Roof Work Has Begun
As we currently begin our third week of roof work the finished result is starting to become a reality. The stripping of all the old shingles took about a week and a half. We were so thankful that there was not rotten wood below the old shingles, and the only issue uncovered was rotten wood in the dormers. Luckily, this will not be too hard to repair, and not too much additional cost. Half of the new roof is in place, and the result looks so much better than the flying off crumbly old shingles we previously had!
It is great to finally make our mark upon the house. We spent the long winter getting acquainted with the internal nuances of the home. We researched extensively what material to use for this new roof. It is our hope that now this will be a one-time thing, done right, and from now on we will be protected from the elements. The roof, albeit not glamorous, is a key component to maintaining a home, and literally the roof above your head shielding from rain, snow, ice, etc.
It will be such a relief once this project is done, but our to-do list seems to be ever-expanding. One thing here, one thing there, a fix here, something new breaks there. The typical joys and challenges I am learning that come with the responsibility of homeownership. It is a lovely opportunity to keep learning new skills, and throw on top the historical element, that I want to preserve the integrity and personality of this house. I love the challenge of it all! It is like a giant puzzle that will never get solved that you slowly change into your ultimate vision that you are collaborating with the house to create. The home is slowly revealing to me which components need to be enhanced, what has been haphazardly slapped on that look fake and grotesque, and how to best make the interiors shine.
It is a complex relationship we have. I dread the hours of vacuuming and wood oiling, yet I feel obligated to keep up a standard of things looking nice. There is a certain level of decorum and respect involved when you are immersed and surrounded by authentic quality craftsmanship and beauty. There are so many projects from the curtains to picking new exterior paint colors that sometimes I wonder how this will all get done! Will we be able to actualize the visions into this tangible reality?!
We knew going into this house-buying adventure that there was substantial neglect and corners cut on previous maintenance. It is funny how this is our first home, and we went all in. All in with the responsibility, all in with this potentially being our forever home, and all in with the size and the historical element. It is great fun to scheme up roofing, exterior lighting, and internal floor coverings, literal hours have been spent reading the, “Encyclopedia of Window Coverings.” Yet I enjoy it. Figuring out how to dress the windows and having to custom make them. Well, it is a long and slow journey, teaching patience, long-term thinking, hard work to small results, and personal responsibility. I do not want to cut corners or settle on “good enough,” it needs to be beautiful and make this home shine.
Enjoy some photos of the roof work, I will be sharing more of the rooms soon of this work in progress now that I finally have a little office set up to work, and I am feeling better again!