Our tree came early
Hello wonderful Grandchildren and friends,
I thought I would tell you about our tree. It is 110-feet tall and about 20-inches in diameter.
Now, you probably wonder why G'ma and G'pa would get such a tall tree. Well, it was free including delivery. The wind blew it down from the "hundred-acre-wood" right across our roof-top (noisier than Santa for sure).
The roof is temporairly divided from gutter to ridge and down the other side. The tree came to rest on the West roof - after driving 10 matching holes in that roof. I think it bounced when it hit because the holes match up about 8-inches apart.
So, here is the story - so that you can benefit from our experience.
First, G'ma did not have my new work phone number handy. She had to call a friend who works at the same company and get it from him via his wife - then the number got confused between his wife and G'ma so she could not call me. She was doubly stressed.
Next, because I am in a vanpool I do not have a car at work. As a backup, the vanpool provides a free taxi ride home in emergencies. I had never used it so did not know how. So I was stuck at work.
Actually, being at work was not so bad (except that I could not comfort G'ma easily - I called as much as I could). I was able to contact my insurance agent and ask him what to do. He told us to immediately get a tree removal company on the way. He also reassured us that everything would be covered (with some limits). G'ma called and the tree removal company came a flying. By the time I got home four hours later the tree was already out of the roof. And, the company had tarped up the holes reasonably well including using a couple of their own tarps (I always have a few laying around). The Bishop had been first to arrive and did a temporary covering job which the tree removal company then improved on.
About tarps: the ones I had laying around had been used to cover dirt last spring (back when uncle Aaron helped me move dirt). My tarps did not do well at directing the water away. Have you Dads have a couple nice tarps on hand. Now, mine did ok but things still got quite wet.
The tree removers were just finishing up as I came home and darkness was coming so I could not do much. I had not yet seen the gaping hole so had no idea how much material to buy for the temporary roof. I did not want to take the tarps off with darkness and rain coming so my outside work would have to wait. Friday evening G'ma called around to find a propane room heater. She located one and I got it and fired it up and I knew that the room would soon be dry.
About propane and room heaters: The threads turn counter-clockwise and the nut is bigger than 3/4-inch. Don't turn the flow clear up. Ignore anyone who says a tank is too old to fill. Do set the tank on boards. I spent at least ten minutes trying to thread clock-wise before I figured out what I needed to do. Also, the nut is 7/8ths-inch so my 3/4 wrench set did not work - I finally had to use a pipewrench then located my big cresent-wrench while the room was drying. Turning the flow clear up is a waste. I went through a tank (10 gallons) in a hurry. The second tank I am using well throttled. When I went to refill the tank, the seller (not the original renter) indicated that the tank was too old to fill. I had to drive to the renter's location and I explained that I wanted a newer tank so I could fill it anywhere. He said he had never heard of such a rule and I think he is right. When the tank ran out the first time, the bottom became very cold and froze to the floor. I had put it on a rug to keep the rough metal off the floor but much more was needed. Now, I have it on two-inch thick boards.
When I notified the family about our adventure, I was at work. I had never heard of a tree falling on a house but not sending the owners to a motel so I told everyone that we would give them the number as soon as we had it. When I got home, there appeared to be so little damage that I changed my mind. Additionally, Momma Owen had really resisted going to the neighbors to wait so I took that into account. We have planned to stay with the house in an emergency because traveling would be so difficult for Momma. I still believe staying home (during an earthquake or volcano) is the right choice.
On Saturday, my neighbor and I made some gestimates on what would be needed to cover the hole well enough to stand up to the heavy rain and wind that was to come Sunday night. We bought 10 sheets of CDX, 4 2x4x14', and some screws and washers to put the tarps back down with. I planned to attach the 14-foot boards along side the hole and put the CDX over that and then the tarps. There were just a few inches to spare. I knew that the boards had to run straight down the roof else the water would just run under everything instead of racing off. We attached the 14-foot boards with my favorite long sheetrock screws then overlapped the CDX. The first board was placed about 4-inches beyond the gutter because I wanted any runoff to shoot out past the gutter. We then lapped by a foot or so each CDX over the lower one - again, to guide the water over off the roof. Then we re-tarped that area with screws and washers in the grommets.
