Hi all,
I’ve just bought a 1947 Cape Cod. The upstairs has been converted to living space, but it’s a bit of a joke. Part has been cathederalized and the roof slopes down to an 18″ knee wall and there’s a chimney stack not too far from the center of the room. I’m thinking of extending the rear out to the first floor exterior wall, but I can’t do it yet. The roof is not in great condition and we had intended to re-shingle within 12 months. The problem is the Insurance Company has just sent us a letter notifying us that they will cancel the Homeowner’s policy if the complete roof is not reshingled by June 1st. So the question is: can shingles be lifted and reused if I’m careful. If it’s yes, what do I need to be aware of when reshingling now in preparation lifting them later.
As usual, thanks for taking the time to reply.
David
Replies
take care of your roof.. worry about the addition when it happens.. roof shingles are cheap.. it's the labor that's expensive .. don't think trying to reuse them is cost effective
Mike Smith
Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Hope you don't think this is too blunt but re-using shingles, in my mind, would be like rinsing out your paper towels so you can use them later for toilet paper.
You might also want some advice from a good framing carpenter on-site. You have described a situation where somebody may have damaged the structural integrity of the roof frame by partly cathedralizing it. A structural ridge might be necessary and it is often left out of the action by well meaning DIY re-modelers.
Examine, plan, then proiceed.
About the insurance situation, you might be able to get somebody to write you a construction policy for the terms of the project. They don't like extensions so time frame is important though
Hi Piffin,
You know, the bills are mounting up and those old shirts of mine do make good ..........
Seriously though, thanks for your comments. Mike said much the same thing too.
Currently upstairs, without being able to see the structure, I would say that it looks like a normal ridge because the hardboard finish to the u/side of the rafters meet at a point. Also, the shingles are at the end of their life, leading me to believe that the roof structure hasn't been touched for a long, long time. You might be right about the structural integrity. I'll have to find out exactly what's what before I get the dormer added.
Thanks Piffin, David
I'd go with Piffin and Mike on this - Take care of the roof now, and worry about the dormer later.
Buy plenty of extra shingles when you do the roof. That way when you do the dormer thing, you'll have some extras to patch in with that are from the same color batch. That way they should match reasonably well.
Keep in mind that projects tend to get moved back considerably. You may intend on doing the dormer next year, but you never know what will come down the road between now and then...
David,
I'm going to assume you're in North America, though the UK moniker has me wondering.
How soon were you planning to do the dormer/extension?
How big is the roof needing re-roofing?
What color is your preference?
Reasons:
Are you in a domestic market?
How long will you be using the roofing?
How much roofing will you need?
How ugly of a discontinued color will do "for now"?
Lastly, will you be smashing through all or just part of a new roof to
do your planned addition? If only part, then the issue is much smaller as well.
-gwc
George,
Yep, I'm an expat. I met the most beautiful woman in the world in London, 1987. We live in her neck of the woods, Virginia.
We were thinking of doing the extension this year sometime. The house is about 40x24.
Others though have hit on a good point. What's in the plans today may not be what happens tomorrow. For example, my wife wants a small shed dormer just big enough for a bathroom. I'm thinking that if we're having to rip up the roof, I'd like to go all the way across the back, leaving a few feet at each end.
This is further complicated by the fact that we bought this house as an interim measure. We have a lot and intend to build as soon as I have finished drawing up the plans, getting the financing, lining up the contractors, etc. We HAD to vacate the apartment we were in because the wife has severe allergies and apartment maint. refused to clean the ducts in their 40 yr old units. We intend to either sell or rent this current house. The upstairs is not too usable though. Hence the thoughts on extending out.
Sorry for the rambling and thanks for replying.
David
Hey Limey,
Some dormer companies around here LIFT the existing roof...they put in triangular blocking where the roof rafters meet the ridge beam. Its smomething to think about.
Good luck bloke
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
David,
welcome to Virginia. I trust they're treating you better than
General Cornwallis... if not, at least you've taken their women as
penalty enough!
Sounds like you could re-roof, then only affect a portion of what's been repaired when expanding.
Any thought to doing the rough expansion early, with the details/interior to follow when time and finances permit?
Dormer, by framing in, roofing, and sheathing. Wrap, and make weather resistant. All other items, windows, plumbing, wire, finished interior... would wait a bit.
It could make the occaisional dabble easier... and have the re-roof
done on a completed surface.
-gwc
You booted us out, but now we're trying a different approach. We're coming over in one's and two's. There must be thousands of us here, living side by side with our American "cousins".
Regards the roof. The insurance co. really took away all options when they changed their mind and said that all work HAD to be completed by 04/11. I'd like to tell them to shove it, but if the insurance is cancelled, the mortgage holder will force insurance on me at 4 times the cost. So I've got roofers on the roof as I write. Your suggestion is exactly what I would have done if there was more time.
Take care, David