Up on the roof top . . .

I think I now know what the thud of 8 sets of reindeer paws sounds like on a roof top. I imagine it sounds like a surprise visit from a healthy-sized roofing contractor in heavy boots surprising you at 9:00am with a stomp across the top of your house to measure for materials. I suppose the consolation is that the contractor didn't realize anyone was home, so everyone got a boost to their caffeine jolt.

That said, the remodeling project took another step forward today, and it's starting to feel more and more like a reality.

I am already learning more about housing construction than all the knowledge I've gathered over the past 45 years, which is admittedly not very much. Let's be honest. The last time I was on the roof of a house was 27 years ago in college, after several rounds of playing Captain Buzz Buzz using sloe gin and beer. Okay, so it was more like 14 rounds, and I lost every single one. What I remember, and what has been verified by several sources who were only too happy to corroborate the story, is that I ended the evening on the roof with a guitar, singing in my underwear. In February, on the New York-Pennsylvania border.

Needless to say, I wasn't discussing the cooling inefficiencies of gable venting systems.

I was today, though, and I learned that the current attic ventilation system is poorly designed. It came as no surprise, having been up in that attic in the dead of August in Houston, that the house was not reaping the benefits of a well-planned cooling system. What I didn't know is that the inefficiencies were due to the fact that the roof vents were placed too high on the structure to allow for proper convection-style air flow, an issue that is further aggravated by gable vents that, because of their equally high placement, essentially don't help cool the attic at all.

So, the November 16th roof replacement is now set to include an updated venting system that, while not making it exceedingly comfortable, should help us tolerate a limited visit to the attic in summer without use of a defibrillator or the need to carry a cell phone to dial 9-1-1. You have to love progress.

Per the contractor, they will be back this Friday to deliver the first round of roofing materials and set up the temporary dumpster. Phase 1 is gearing up!!