And... MORE problems

[archaeobob]

The roof is still leaking. I haven't found the leaks yet, but they're up there somewhere... and it's going to ruin a lot of things (like expensive books) if we don't find them. We have three or four leaks that I know of (each where a oak branch had smashed down on the roof - but I can't find where the water is getting past the patches

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[archaeobob]

I spent some time painting the roof today, using a roller on a pole. It was hard on me (I'm barely able to move right now), but we NEED to get those leaks fixed.

I learned that there are a number of places where the shingles had been hit (and 'crunched') but no visible holes through them - caused by the branches hitting the roof. The roller, as painfully hard as it was to use (physically tiring), revealed a lot of such spots to me. Indeed, you could almost tell exactly where the limbs had fallen... but without the paint revealing the dimpled areas, you couldn't really see them. The holes matched up with the dented-in areas of the roof AND with the dimpled areas - in lines just where I know the limbs hit (they'd shattered on impact and left chunks of wood and so on where they'd come down).

I also suspect that the manufacturer used particle board (or chip-board) for the foundation layer of the roof, rather than good plywood. Knowing the company, I would not be surprised (they sold this place as having all hardwood cabinets to the

[archaeobob]

I was able to get the sprayer fixed, and the leak in Sue's office is now barely there (only a couple of drips through a long period of heavy rain) and the others slowed to a slow drip. I think with more paint and more work, the leaks in the roof can be stopped. Next week I should get some money in, and I plan on buying two 5 gallon buckets of the paint and doing the whole roof - with two or more coats. I want it sealed.

The sprayer had a cruddy power switch. I'm glad that was easily fixed. I may need to find a tip for it that is made for thick paint. I hope that the ones I've seen advertised are locally available.

Meanwhile, the humidity has gone and it's nice outside (low 70s). I hope for good sleeping weather again (temp down to the 50s and in the mid to lower 60s shortly after sundown). It's not fun having trouble falling asleep because you're sweating and uncomfortable.

[moropus]

there's a company called Henry's which makes roofing supplies. There's this stuff for flat roves, which looks like asphalt in a can. it's wonderful.

[archaeobob]

I think I've seen something like that. There are some places where that stuff would really help - where vents and pipes come up through the roof (the white stuff is too thin to seal them effectively). Thanks for telling/reminding me about it!

I'm going with the white sealant for the rest... we had a really bad rain last night (the sound of the rain was almost a roar for around 4 hours - over a couple of inches worth) and the gallon I put on did help - cut the drips back even more. Next week I should get some money in and when I do, I'm going to go ahead and put on a few layers on the whole roof. The good thing about that white stuff is that it reflects sun really well... and should make air conditioning the house a lot easier.