About screws and washers: I got a box of one-and-one-half-inch sheetmetal screws and a box each of half-inch and quarter-inch washers. I overlapped the half and quarter to nearly completely cover the grommet and to keep the sheetmetal screw from going through the washers. This process did not work when I did the inside because the sheetrock screws slide right through the quarter-inch hole. I have since bought 100 #10 finishing washers which will be perfect.
The work was a success. Very little water was coming in. I could keep things dry with a few rags and the room heater. Contrast that with Friday night when I hauled nearly 40-gallons of water (caught in various pans and garbage cans) to the toilet. Some damage was already done, however. The wood flooring warped a little. The ceiling sheetrock came down in big chunks.
With the water under control, I could begin to assess the damage. The tree fell across two trusses and shattered them. Momma had reported two loud explosions. Imagine the force required to break a 2x4 truss - it must have been very loud - more than a karate yell. Additonally, adjoining trusses are damaged. And, as noted, there are 10 holes in another part of the roof. There is not one place around the house where there are no branches. The garden at the far side of the house is covered a few inches deep. Of course, much of this is from the tree being limbed prior to removal.
The tree removal company removed the cut-up blocks from the tree Saturday morning. I thought they would clean up the debris but such is not the case. Maybe someone will need some money for camp? Or I will have to do it. The good news is that I will not feel bad about throwing the branches back through the big hole in my fence to where the tree came from. Now watch, the pile will start on fire and burn my fence down - that will teach me?
Sunday night came and went as did Monday morning. As I looked outside the front door I noticed a tarp in a neighbor's tree about 300 feet north. During the night I had noticed more dripping than usual and the missing tarp would be the answer as to why.
Then, came the biggest shock of all. Monday night our Home Teachers came over to help me give a little structure to a piece of sheetrock that looked like it might fall from the ceiling. It had fallen some since Friday; due much to the rain that leaked in with the one tarp covering the neighbor's tree instead of my roof. I planned to screw through strips of wood then through the sheetrock and into the rafters. I started a screw and it hit nothing. I tried again in another line. Clearly, I was missing something. I decided that the only way I would get this fixed was to tear out the piece that was loose - which we did. Then I noticed that a large chunk (8-feet by 8-feet) of sheetrock was being kept in place by the sheetrock tape. Yikes. That whole ceiling could have fallen on us while we were watching TV. Well, I gently but firmly lifted the sheetrock a couple of inches then screwed the board to the sheetrock to the rafter as planned. Then we covered the hole with a cut piece of tarp to keep the insulation and cold air in the attic.
I had noticed that three nails or nail holes were showing in that ceiling. I assumed that the pressure had shot the nails out. I never imagined that all the other nails had pulled through the sheetrock and that nothing was holding it. Today, I added two metal strips to provide additional support.
About metal strips: these are under 1/8th inch thick, a couple inches wide and a couple feet long with several holes. I am using screws everywhere because I want to take things apart easily but I think the holes in these strips are intended for nails. No washers are required in this application of the inch-and-a-half sheetrock screws.
If you go to help someone who has a tree through their roof then assume that at least some sheet rock is loose and come prepared with screws and strips and a fully charged portable drill to help out. Gently push with a broom or long stick to see where the loose parts are and carefully screw the metal strips through the sheetrock and into the rafters.
I purchased a tube of roofing tar patch so I can fill the holes which the screws have made. This I will do when we begin to remove the tarps. I know that if I don't do this then I will have water problems whereever the roof is not replaced.
I think this brings things up-to-date. The claims reducer should be along any minute so I will close this for now.
Thank you all for your calls, emails, prayers, and thoughts,
G'pa Bob and G'ma Judith
I thought I would tell you about our tree. It is 110-feet tall and about 20-inches in diameter.
Now, you probably wonder why G'ma and G'pa would get such a tall tree. Well, it was free including delivery. The wind blew it down from the "hundred-acre-wood" right across our roof-top (noisier than Santa for sure).
