A new hat for the MBI Estate
In a post a few weeks ago, I said that this summer is considerably less hectic than last summer.
I stand by that, but I don't want to leave the impression that we're not having our fair share of summer excitement.
It's just that this summer's excitement is a different variety than normal. Last summer was all about trips and moving into a new house.
This summer we're getting a new roof.
Thrilling, isn't it?
After finding the third separate piece of evidence of leak-related issues in our house, it became clear a few weeks ago that it was time to say goodbye to Ol' Gray, the existing slate roof.
We figured that it would be much cheaper in the long run to go ahead and give the house a new roof rather than deal with each new leak-related issue (plaster crumbles, mildew, etc.) as it crops up. We just hoped we'd have a little while longer before we had to bite the bullet and do it.
I don't know if you've checked on roofing prices lately, but HOLY MACARONI. The cost is, uh, substantial.
I have to keep reminding myself that we're not spending this money, we're investing it in our home.
On the day Wife and I agreed that we needed the new roof, I was trading emails with my college roommate about stocks and the market and such. His perspective is what I'm clinging to:
He's right.
And the chances are pretty good that we won't ever have to put another roof on our house during our lifetime.
After all, we're the first owners to ever put a new roof in this house. Ol' Gray was put on when the house was built.
In 1930.
So when you take our cost to re-roof the place and spread it over the next 80 years, it goes from being inconceivable to just being awful. And awful is better than inconceivable any day, right?
Of course, if I had any business sense at all (which is questionable) I'd find a way to make the most of the situation. It seems a terrible waste that a few thousand 80 year-old slate shingles are going to wind up in the dump.
You think if I craigslisted those things I could get any money for them?
You know, as big a stink as I'm making about the cost and hassle of having a new roof put on, I'm truly looking forward to seeing how the house looks with its new 'do. I think it'll dress the place up quite a bit.
So there's our Christmas in July gift to ourselves - a new roof. Any fun home improvement stuff going on at your place this summer?
I stand by that, but I don't want to leave the impression that we're not having our fair share of summer excitement.
It's just that this summer's excitement is a different variety than normal. Last summer was all about trips and moving into a new house.
This summer we're getting a new roof.
Thrilling, isn't it?
After finding the third separate piece of evidence of leak-related issues in our house, it became clear a few weeks ago that it was time to say goodbye to Ol' Gray, the existing slate roof.
We figured that it would be much cheaper in the long run to go ahead and give the house a new roof rather than deal with each new leak-related issue (plaster crumbles, mildew, etc.) as it crops up. We just hoped we'd have a little while longer before we had to bite the bullet and do it.
I don't know if you've checked on roofing prices lately, but HOLY MACARONI. The cost is, uh, substantial.
I have to keep reminding myself that we're not spending this money, we're investing it in our home.
On the day Wife and I agreed that we needed the new roof, I was trading emails with my college roommate about stocks and the market and such. His perspective is what I'm clinging to:
"The IRR (internal rate of return) on staying dry in your own house during a hard rain is immeasurable."
He's right.
And the chances are pretty good that we won't ever have to put another roof on our house during our lifetime.
After all, we're the first owners to ever put a new roof in this house. Ol' Gray was put on when the house was built.
In 1930.
So when you take our cost to re-roof the place and spread it over the next 80 years, it goes from being inconceivable to just being awful. And awful is better than inconceivable any day, right?
Of course, if I had any business sense at all (which is questionable) I'd find a way to make the most of the situation. It seems a terrible waste that a few thousand 80 year-old slate shingles are going to wind up in the dump.
You think if I craigslisted those things I could get any money for them?
You know, as big a stink as I'm making about the cost and hassle of having a new roof put on, I'm truly looking forward to seeing how the house looks with its new 'do. I think it'll dress the place up quite a bit.
So there's our Christmas in July gift to ourselves - a new roof. Any fun home improvement stuff going on at your place this summer?
posted by Leighton @ My Best Investments at
11:56 AM
7 Comments:
we're getting a front loading washer and dryer - is that exciting? I'm saving all of my home improvement excitement for the new jack and jill bathroom I have planned (shhh don't tell doug). We're still too close to our kitchen remodel for me to even broach the subject though.
It seems that we're trading summers. Last year we got the new roof. This year, we're moving, in about a week to be exact. We're really excited to say the least!
Ugh! Roofing...is there anything less exciting, but as expensive?
I just keep reminding myself not to get too comfy with that savings account because any one of the two or three major projects--maintenance, not upgrades--could suck it dry without even blinking!
But yeah, money well spent. Your neighbors will thank you too.
We did the new roof-thing last year. This year we finished the sunroom, completely relandscaped the front yard (after getting rid of the dogs!!), and now we are fixing up the area under the sunroom. We are in between projects right now, so our employees are doing all the work!
Are you going with the same kind of roof (80 years is a long time for a roof!) or going with regular shingles?
Emily
Emily
We need to do some painting, and we need a new roof. Not happening soon though. :-(
Take it easy with the excitement.
I bet you could find someone to buy those old shingles. There has to be some artist who'd do something with them and pay a few cents each. The trick is finding the right person at the right time.
we have had some major projects here in the last two months.
i had GREAT success with yahoo free cycle. instead of paying our contractor to remove and haul off old materials, (mostly lumber and trees), i posted a description and 42 different people begged to be the one allowed to take all of it off of our hands. it was all gone in 36 hours. beautiful!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home