Time to Repair the Roof is When the Sun is Shining – jfk

The sun did shine and the roof is finished.  The transformation took four days including installation of gutters.  My husband is very happy with his new roof and gutters.  He reminds me that the new roof is a good thing.

I have picked up nails, cigarette butts, garbage and little pieces of metal.  I am not as thrilled as he.  I understand everything except the cigarette butts.  If you are working at non-smokers’ house and they are paying you, either do not smoke or use a can.  Considering that is my only complaint, the new roof is an excellent replacement.  Our township considered the new roof a retrofit since there was no removal and as such we did not need a permit. That was another added bonus.

 

Everyday there was about half dozen men working on the roof.  Anytime someone drove by my house they would tell me that the men were hard at work.  What an excellent feeling to know we were able to go to work, trust that the work was getting done and our home was safe. 

 

We had three (3) mishaps.  The first thing I noticed on my white house was the green end cap was not even so the white of the house stuck out like a sore thumb and one of the capscrew  had been too tight which kinked the cap.  My husband spotted a scratch on the metal roof outside the dormer window.  Lastly, the gutter above the entrance looked used; it had several scratches and a ding in it.  The three mishaps were not terrible just bothersome.

Maybe one of the panels got scratched while it was in the lawn.

My husband called Dave; he explained about the scratch, the uneven cap spacing, the gutter ding and the scratches needing touch up paint.  Somehow he neglected the kink, much to my disappointment.  So at the end of my work day I came home to the repair of the scratch on the roof, the spacing on the end caps on both sides of the house was fixed, even the kink was removed and instead of leaving touch up paint for the gutter or repairing it, he replaced it. 

My husband and I are not detail people.  We are a bit laid back, on some matters.  We did see that the three obvious items needed addressing, we did not expect replacement of the items just repairs. Our house was built in the 1920's, we expect imperfection to maintian its character.  Having someone hear and address your “complaints” without any push back and go beyond is excellent service. 

The new gutters are not yet installed in this picture.

Overall, First Choice Roofing is an excellent choice. 

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof is on Fire!

No, my roof is not really on fire.  I am getting a new roof.  Let me explain the processes of getting a new roof. 

I like my roof the way it is: not costing and not leaking, yet.

 

My husband sees the roof as needing repairs;

My husband calculates the age & condition of the roof;

Ask fellow workers their experience with roofers;

Call two roofers;

Meet with both;

Obtain estimates;

Decide and

Pay.

 

That is the short non-whining wife version.  The long version is the decussion: about the cost, the type of roof: I want metal and he wants traditional, adding to the landfill and lastly DGK client vs non-client.  After a long discussion and obtaining estimates that were basically the same price, the deciding factor was landfill.  A metal roof, from First Choice Roofing, is installed directly over the existing roof eliminating the necessity of a dumpster & adding to the landfill.  Lastly, the time to install a metal roof is 2 to 3 days tops versus a week or more for a traditional.   

 

While I may see the need for a new roof (someday), I am not happy to report that I have not behaved as a mature responsible adult.  I whined that I did not want to spend “my” money on a new roof.  A roof is not a trip to Zion National Park or Alaska.  A roof is not a new kitchen with a Viking.  A roof is not a new upstairs bathroom.  A roof is not many things I would prefer to spend household money. 

 

I have stopped whining (somewhat).  I have accepted that we must have a new shiny forest green metal roof that will sound nostagically like the boarding house my aunt and uncle purchased in the Poconos.  The first visit to their house was my first trip to the country for this NYC girl.  I remember the ponds, the bears, the deer and the appetite from the fresh country air.  I also recall the evening rain on the metal roof.  A beloved sound that I have buried in the recesses of my memory, one that I will relive shortly.

The delivery of all the roofing material - 2,200 lbs of metal.

 

Stay tuned for further information in the saga of getting a new roof. 

Mixed Emotions Yet I still Believe

What can one say about a day that has caused so much turmoil, heartache, destruction and death in a city set to celebrate the human spirit of physical endurance?  The marathon is about setting a goal and taking steps everyday to conquer that goal.  To be able to run the Boston Marathon one must first qualify by completing another marathon within a specified time and then through a lottery get picked to run.  Of course there are slots for runners that are raising money for a charitable cause yet even those runners must withstand the physical endurance test of running 26.2 miles. 

Factoryville had a resident accomplish his goal of running in the 117^th Boston Marathon.  He completed the marathon 15 minutes before the first bomb exploded.  While we were over joyed that our friend was safe, others were not.  Mixed emotions became the tag line to all involved in the marathon or knew someone running the event.  How do you celebrate and mourn at the same time?

While watching the news unfold, hearing of the deaths and the injured one can only wonder what drives a human to destruction. In my lifetime, I have seen via the news battles from Vietnam to the Sudan; we watched in our living rooms the air raid attacks as the US bombed Iraq.  Those events were seemingly so far away.  The US has its own home grown violence: Civil Rights movement, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Olympic Park bombing, the Oklahoma bombing and unfortunately many others. Violence did not begin with 9/11 or the Boston Marathon and sadly it will most likely not end there either. 

