Curb Appeal Improvement
Front House
April 22
We're trying to save this house from becoming part of the ecosystem. First it was carpenter ants and dry rot which is a funny concept because it is caused by water then a roof that wasn't really a roof and now we're dealing with a roof top deck that is absorbing water. Here in the PNW or Pacific Northwest for those not living here, absorbing water is not a good thing and can quickly destroy a home. So, we are attempting to act with haste whilst being diligent with the research. Although roof top decks are common around here it is nearly impossible to find a contractor willing to repair/replace these with any kind of references and only very minimal warranties at a pretty high cost. So, we decided this roof top deck is not important to us, we have other outdoor living spaces which are highly valued here which are more private and closer to the living areas of the house anyway. The architect, Robert Bonner (www.rgbjr.com) has been hired, he is fun, bright, willing to listen and consider my thoughts on the matter which is a breath of fresh air during these past 10 months in this place we lovingly like to call "The House That Keeps on Giving". Now we are researching the more minor details like which roofing materials can be used, can we have a copper rain chain with a metal roof or will a battery effect cause corrosion, can we have a little closet to hide the hose and faucet to give the front of the house a clean look. Then, when will it all be done so we can start the bidding process and selection for the contractor who will do this work. The window of opportunity to do this kind of work here and then have the whole house painted is short due to the rainy season which is not 12 months a year but close. Next post will include some pictures of the options, the existing deck and the results of our research.
Current & Future
Attached are photos of the roof top deck and front of the house and another of the elevation drawing from the architect with the deck replaced by a roof. We want to roof it with an Energy Star roof due to the tax credits and because it is the right thing to do. We also want the house to have a nice curb appeal when it is all done and painted. We have limited options in roofing products due to the low slope of the roof. I’m still calling companies to find out about the metal roof option and also PVC options. Do any of you get exasperated when sales people do not return your calls? Isn’t that what they want, a buyer for their product? Oh well, hopefully tomorrow I’ll hear and we can make more decisions on some of the lesser albeit important details.