Raising the Roof

When we were looking at houses almost nine years ago we looked at two in the neighborhood. I liked the Victorian behind us and my wife liked the bungalow in which we live. I was convinced to accept the bungalow by the walk up attic which I envisioned containing a Master bedroom suite and a spare room/storage.

My wife and I both liked the three dormers on the house and felt an additional one coming off the back of the house would open up, lighten and, provide ventilation to the area. Unfortunately, the three existing dormers had rafters running through the middle of the dormered area.

So after almost eight years and a couple false starts we have started work on my dream. We have hired contractor to raise the rafter cross ties , correct structural flaws, and add the fourth dormer.

The new dormer is now built and roofed. The window goes in tomorrow and siding will start to go up. We went with cedar beveled on the corners to match the other dormers although vinyl might have been lower maintenance.

At this point it looks like I will be using a contractor to get to the point where I can take over doing the work. This project beget a number of other projects when I began laying out the action plan working backwards and reads a bit like the fortunately unfortunately book.

Fortunately I can undertake this project but unfortunately I need structural changes. Fortunately these are doable but unfortunately the chimney is falling apart and must be dealt with, fortunately this means additional space and a conduit for utilities. Unfortunately this means rerouting and replacing the gas water heater. Fortunately my wife wants one of those new fangled on demand hot water heaters which unfortunately are expensive and require rerouting gas and water. Fortunately there is a perfect place for these which will give me more room in the workshop, unfortunately this means removing a concrete cistern with a solid six inch concrete wall and two inch thick concrete roof. Fortunately this will give me access to the basement bathroom supply lines should I need it and the plumbing route for a future master bathroom.

Hey! Aren't we supposed to be working on the attic?

With some luck we can get this work done in time to have foam insulation sprayed in before the winter. I'd like to be in a position to begin erecting walls and drywalling some areas this winter if my money holds out.

I will try and post pictures tomorrow.