Last week we told you that we were getting ready to start our roof project, replacing existing shingles on two garages that are on our property. We are now wondering was this roof project jinxed. You can read the details about how hideous they were on our previous DIY roof post.
First of all – both roofs are finished as of 9pm last night. Hallelujah! They look amazing. Roof #2 still needs the new fascia installed but that will be completed this week.
Was the roof project jinxed?
Let’s just say that this roof project really tested our DIY patience, stamina and perseverance.
Jinx #1
When we started to strip roof #2 we discovered that the old garage was very structurally sound because it was still standing with SIX layers of existing shingles on it! Yes, you read that right – six layers!
What should have taken 3 people about 1/2 to 3/4 of a day to strip ended up taking two days. It not only was back breaking work, but it was a ton of debris to be hauled to the dumpster. We ended up needing a second dumpster due to all the shingles.
Jinx #2
Jim was nearly finished with side one of garage roof #1 when a severe storm came through our village causing a ton of damage. They have determined it wasn’t a tornado but some weather phenomenon called straight line winds. We call it a load of destruction! Our yard was filled with branches, tree limbs and the like.
And the WORST part of this rogue storm?
The shingles on this roof were have been on for less than 24 hours! And it had to happen on the one side that was shingled – not the other side that wasn’t. Jinx! Jim said it is possible to repair it with a patch but we were both very disgusted by Mother Nature’s little souvenir from the storm.
Jinx#3
Once Jim and our wonderful friend Bill started shingling on roof #2, things looked to be going better. This roof’s pitch was lower so walking on the roof wasn’t as difficult. About two hours into the project Jim took a mis-step off the scaffolding and stepped awkwardly on his right foot. He didn’t say a thing because that is the kind of guy he is, but I noticed him walking a little gingerly. When I asked him about it, he said he twisted it but it was fine. The next morning it was a bit swollen but Jim was determined to keep working.
He was on a mission to go back and finish the other side of garage roof #1 (our helpful pal Bill wasn’t coming to work this day so they left garage roof #2 for the following day). Jim continued all day laying shingles, took a shower at night and this is what the foot looked like after being on it all day:
Needless to say, we both wondered if there was something seriously wrong with the ankle. (Truth be told, Jim said it was “fine” but I was really worried there may be a broken bone.). The next morning when it looked the same we headed to Urgent Care. Luckily, this is a bad sprain but there were no broken bones. Jim babied it for one day, using the RICE method (rest, ice, compress and elevate). It helped quite a bit, along with Ibuprofin, and he was back at it the following day.
The last nail has since been driven in, the fascia has been installed and the scaffolding is down. Stamp this project finished – jinx or not!
And that tree limb in garage roof #1? As of writing it is still there – we’re not sure if we should remove it or encase it in Plexiglas as an homage to the project?
