Roofing 2007

I think that it is such a milestone that the subject deserves it's own page. There is undoubtedly a huge sense of satisfaction in putting up the roof to a house. Its pretty huge to construct, the rest of it to get to the roof is pretty huge as well but, the roof has a special aura; its that point when a building becomes a house; its the highest point to stand on, look out over the valley and shout "Yes!!!";its when you suddenly have a proper indoors - wow! my eyes are becoming moist!

As reported in Early Summer 2007 we put the main ridge pole and vigas up at the end of June. Anne prepared the chestnut planks (tablas), about 300 in the end, and they were all screwed in place over a few days (about 2500 screws). I should think that each plank took around 15 mins to prepare (cut, plane, anti-bug treatment, two coats of oil mixture) so that works out at 75 hours and, at 2 euros an hour, thats expensive! Next a membrane mainly to stop the dust from coming through from the natural cork before fixing batons to take the corrugated fibrocement sheets. I used some 2.5 meter sheets this time that are too heavy to lift alone so had to recruit Gunner to give me a hand. At that point, the roof is basically waterproof.

And then the tiles, about a couple of thousand of those as well. I've found it a bit of challenge to get them to look 'right'. I suppose we won't often want to clamber up and gaze at them or check out the spacing or diagonal pattern but its the thought that counts and, of course, its ability to keep the rain out and to stop the heat of summer from turning the roof into a giant radiator.

I also had to overcome a certain degree of uncertainty (call it fear if you like) to tidy up the gable end overhangs. At one end, this means putting up a triple height scaffold arrangement  which is as high as I will ever need to go. The hardest part is the actual construction of the scaffold which is quiet wobbly until the cross pieces are fixed. Its made even more wobbly by my knees shaking a bit that seems to set up a corresponding wobble resonance. There is probably a mathematical formulae for it: a direct parabolic relationship between the amount of knee wobble and the height to which it occurs (up the scaffolding) compared to the degree of movement achieved at the top of the scaffold. Call it Thorogate's Wobble Theorem.  

I obviously got a bit excited by putting up the tiles and successfully tiled over the area where the chimney needs to come through! Nothing that a cold chisel and hammer can't sort out. Shame though, it looked pretty good. Talking of chimneys, the next main job is the laying of the bedroom floor/salon ceiling using marine boards and a lightweight concrete on top. This will then allow me to build the chimney up and through the formwork in the roof structure. It really will look like a house then.

Here are a couple of photos of the roof as at early August. The bottom corner is where the chimney needs to be constructed which won't happen for another couple of weeks. 

The left hand shot shows the roof overhang technique that is commonly used around here, called sparrow's beaks. Its a little fiddly to do but we like the effect. The right hand photo is the completed roof inside. The two triangular spaces either side of the centre support will eventually be glass panels - maybe some sort of coloured glass.  

Well, you can't put your main roof up without having some sort of celebration. Roof topping party on the way - hopefully early September.

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