Home Improvements

[Sgt PSN]

When you say you don't know what the pitch of the roof is, do you mean that you don't know the exact pitch, or don't know what that even means?  In case it's the latter, it's how steep the roof is.



The valley is the seam where 2 different pitches meet.  If you have a T shaped house for example, they valley would be where the 2 roofs meet.

[hbionic]

Also, the rise and pitch of roof determines what type of material you can use. But since you're talking about patching a roof, it's more like a band-aid on a bigger problem. It may buy you a year or so more, but look to replace the roof in the near future.

Also, patching may not solve the problem because a leak may start somewhere on a complete different part of the roof, than where you see the leak from inside.

Good luck, also, make sure your roof, if you use shingles, has the proper wind-rating for your area. Otherwise, you're just throwing away money.

[Diomedes]

chuggie is dead on.  Sarge with the knowledge. 

You're in for some expense, but you signed up for that when you bought the house, so no womanish bitching.

Given the house is 40 years old, and asphalt shingles, it's likely that you've got more than one layer.

To fix this properly, roofers need to find the leak, which may not be apparent before removing roofing.  More than one layer means mo' money from you, because there's more to take off, more possible places the water could be travelling from, more to put back, etc.  Once the source of leak is found, all roofing around it, and around rotted wood, must be removed to allow you to replace the rotted sheathing/framing.  Once that is replaced, roof can be pieced back in.  This is all kind of dicky work, chasing a leak, piecing shtein back together, etc.  Time consuming, and if it works fixes only the problem which has presented itself, without addressing any other problems that are as yet unseen.  It's a decent bet there are other issues elsewhere too.  Or will be, sooner than later.

I would strongly advise that you consider complete replacement, so that the money you sink into this isn't just torn off in three or four years when it's finally time to do the whole roof.

[Diomedes]

P.S.  that stain in the ceiling may never go away.  Get out your drywall tools, sucka.  Ain't home ownership grand?

[SD]

My buddy and I were installing my sink yesterday, he does home repairs. Gave me the number to a guy he uses who's really good and most importantly honest. I'll wait to see what he says before I do anything. We both looked at the area with a spotlight, it doesn't look like a big area and I'm 50% sure we identified where the leak was stemming from.

Momma dukes said she had the same problem, it was caused by excessive wind. She said if it can be deemed the damage was caused by excessive wind - which we've definitely had lately - to just put it through my homeowners. The estimated cost I saw online to repair this was anywhere from $500-$1500.

[SD]

P.S.  that stain in the ceiling may never go away.  Get out your drywall tools, sucka.  Ain't home ownership grand?

First thing I'll do once the roof is fixed.

[Rome]

I had settlement/stress cracks that formed in the back of my house.  I have a Florida room on the back that connects to the main living area and it appears that some settling had occurred.  I got an estimate from a company that does foundation remediation and after I got done laughing at their ridiculous extortion request, I decided to say farg it and let the bitch fall into the ocean instead of doing anything with it.  Insurance won't cover the repairs either.  I asked my mortgage bloodsuckers if they were interested in fronting me the money to fix it since it's ultimately their investment after I eventually leave them holding the bag, and they said, thanks but no thanks.

Fine by me.  I just sealed the cracks, sanded them down and painted the whole shebang back there.  Out of sight, out of mind.

[Sgt PSN]

My buddy and I were installing my sink yesterday, he does home repairs. Gave me the number to a guy he uses who's really good and most importantly honest. I'll wait to see what he says before I do anything. We both looked at the area with a spotlight, it doesn't look like a big area and I'm 50% sure we identified where the leak was stemming from.

Momma dukes said she had the same problem, it was caused by excessive wind. She said if it can be deemed the damage was caused by excessive wind - which we've definitely had lately - to just put it through my homeowners. The estimated cost I saw online to repair this was anywhere from $500-$1500.

Im going to put your chances of getting insurance to cover you somewhere between 0 and 0.1%.  Unless some of your neighbors are also putting in claims for wind damage, I think you'll be sol on this one.

Last Sept, mom had to replace part of her roof. It was a single story addition tha was built onto the front of her farmhouse before she bought it. So what used to be the original stone exterior wall on the front of her house, is now an interior wal inside this addition.

Anyway, last Sept the ceiling practically caved in...it dropped about 8-10 in the midde, where the ceiling meets the original stone wall.  Emergency repair guy came out to throw some braces up to prevent further collapse. He reported to the insurance company that he believed that the was simply the result of years of winter snow and ice slowly pulling it away from the house. We had an exceptionally humid week when it gave and he thought that was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. Insurance company sent out an adjustor, who then called in an engineer who determined that the roof was not properly secured to the house.

Well of course it wasn't...not by today's standards. That addition has probably been on there 40 years. It was there when she bought the house.  So, no insurance money for ma  dukes.  They were nice enough to tell her that if snow were actually on the roof at the time, she'd be covered. How's that for a farg you?  So she had to drop $20k basically have the addition rebuilt. Lovely.

So yeah, don't hold your breath on those fargers being quick to write you a check for repairs.

[SD]

Just talked to homeowners, they're covering it. I just have pay my deductible of $500.

[smeags]

Just talked to homeowners, they're covering it. I just have pay my deductible of $500.

I figured youd be covered. Valleys are tough and can bring headaches down the road. Especially if valley metal wasn't put in which may not have been the case.

[Sgt PSN]

Wow...good for you.  Who do you insure with?  Might have to have my mom look into them after her fiasco.

[SD]

USAA

[Sgt PSN]

I got an auto insurance quote from them like 10 or so years ago. It was 2x as much as the policy I had at the time.  Anyway...not sure if they'd work with my mom or not. I don't bank/insure with them at all, but maybe they'll take her on if I open a savings acct or something.  Navy Fed is letting your non-dependan family join now...parents, siblings, cousins, etc.  Hell, they let squaw open an account and we're not even married. Maybe USAA is doing something similar.

[PhillyPhreak54]

USAA is great. Even though my mom divorced my ex-step dad like 20 years ago I retained my membership.

I have just about everything I can through them.

Several years ago they opened up certain products to non-military members so she may be eligible regardless.

[smeags]

So my old man went quasi solar on his house. Sounds like a good idea. Well anyway they had a roofer certify his roof.

Guy said whoever put the roof on was top notch.

So I'm top notch.