…… House repair

[kyrsyan]

Slight detour - I'm going to keep laughing every time I see that replacement symbol for the help prefix.

Okay. Yesterday we were cleaning up some shrubs and baby trees. Actually, we were taking the bloody things out completely and if they poke their heads again, I will use extra strength Round Up. I'm done with those things. And the compost pile is moving there.

Anyways, I digress. When we got to the stuff closest to the house we found that a tree limb had come down and just hung in the shrubs/tree, and on part of the roof. Just the edge of the roof. But apparently old age, the nasty weather, and the tree limb was enough to knock the 2x4 that was on the edge for the soffit. The roof edge is actually still sound but is "bending" a hair. This is a "flat" roof section. Not completely flat but really, really shallow angle.

The roof was replace 5 years ago. Why this particular 2x4 was not replaced then, I have no clue. Can I carefully remove the 2x4 and soffit siding pieces? Then replace the 2x4 and put the soffit siding pieces back? We're not actually sure why the soffit siding pieces are there since there's not direct attic, or even non direct attic access there. But if I can salvage them, I'll put them back. If it can be done.

So can it be done? Are there videos that I can watch to make it so I'm not doing this from a quite clueless standpoint?

No insurance will not cover this. And don't even get me started on trying to get the roofer to honor his warranty. He had a really good BBB rating when we hired him. He no longer does.

 

[hiwall]

You should add a picture if possible so we could give better answers.

 

[Kathy in FL]

The 2x4 edges get replaced all the time without having to replace the entire section. And so long as your soffit and facia are in reasonable condition taking them down as you make the other repair shouldn't be a problem either. Just remember when you rehang the new 2x4 that you don't "tighten" the space the facia hangs in or it will look buckled. If the tightness is fairly miniscule you can use a sander to take off some of the inside wood until the soffat fits. Also, if it is run in a track, don't break the track if at all possible.

 

[kyrsyan]

You should add a picture if possible so we could give better answers.

I will see if I can. Friend sent me several after we got everything out of the way.

 

[kyrsyan]

The 2x4 edges get replaced all the time without having to replace the entire section. And so long as your soffit and facia are in reasonable condition taking them down as you make the other repair shouldn't be a problem either. Just remember when you rehang the new 2x4 that you don't "tighten" the space the facia hangs in or it will look buckled. If the tightness is fairly miniscule you can use a sander to take off some of the inside wood until the soffat fits. Also, if it is run in a track, don't break the track if at all possible.

That is good news. Because the base for my roof is 2x8s, not plywood. And I hate, hate, hate that flat section. It has been a very difficult section of roofing that had to be redone three times. It finally doesn't leak anymore and I'd like to not have to go through all of that again.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Is the siding aluminum or vinyl. Vinyl will be easier to work with so that bumps and dings don't show. And do you still have the piece that wrapped the 2x4? Make sure it gets laid flat until you can get it back up so that it doesn't get warped. Also, screw or nail? Either way, make sure the head is big enough it doesn't go through the hole that was used to attach the soffit or facia the first time.

 

[kyrsyan]

Aluminum. And yes to the piece that wraps around. It got bent. I'm going to use the heat gun to heat it and gently unbend it. And if necessary, use JB Weld on any cracks/holes. We do not want to deal with residing. Long story on that but nope, don't want to reside this house.

The 2x4 was nailed into from the roof side. That's going to make this interesting to fix. But it's also probably why it came off. It literally slid off the nails. I'm going to have to trim off all the nails before I put a new piece on. There are no extended joists or anything there. Just the roof out to the 2x4 which was braced on the angled roof section and attached to the 2x4 that runs across the back. If I had known about it when they redid the roof, I would have told them to take off the excess. Other than appearance, there really isn't a reason for that to be there. But now, because the roof runs out that far, it needs to be there.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Aluminum. And yes to the piece that wraps around. It got bent. I'm going to use the heat gun to heat it and gently unbend it. And if necessary, use JB Weld on any cracks/holes. We do not want to deal with residing. Long story on that but nope, don't want to reside this house.

