The roof is leaking. Two spots: chimney flashing and one corner of Lila’s room.
Handyman fixes the chimney. I root out the other leak.
In the meantime, we have roof guys out to assess the roof in general. It isn’t in great shape–prone to more leaks. Time to bite the bullet and replace it.
We go with the one bid that doesn’t include a tear-off.
A ‘gravel stop’ will be installed along the perimeter of the roof. The roof has no gravel on it. The gravel stop attaches the roofing material to the house. It holds it tight to keep it from looking any more like a garbage bag.
The gravel stop goes over whatever is at the edge of the roof. In our case, vinyl siding.
We hate vinyl siding.
Here are V’s rules for buying a house:
1. No vinyl siding
2. No bathroom door into kitchen or dining room
3. I forget #3
If you put on a gravel stop over vinyl siding, you may later decide to remove the vinyl siding.
At which point you have to remove the gravel stop, trash it, take off siding, put on new gravel stop. A few grand.
Therefore, it is time to remove the vinyl siding.
Roof guy: I can do it. Me: how much? Roof guy: $900. Me: OK.
We have the Polish guy who paints stuff for us come out to give an estimate for the exterior.
Too cold to paint in winter, he says. Who take off your siding?
The roof guy, I say.
You should call my friend P, he says in broken English. He give you price to take off house and also to fix the wood. OK, I say. Tell him to drop by.
P drops by. Takes a look. I can take off siding for $800, he says. Well, we’ll talk about it and give you a call. Maybe I can do Friday, he says. I’ll let you know, I say.
P leaves.
Immediately, V insists that I call the painter and tell him we don’t want this P guy to take off our siding.
I just had a conversation with him and told him we would call him. Do not worry about it, I say.
Jesus Christ, she hassles me every day for three days. Blah blah call painter guy and tell him to tell blah.
On a Friday morning, she calls me at work. Did you call the painter guy, she asks. Nah, I forgot, I say.
I know you didn’t call him, because I woke up this morning to the sound of four Polish guys ripping the siding off our house. She says.
It was 5 degrees out, so we let them do it.