When we can’t piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our historic landmark home, Maison Steinbuchel, has a spectacular roof. We recently acquired some drone photos from above. I must say, it rather took my breath away! Even though I have flown over my house, I have never been this close from above. It truly is a wonderful structure.
In 1995, we began renovating this house, starting with the Vermont red slate roof. The only structure in the region with this material, the red slate is one of its defining features. At the time, the house, and thus the slate roof, was 107 years old. Not a bad run for a roof. There had been a few attempted repairs over the years, but this is not a roof you can simply climb up on and fix – those who did so caused more damage.
A Spectacular Roof Face Lift
In addition, over time, a chemical reaction occurred from the rain runoff on the galvanized steel valleys, Yankee gutters, and downspouts. This resulted in corrosion and water infiltration. So in the fall of 1995, we began:
- Removed all the slate shingles
- The slate was sorted, and that which could be reused was recut and reinstalled on the north side
- New red slate was ordered and installed on the south side
- New copper valleys and downspouts were installed to replace the corroded galvanized material. The runoff will not corrode the copper.
In addition, the following occurred:
- Restacked and repaired all the chimneys
- Soffits and gables repaired and painted
- Repaired the attic windows.
- Replaced some decking
- Reinforced a few attic joists
It was truly spectacular.
Picking Up The Spectacular Roof Where We Left Off
We have always planned to continue the renovations, and plans continued. However, the pause on actual work lasted much longer than intended. We are back on track. We recently had a roof inspection to determine, up close, the status of the slate.
This required the use of an articulated crane that reached the height of 45 feet.. A licensed crane operator and engineer took to the skies to assess the extent of the damage. The Kansas weather has not been kind over the last 30 years. Although the new slate fared reasonably well, the recycled slate, now almost 140 years old, is tired. It’s time.
Awesome Perspective
This is only the start of our plans. Is it intimidating? At times, but we have spent years planning, dreaming, thinking, and watching others do much bigger projects. We are also in the process of assembling a team. It’s always good to have people who have traveled this road along for the ride.
When the details start to close in, I look at the photos from above and the pieces fall into their proper place.
Stay tuned for updates on this project. This is a story I will endeavor to chronicle as we progress.
What story are you documenting? Any tips for keeping on track?