Rats in the Attic

I have rats in my attic. That really, really, really, really, sucks. Why do I have rats in the attic? Because I went so long without an actual roof, that some rats decided to move in. The exterminator was here, and he's set some traps which he hopes will work. However my attic is so hot, he wouldn't go in (130 degrees) -- this is caused by the fact that (a) it's really fucking hot here and (b) there are no tiles to protect and insulate my roof. He'll come back at night if the traps he set at arm's length from the attic door don't work.

On the plus side he also flooded it with ant poison and it's seemed to have killed quite a few of those damned white-footed ants that have been invading my home for the past eight weeks. Not having a roof causes quite a few problems you don't normally anticipate.

They're working on the inside of my house. My garage has a ceiling again. You have no idea how exciting that is. And my stairwell has a wall and a ceiling. My office no longer has ugly brown stains on the roof, and the same for my kitchen walls. Neither do my bathrooms. My computer area and hallway are still, shall we say, incomplete.







Tag: Rats and Roof and Repairs

The latest on my roof

Yes, there has been progress of a sort. I have the world's slowest roofer*, you know. I'm sure you've been reading the saga here with keen interest**. I've not been posting the ongoing details for fear of running off my remaining blog visitors. However, after many missed promises and delays, the base roof is done. All we need now is tiles. Aye, there's the rub. They ordered my tiles in December, though the contract was signed in November. Even so that's only a month. I am now being told another four months even though other neighbours of mine actually have tiles roof-loaded and ready to install.



* BET Construction & Roofing (or some permutation thereof)
** As if.

I have roofers!!!!!!!

Yes, indeed, today the roofers finally started. So, after six months of waiting I now have less of a roof than I did after the hurricane. I am certain this is a good thing. They are removing what's left of the old roof (except the underlying particle board) and hauling it away. They are going to put proper plywood over the particle board. Then tar paper, nails with tin caps (to Dade County Standards), then hot mop it. Then it will set for a long, long time until the inspector shows up. Which is, in theory fine, because god knows when the fucking tiles (concrete rectangles to be exact) will ever show up.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

I have windows -- Another Hurricane Wilma Update

I no longer have Glad(R) bags as windows! Yes, it's true, my home's windows are now back to being glass. My landscaping is mostly replanted and restored.

The only exterior visible damage is the roof, a section of rain gutter, and the freshly planted landscaping. The roof is no longer in the backyard and has been (im)properly disposed of. My roof is still partially up, I don't really intended to mislead.

Interior damage is "limited" to the following areas:

1. Inside the garage (ceiling collapse due to separation of the roof). The entire ceiling is collapsed.
2. The kitchen drywall is ruined and separated from the wall. This is due to running water inside the walls. Again, coming from the roof. This is because the roof, well, it isn't there. Some patchwork repairs were done by piling tiles over the now rotted-out plywood. It keeps the water from pouring in so fast.
3. The guest bathroom, upstairs AC closet, upstairs hall, and staircase all have severe drywall damage again due to the roof. (See kitchen for boring description).
4. My bedroom has some small damage around the AC duct. This is actually from water running down the ductwork from the leak in #3 -- not due to a roof leak.
5. My closet and shower have lots of mold stains on the ceiling which means there is water up above them that hasn't yet come through.
6. Oh and, of course, the roof.

Still waiting on the insurance company. I can see it's not going well.

Hurricane Wilma Damage Report

I'm back from the Far East, but what have I come back to? As you know, Hurricane Wilma pounded into Florida while I was away. We had toyed with the idea of coming home to prepare in advance of the storm, but Wilma kept changing speed and direction, and we weren't even sure if we were needed back home. Quite frankly, we weren't sure we'd even make it back in time: that would have left us in the USA but not home, so ultimately we decided we'd be better off finishing up the trip. After Wilma hit, we tried to come home, but there simply wasn't any way to get home. The airports were closed, and if we flew to an open airport (Atlanta, for example), there wasn't gas available to drive -- a situation that is still a problem.

My home has sustained extensive damage. The exterior has severe damage to the roof (most of it's in the backyard, instead of on top of the house where it belongs) – the roof needs to be replaced: it is not repairable. There are holes in the roof, the tiles, felt, and tar paper are stripped away and the wood underneath is damaged and broken. There is interior ceiling damage in the garage, downstairs hallway, upstairs hallway, closet, bedroom, and bathroom. Lots of drywall will need replacing, plus the related mold and mildew problems that will come along with it.

I have a broken window pane – one of the big ones in my kitchen (4' x 2' panes). Although I have covered this, the repair of this window – which is comprised of six of these panes will be difficult. As a result of the broken pane, there is water damage.

My lush landscaping is gone. In fact, our entire neighbourhood has been entirely denuded. Whatever trees Katrina missed, Wilma got.

My exterior paint has lots of embedded grass and crap in it. If you've been through a hurricane before, you know how it literally gets blasted into and becomes part of the paint.

Today I took a few dozen pictures for the insurance adjuster and after I talk to him/her next week I can begin the slow clean up and repair process. Today, I piled up the broken tiles on the ground, but the ones on the roof I can't get to. I am unhappy.

11-6-05 update: The insurance adjuster called and we have an appointment for 11-29. Yay. I've been cleaning for days and the yard and everything looks presentable (except for no landscaping) but the roof is still missing large chunks. My roofer and I signed a contract but they don't expect to be able to start until after the first of the year.

Why I hate my car....

A few weeks ago, I took my car in for the 40,000 mile service. It also needed a brake job and to have the rotors turned. It wasn't ready on the appointed day because "we have to take it for a test drive before we return the car to you." That was the exact line.

I got it the next day and the brakes didn't work right. The steering wheel vibrated heavily as you tried to stop; the harder the stop the worse the vibration. I had to take it back.

After the second trip (brakes fixed), I put in gas and drove to work. The next start (and the VERY NEXT MORNING) the "Check Engine" light came on. I was told that I could possibly reset the light (as it may have been spurious) by removing the 20amp EFI fuse while the car was off. No big deal. I did it. It didn't work. Third trip to the dealer, they reset it. Made it about 4-1/2 miles when the light comes on again -- spurious my ass.

They assured me it wasn't a big deal, suggested I tried to reset it again, and gave me an appointment for the following week (this upcoming Thursday). Today I left my house around 840am, and I am 30+ miles from home and put gas in, and try to reset the light again. Unfortunately, in the midst of taking out the fuse and reinserting at (after the 30 second wait), I accidentally knocked out the EFI relay. It feel into the engine compartment and didn't fall through. A search by me, the station attendant, my friend Thomas, followed by vigorous shaking of the car failed to produce it. A trip to four auto parts stores all said "dealer only part" -- no dealers are open Sundays. The car will not operate without this relay. called the service number who asked why exactly I was playing in the box, and I told them. They were appalled at the fact I was told to do so. They sent me a tow truck (we shall not discuss towing fees) to tow me back to my house. It's now 230pm and I've not yet eaten today. [added 1/31/05: I had a second tow to the dealer this morning. They were 'shocked' to see me. As if. Anyway, they gave me a loaner. It got a nail in the tire. I now have my original car back. It appears to work

-- Eric