The roof is temporairly divided from gutter to ridge and down the other side. The tree came to rest on the West roof - after driving 10 matching holes in that roof. I think it bounced when it hit because the holes match up about 8-inches apart.
So, here is the story - so that you can benefit from our experience.
First, G'ma did not have my new work phone number handy. She had to call a friend who works at the same company and get it from him via his wife - then the number got confused between his wife and G'ma so she could not call me. She was doubly stressed.
Next, because I am in a vanpool I do not have a car at work. As a backup, the vanpool provides a free taxi ride home in emergencies. I had never used it so did not know how. So I was stuck at work.
Actually, being at work was not so bad (except that I could not comfort G'ma easily - I called as much as I could). I was able to contact my insurance agent and ask him what to do. He told us to immediately get a tree removal company on the way. He also reassured us that everything would be covered (with some limits). G'ma called and the tree removal company came a flying. By the time I got home four hours later the tree was already out of the roof. And, the company had tarped up the holes reasonably well including using a couple of their own tarps (I always have a few laying around). The Bishop had been first to arrive and did a temporary covering job which the tree removal company then improved on.
About tarps: the ones I had laying around had been used to cover dirt last spring (back when uncle Aaron helped me move dirt). My tarps did not do well at directing the water away. Have you Dads have a couple nice tarps on hand. Now, mine did ok but things still got quite wet.
The tree removers were just finishing up as I came home and darkness was coming so I could not do much. I had not yet seen the gaping hole so had no idea how much material to buy for the temporary roof. I did not want to take the tarps off with darkness and rain coming so my outside work would have to wait. Friday evening G'ma called around to find a propane room heater. She located one and I got it and fired it up and I knew that the room would soon be dry.
About propane and room heaters: The threads turn counter-clockwise and the nut is bigger than 3/4-inch. Don't turn the flow clear up. Ignore anyone who says a tank is too old to fill. Do set the tank on boards. I spent at least ten minutes trying to thread clock-wise before I figured out what I needed to do. Also, the nut is 7/8ths-inch so my 3/4 wrench set did not work - I finally had to use a pipewrench then located my big cresent-wrench while the room was drying. Turning the flow clear up is a waste. I went through a tank (10 gallons) in a hurry. The second tank I am using well throttled. When I went to refill the tank, the seller (not the original renter) indicated that the tank was too old to fill. I had to drive to the renter's location and I explained that I wanted a newer tank so I could fill it anywhere. He said he had never heard of such a rule and I think he is right. When the tank ran out the first time, the bottom became very cold and froze to the floor. I had put it on a rug to keep the rough metal off the floor but much more was needed. Now, I have it on two-inch thick boards.
When I notified the family about our adventure, I was at work. I had never heard of a tree falling on a house but not sending the owners to a motel so I told everyone that we would give them the number as soon as we had it. When I got home, there appeared to be so little damage that I changed my mind. Additionally, Momma Owen had really resisted going to the neighbors to wait so I took that into account. We have planned to stay with the house in an emergency because traveling would be so difficult for Momma. I still believe staying home (during an earthquake or volcano) is the right choice.
On Saturday, my neighbor and I made some gestimates on what would be needed to cover the hole well enough to stand up to the heavy rain and wind that was to come Sunday night. We bought 10 sheets of CDX, 4 2x4x14', and some screws and washers to put the tarps back down with. I planned to attach the 14-foot boards along side the hole and put the CDX over that and then the tarps. There were just a few inches to spare. I knew that the boards had to run straight down the roof else the water would just run under everything instead of racing off. We attached the 14-foot boards with my favorite long sheetrock screws then overlapped the CDX. The first board was placed about 4-inches beyond the gutter because I wanted any runoff to shoot out past the gutter. We then lapped by a foot or so each CDX over the lower one - again, to guide the water over off the roof. Then we re-tarped that area with screws and washers in the grommets.
About screws and washers: I got a box of one-and-one-half-inch sheetmetal screws and a box each of half-inch and quarter-inch washers. I overlapped the half and quarter to nearly completely cover the grommet and to keep the sheetmetal screw from going through the washers. This process did not work when I did the inside because the sheetrock screws slide right through the quarter-inch hole. I have since bought 100 #10 finishing washers which will be perfect.
