Ahoy! Guess I better stop in to say hello and give an update.
The start of the third year here as brought some problems with it.
I had just gotten back to work on the dormant mods when I found we have a couple roof leaks coming through the ceiling from the first spring rains. I guess 2 years of neglect on the house is biting me in the ..... While a son was crawling through the attic he found we have roof rats (common in Florida) and they have chewed through some wiring and been nibbling on pvc pipes.
Well, I certainly do not have the funds to hire a roofing company and plumbers! Fortunately, my second job in life (when I was 17) was roofing and I did that for a couple years before I joined the navy so I am doing it myself with the help of my two sons as time permits (they have work and school too). This is certainly one way of getting a back back in shape although I might not be able to move for a week when we are done.
I've already borrowed a pickup truck and we have begun the tear off. When that's done we replace rotten sheeting, then lay down new felt and get ready to lay the new shingles. I've repaired the wiring (trying to squeeze old bones into an attic sucks!), but managed to get the job done anyway.
We bought this house from my brother in-law not that long ago and he felt bad about the roof, so he has bought the replacement shingles for us (what a guy) or I would have had to try to get a home loan.
All the work I can do myself, maybe not a fast as when I was younger, but I guess a lifetime of odd job skills pays off once again.
We've trapped a couple rats and apparently drove the rest off with our work. I will also have to seal the rafter openings better to prevent them from getting in again with wire mesh.
If only this had happened before the temps starting hitting the eighties again.... one way to lose weight.
So all in all, the batch is once again collecting dust, and I may very well just bypass finishing this web batch and take a pre-order batch instead when the house repair work is done because people will be tired of waiting by them I'm sure.
I will stop by and say hello often, but I need to get this work done. I used to be able to do one house a day, so I imagine by next week I will be back up and running at RSM.
My back? Well, I guess I just needed some exercise, sore but feeling better than I have for a while
Have a great week out there, arrrr