Whether you call it terrorism or attacks on American soil it is violence.  We have witnessed more violence in the age of cell phones and twitter than our parents.  We can discuss gun control and the FBI watches of explosive chemicals till the end of time.  The unmistakable fact is if someone wants to destroy they will find a way to destroy.  What does that leave us?

I look at the people that rushed in to save bystanders, runners, volunteers and anyone needing help.  Even our emergency personnel were assisted by random strangers offering a hand, carrying a person out of harm’s way and performing CPR to no avail.  I look at the Americans and the visitors from other countries that stayed with the scared, helped the lost and confused.  I watch as the crowd listened to the police and did as they were instructed to keep safe.  The response to this violence was text book.  It is what we are teaching each other so the damage to life, property and psyche stays at a minimum.

What is unsettling is the realization that there is bad in the world and violence can strike at any time to anyone.  How do you stay safe, plan for the future and believe in the human spirit? Going forward to live our life despite the unpredictability of the violence in the world is the advice we are given.  If we give in to the fear then we have lost and the perpetrators have won.  Is that enough to move forward?

I grew up with Mister Rogers.  He was a sensitive man that spoke to us about difficult situations even when our own parents were unable.  He spoke of his mother telling him to concentrate on the helpers in a disaster; they are the people to place your focus as they represent the caring people in the world.  After 9/11 Mister Rogers spoke to us about his belief that some do not know how to deal with their anger and how we must teach our children to deal with their emotions.  He believed we could bring healing to many different neighborhoods by teaching our children to cope with their feelings in a healthy manner.  I believe it too. 

 

How to Catch April Showers

April showers bring the flowers. So far,  this has not been a wet April.  This week is gardening week.  It is time to plan a garden and prepare for a possible dry season.  Garden placement is an important consideration for a new garden.  What do you do if your garden is already in its permanent home?

Hopefully you placed your garden near a water source or close to your house.  If not, you may have set up some type of irrigation, to that I say, “Great planning!”  There is still hope if your garden is not near a water source.

 

What water source can you have?  On May 4, 2013 Keystone College is holding a “Make a Water Barrel” workshop.  What better way to obtain water for your garden than the natural source of water.  The rain will not run your well dry and/or increase your electric bill.   If you have community water, using a rain barrel to water your garden will not increase your water bill and sometimes your sewer bill as well.  Rain water is also better for your plants than the icy cold water from your garden hose. 

 

I am attending the workshop.  I have my garden near a water source however I love the idea of a rain barrel.  My husband is less thrilled.  He is concerned about mosquitoes.  I will be honest, I did not even think about those West Niles pests.  Now, I do wonder what I will learn to avoid the stagnant water invitation for mosquitoes and still have this fabulous rain barrel to water my plants. 

 

The workshop will promote a range of solutions to storm water challenges, from simple rain barrels and rain gardens, to more complex best management practices for homes, schools, and businesses.  There is still time to register. http://www.kceei.keystone.edu/CoursesWorkshop/Workshops.htm

 Hope to see you there.  Maybe I will be more interested in a rain garden than a rain barrel.

 

The workshop is funded through the League of Women Voters of PA Citizen Education Fund’s Water Resource Education Network – WREN.

Tornados 101

It is never too early or late to learn about tornados.  With the last tornado that hit NEPA, I learned to listen to the weather channel on the radio.  We tried watching the local news which had the tornado in Binghamton and not in my back yard less than a half mile from my house.  Without further ado and help from NOAA, let us learn about tornados.

What is a tornado?

A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris.

What is the difference between a tornado watch and warning?

A tornado watch defines an area shaped like a parallelogram, where tornadoes and other kinds of severe weather are possible in the next several hours. It does not mean tornadoes are imminent, just that you need to be alert, and to be prepared to go to safe shelter if tornadoes do happen or a warning is issued.
A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado. When a tornado warning is issued for your town or county, take immediate safety precautions.

What is the EF-Scale?

The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates tornadoes by the damage they cause. Tornado categories are from EF0 to EF5. The EF-Scale takes into account variables such as building type, structures, and the sizes of trees. 

 

TORNADO SAFETY: WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

Before the Storm:

• Develop a plan for yourself and your family for home, work, school and when outdoors. 

• Have frequent drills.
• Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and a battery backup to receive warnings.
• Listen to radio and television for information.
• If planning a trip outdoors, listen to the latest forecasts and take necessary action if threatening weather is possible.

If a warning is issued or if threatening weather approaches:  

• In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
• If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture.
• Stay away from windows.
• Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead leave it immediately.
• If caught outside or in a vehicle, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned. 

    A disaster supplies kit should include:

*A 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil

*one change of clothing and footwear per person
*a first aid kit including a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and a portable radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries
*an extra set of car keys and a credit card or cash
* special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.

For more information visit: http://www.ready.gov/be-informed