The work was a success. Very little water was coming in. I could keep things dry with a few rags and the room heater. Contrast that with Friday night when I hauled nearly 40-gallons of water (caught in various pans and garbage cans) to the toilet. Some damage was already done, however. The wood flooring warped a little. The ceiling sheetrock came down in big chunks.
With the water under control, I could begin to assess the damage. The tree fell across two trusses and shattered them. Momma had reported two loud explosions. Imagine the force required to break a 2x4 truss - it must have been very loud - more than a karate yell. Additonally, adjoining trusses are damaged. And, as noted, there are 10 holes in another part of the roof. There is not one place around the house where there are no branches. The garden at the far side of the house is covered a few inches deep. Of course, much of this is from the tree being limbed prior to removal.
The tree removal company removed the cut-up blocks from the tree Saturday morning. I thought they would clean up the debris but such is not the case. Maybe someone will need some money for camp? Or I will have to do it. The good news is that I will not feel bad about throwing the branches back through the big hole in my fence to where the tree came from. Now watch, the pile will start on fire and burn my fence down - that will teach me?
Sunday night came and went as did Monday morning. As I looked outside the front door I noticed a tarp in a neighbor's tree about 300 feet north. During the night I had noticed more dripping than usual and the missing tarp would be the answer as to why.
Then, came the biggest shock of all. Monday night our Home Teachers came over to help me give a little structure to a piece of sheetrock that looked like it might fall from the ceiling. It had fallen some since Friday; due much to the rain that leaked in with the one tarp covering the neighbor's tree instead of my roof. I planned to screw through strips of wood then through the sheetrock and into the rafters. I started a screw and it hit nothing. I tried again in another line. Clearly, I was missing something. I decided that the only way I would get this fixed was to tear out the piece that was loose - which we did. Then I noticed that a large chunk (8-feet by 8-feet) of sheetrock was being kept in place by the sheetrock tape. Yikes. That whole ceiling could have fallen on us while we were watching TV. Well, I gently but firmly lifted the sheetrock a couple of inches then screwed the board to the sheetrock to the rafter as planned. Then we covered the hole with a cut piece of tarp to keep the insulation and cold air in the attic.
I had noticed that three nails or nail holes were showing in that ceiling. I assumed that the pressure had shot the nails out. I never imagined that all the other nails had pulled through the sheetrock and that nothing was holding it. Today, I added two metal strips to provide additional support.
About metal strips: these are under 1/8th inch thick, a couple inches wide and a couple feet long with several holes. I am using screws everywhere because I want to take things apart easily but I think the holes in these strips are intended for nails. No washers are required in this application of the inch-and-a-half sheetrock screws.
If you go to help someone who has a tree through their roof then assume that at least some sheet rock is loose and come prepared with screws and strips and a fully charged portable drill to help out. Gently push with a broom or long stick to see where the loose parts are and carefully screw the metal strips through the sheetrock and into the rafters.
I purchased a tube of roofing tar patch so I can fill the holes which the screws have made. This I will do when we begin to remove the tarps. I know that if I don't do this then I will have water problems whereever the roof is not replaced.
I think this brings things up-to-date. The claims reducer should be along any minute so I will close this for now.
Thank you all for your calls, emails, prayers, and thoughts,
G'pa Bob and G'ma Judith
posted by G'pa Bob | 12:42 PM
2 Comments:
Dad, I love your writing style! I laughed so hard reading through this post. I mean, I know it's very serious business and you guys are jumping through some crazy hoops to try to keep going with day to day life, but your writing was amusing. I sent Jess the link to your blog so she could be amused, too, and read select highlights out to Daryn. I love you very much and will try to call Sunday. *hugs*
as a scout leader, i encountered a propane tank that was not allowed to be filled anywhere. it seems that there was a new rule phased in that required an OPV: an over-pressure valve. the tank i had did not have one, so it was not allowed to be refilled according to the new rules.
arm
Post a Comment
<< Home