Roof repair: day 3

So after diving into the water damaged soffit (under the roof) on Saturday to see how this roof was constructed, and finding that the entire eave is self contained and hanging fairly independently from the trusses.  (Strange to encounter a floating soffit, but I assume since the house was built on site the soffit was designed to square up the roof because the trusses were not absolutely square to their tips.)

Old painted pine soffit facer board (left) and new pine repairs. (TJ)

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Instead of trying to mimic the original carpentry of the ‘floating soffit’ — I used the same wood for the repair (pine) and then cut shim pieces to mount the new boards to the trusses with deck screws.  I will continue this process of removing the damaged decorative trim and repair the soffit where needed through next week.  Then I plan to pressure wash the whole house, primer the soffit, then mount the new painted cedar trim edge (in place of the damaged decorative pine trim.)  Then primer and paint the redone soffit.  Finaly the roofers will come in and put sheeting down and new roof materials at the end of next month.

Since Kim and I bought the house, we have primarly done interior work.  Now we begin the exterior transformation from the top down.

The schedule as it stands:

Spring/Summer 2009 — Replace the three-tab white roof with chocolate brown shaded roofing, repair the trim (tan), repair the chimney top, make minor weather-proofing of the windows to last this summer/next winter.  build a new cedar fence in the back yard.

Fall/Winter 2009 – Build a covered area behind the garage to protect storage stuff and a garden work area for Susan. Build new wall and door to separate furnace/washroom from 2nd living room and office, wire in at least four new ceiling ‘can’ lights to brighten up 2nd living room, paint 2nd living room, replace 3rd bedroom’s old wall board and ceiling with sheet rock.

Spring/Summer 2010 — Install new windows and repair/repaint the window trim (tan vinyl windows with chocolate trim.) And if I am lucky, patch and re-seal the driveway/parking area.  If we are luckier, we will take a few days off that does not include working on the house.