A Whale of a Project

Time for my annual blog update.We'll take it from the top - the roof.

Oh the roof! What do you do with a beautiful slate roof that is 124 years old and has completely destroyed box gutters, rotten fascia and soffet, and approximately 20 bird nests in it?

We didn't know either. Since we bought the house, we've mostly annually hired a slate roofer to patch up the tiles and do basic maintenance. Since slate roofing is a true artisan occupation (and not artisan like the description of fast food lately, but artisan as in "requires someone with skill, expertise, and an artistic sense), that got pricey after a few years.

Additionally, our roof had box gutters that were completely rusted out, filled with tar, and not working at all. That was exacerbating our rotten fascia/soffet issue, causing drainage issues that could be damaging our foundation, and generally not working.

So we got a bid a couple of years back for the box gutters only. It was roughly what you'd pay for an entire asphalt shingle roof. And it did nothing for our fascia/soffet situation. And putting that kind of money into it assumed that the slate was worth saving for at least another 25 years, which it likely wasn't. It was a risky option.

We talked about just ripping the whole thing off and doing asphalt shingles. But we hesitated to do that for a few reasons.

1. The very best asphalt shingles last 40 years. That puts us around age 75 when it's time to replace them. Not something we want to do.
2. When you've come this far with a really special old house with a cool roof, it's a shame to replace it with the same style of materials being used on brand new construction.

We were both really intrigued by metal roofs. The new style of metal roof is EnergyStar rated, efficient, and hailproof, fireproof, and windproof. They come in cool colors. And they last 80 fricking years.

After we decided to go after this giant project, there was time spent getting bids. There was time spent looking at other metal roofs the contractors had built. We decided to throw in the siding - bite the bullet and just do the entire exterior of the house.

Then there was WAY TOO MUCH time spent negotiating with banks (Kiss off, PNC. Your customer service during this made me close my account of 20 years.)

And now? After working towards this since roughly February? Roof work is underway.

Here's the garage, with siding, fascia, and soffet:

 

Here's the garage roof and siding and dog (now we have to do something with that crap door and window).

 Here's the house with metal on the back and the last bit of slate on the side:  

Here's the side with the new siding, fascia, and soffet:

 

We're probably 75% there. We've had some weather delays lately. So cross your fingers for dry days. Maybe I'll even post all of the "after" pictures before 2015.