At the same time as the roof was done we replaced all the fascia boards, roof flashing, and vent stacks (anything that goes through the roof membrane). Owen re-pointed the chimney and will help with gutter and downspouts, and I pulled new wires to the upstairs fixtures that we wanted to change from 12v to 110v.

Some fascia boards are cut to length for installation.

Finally – one of the most important things (to me anyway) – we eradicated the carpenter ants that were living in the roof! This has been a major problem for us ever since we moved into this house, and it took almost 10 years (and many pest “experts”) before I finally figured out that the little buggers were living in the roof, in the donnacona board the is sandwiched between the tar and gravel and the 2×8″ yellow cedar roof strapping. This was the fun part … I was prepared (as I new they were in the roof) … I had the shop vac on the roof, plugged in, and on standby! As soon as we tore off roofing and found a nest the vac went on and we cleaned out the entire nest. There were only two nests – but they were big – about 6 or 8′ long. two inches deep, and maybe 4 inched wide. Hundreds of ans in each nest. Anyway – we got them all!

The roof when it was completely stripped. It is in very good shape! Note the electrical wires that are just run along the surface.

The good thing was that there was absolutely zero damage from the ants. They liked the donncona so much they just nested in that – and didn’t even touch the structural wood.

Fascia’s were another story … they were extremely rotten, especially at all corners and seams. Doesn’t matter any more though, as they were all replaced.

Anyway … the pics show the new roof going on.

The new roofing materials.

Insulation (iso boards) are tacked into place.

This photo shows the first two layer on the right side. First a felt goes down, then the first torch on layer. Note the unattended flame thrower!

Miguel adds the third (and final) layer.

The finished roof.