The 2x4 was nailed into from the roof side. That's going to make this interesting to fix. But it's also probably why it came off. It literally slid off the nails. I'm going to have to trim off all the nails before I put a new piece on. There are no extended joists or anything there. Just the roof out to the 2x4 which was braced on the angled roof section and attached to the 2x4 that runs across the back. If I had known about it when they redid the roof, I would have told them to take off the excess. Other than appearance, there really isn't a reason for that to be there. But now, because the roof runs out that far, it needs to be there.

If you don't want to renail through the roof ... or even if that is what you wind up doing ... you can add braces or bracket pieces to the side of the house and then attached the 2x4 to it/them. Just make sure to trim it so that the braces/brackets don't interere with the reinstallation of the siding (soffit/facia).

 

[kyrsyan]

If you don't want to renail through the roof ... or even if that is what you wind up doing ... you can add braces or bracket pieces to the side of the house and then attached the 2x4 to it/them. Just make sure to trim it so that the braces/brackets don't interere with the reinstallation of the siding (soffit/facia).

I like that idea. The house is 60+ years old. Every year it's something new. The other surprise for this weekend was discovering that the box for the porch light is not an exterior box. So a new box, designed to fit over lap siding, is on it's way.

But that would be why the front light would randomly decide to not work.

I just shake my head and keep moving forward.

 

[Kathy in FL]

I like that idea. The house is 60+ years old. Every year it's something new. The other surprise for this weekend was discovering that the box for the porch light is not an exterior box. So a new box, designed to fit over lap siding, is on it's way.

But that would be why the front light would randomly decide to not work.

I just shake my head and keep moving forward.

We've had to undo a lot of crazy "repairs" on our rental properties over the years. First five years we own a property are generally the worst, though we haven't purchased anything for the last decade and those were all foreclosures. I almost hate to open a wall because you are never sure what you are going to find. Changing a roof would be the next "worst." For instance, we are replacing the roof on one of our rentals that is near a hundred years old (one in a package of foreclosures we purchased wholesale). Sweet Baby Jesus, there were almost ten layers of metal and shingles in one section with no plywood between that and the raters. One section didn't have any webs and none of the roof had nail plates. [groan] The only reason a storm never took the roof off is likely from the weight of the entire mess. We are taking the entire roof back to the rafters, all new plywood and then a modern roofing job while adding all of the hurricane tie-downs and nail plates now required by code.

On another one of our buildings (this was a few years ago now) we had to replace all the piers (luckily the foundation stones were old-fashioned poured lime rock) and most of the floor joists when the tenant brought in a piece of "free" furniture they found on the side of the road that had termites. Ugh. We considered simply demolishing that one, but we couldn't rebuild it for what we bought it for and it was/is a real cash cow. We're lucky we caught it before the termites got into the wall ... which for some weird reason is not drywall but rockboard through the entire house where an investor had tried to perform and fix and flip pre-2005.

Sometimes all you can do is shake your head and just deal.

 

[kyrsyan]

We've had to undo a lot of crazy "repairs" on our rental properties over the years. First five years we own a property are generally the worst, though we haven't purchased anything for the last decade and those were all foreclosures. I almost hate to open a wall because you are never sure what you are going to find. Changing a roof would be the next "worst." For instance, we are replacing the roof on one of our rentals that is near a hundred years old (one in a package of foreclosures we purchased wholesale). Sweet Baby Jesus, there were almost ten layers of metal and shingles in one section with no plywood between that and the raters. One section didn't have any webs and none of the roof had nail plates. [groan] The only reason a storm never took the roof off is likely from the weight of the entire mess. We are taking the entire roof back to the rafters, all new plywood and then a modern roofing job while adding all of the hurricane tie-downs and nail plates now required by code.

On another one of our buildings (this was a few years ago now) we had to replace all the piers (luckily the foundation stones were old-fashioned poured lime rock) and most of the floor joists when the tenant brought in a piece of "free" furniture they found on the side of the road that had termites. Ugh. We considered simply demolishing that one, but we couldn't rebuild it for what we bought it for and it was/is a real cash cow. We're lucky we caught it before the termites got into the wall ... which for some weird reason is not drywall but rockboard through the entire house where an investor had tried to perform and fix and flip pre-2005.

Sometimes all you can do is shake your head and just deal.

Oh ugh. When we got the new roof, they took off 2 layers. The fun was them realizing that there isn't plywood. That discussion made my brain hurt. But all the 2x8s were in good condition. Thank heavens. The detached garage did actually have to have two pieces of plywood replaced (because it is not as old as the house).

Don't get me started on piers and the crawlspace. Which is only 11" high in most places and makes it extremely difficult to get under the house for repairs. Each time we had to pull a floor section for some reason, we find support jacks that someone must have put in at some point. But they didn't provide them with a good base support so most of them have shifted. We pull them out, put in a brick or concrete pad, and then put them back in. None of us can get under far enough to do much more than that. None of the folks Dad talked to had anyone small enough to get under. I have a friend who can, but it's really, really tight.

As part of the yard landscaping, I'm putting in french drains about two feet out from the house. And grading the soil so that it slopes away from the house and towards the drains. Because there are noticeable, to me, depressions that rain water has created. (No gutters.) Gutters are part of the long term plan. They are in the garage but everyone seems to think that I can magically install gutters with no assistance.

The next door house used to be a rental. One of the tenants found termites in the wall. Instead of killing them, he just scooped them out the window. So every few months I spray the base all the way around the house for regular bugs, and then again with carpenter ant and termite spray. His stunt was a few years ago but I'm just not willing to take the risk. Especially after a pile of purchased wood mulch turned out to have termites in it. Everyone complains that fresh wood chip will have them. But I've yet to have them in fresh wood chip, even as it degrades. But bought wood mulch one year and there they were. ugh.

I shake my head at a lot of it. Family members seem to be fond of shortcuts that will end up costing more in the long run. I'm not. We've been here for 15+ years. Unless something goes badly wrong, or I win the lottery that I rarely ever play, we're going to be here until I pass. So I'd like the repairs to hold for a good long time. Which is why the front porch railing is being replaced with PVC rails this year.

 

[hiwall]

I don't think I can add much to everything Kathy has told you (she obviously knows what she is talking about )
I will say that facia boards are a very common item on houses that rots out and has to be replaced.

 

[Freebirde]

The stories I could tell you about narrow crawlspaces. I've worked for both Cooks and Orkins as pest control, termite control, moisture control, as well as installing jacks. Some are so low that I would have to dig trenches if I needed to move cross the floor joist. We are too cold during winter to have the non-ground dwelling termites, but we do have carpenter ants. No matter how bad it is under your house, there are worst. I made and carried a snake pole. I have found crayfish under houses. I have had houses with leaks in the pipes from the toilets. I have had houses with the clothes dryers vented to the crawlspace.

My father was a carpenter and worked everything from foundation to ridge cap. Been more than forty years since doing any serious roofing work. IIRC local code did not allow more than five layers of roofing, but we never put on more than three layers. This is back when asbestos and asphalt were the standard and fiberglass shingles were just coming onto the market.

 

[kyrsyan]

And nature made this a moot issue. The straight line winds on Friday rolled up the corner of the flat roof, and "ruffled" some of the shingles along the front ridge.

So call will go in to a roofer and we'll work from there. I don't see insurance being willing to cover much, if any, of the costs. And I am not thrilled with dealing with roofers with the damage that occurred through the region.

Both Dad and brother think that the "ruffled" shingles will settle with sunshine. I hope they're right.