Was it last year, or the year before that we had epic floods that closed I-5 and Mt. Rainier National park?
Well, we're at it again. In Clark County there are two road closures and a warning because of water over the roadway, all within just a few miles of my home, which I affectionately refer to as Fort Bale. See map below for closure locations.
Well, we're at it again. In Clark County there are two road closures and a warning because of water over the roadway, all within just a few miles of my home, which I affectionately refer to as Fort Bale. See map below for closure locations.
Not only have the roads flooded, but as a result of the record snow we had in December, our roof has never been more compromised. The plumbing vent over the laundry room has been snapped off at the roofline, and the stove pipe has suffered enough that a small leak became apparent after yesterday morning's torrents.
I left work at 1 PM yesterday to come home and deal with the leaks, having no interest in tearing into our walls with the custom plaster job to fix water damage.
For supplies, I bought some roof sealant tar that touted the ability to go on wet or dry surfaces, two 75' ropes that looked like they could support my weight, two carabiners, an LED headlamp with a nice bright and focused beam, and a pair of flyfisherman's felt-soled boots.
The rope I tied off, each to it's own hook on the south roof. These are the hooks Heidi hangs her geranium baskets from. I'm glad now that I oversized them.
The felt-soled boots proved insufficient to walk up the wet metal roof on the north side; it's just too steep. So, I walked and crawled while tugging my way up both ropes and intermittently adjusting the Italian hitches on my caribiners, so that, should I start to slip, I wouldn't build much momentum before the ropes grew taut at my beltline.
Not finding the caulking gun I believe I had in the laundry room, I was forced to go primitive and I brought my needle-nose pliers and a spackle blade with me. I used the pliers to pull the nozzle off the caulk tube and later to squeeze the last bits out of it. With the spackle blade I smeared the tar over every seam I thought could plausibly be the source of the leaks we observed.
Luckily, as I worked I discovered that wet denim grips sufficiently to wet metal roofing.
However, that also meant that by the time I was done, I was shivering from cold.
Getting back off the roof was a little nerve-wracking because of how stiff my legs had become. They proved flexible enough though, and I was soon in the blessedly warm shower, shedding the evidence of my adventure.
For the first time in days, I slept well and completely through the night.
I left work at 1 PM yesterday to come home and deal with the leaks, having no interest in tearing into our walls with the custom plaster job to fix water damage.
For supplies, I bought some roof sealant tar that touted the ability to go on wet or dry surfaces, two 75' ropes that looked like they could support my weight, two carabiners, an LED headlamp with a nice bright and focused beam, and a pair of flyfisherman's felt-soled boots.
The rope I tied off, each to it's own hook on the south roof. These are the hooks Heidi hangs her geranium baskets from. I'm glad now that I oversized them.
The felt-soled boots proved insufficient to walk up the wet metal roof on the north side; it's just too steep. So, I walked and crawled while tugging my way up both ropes and intermittently adjusting the Italian hitches on my caribiners, so that, should I start to slip, I wouldn't build much momentum before the ropes grew taut at my beltline.
Not finding the caulking gun I believe I had in the laundry room, I was forced to go primitive and I brought my needle-nose pliers and a spackle blade with me. I used the pliers to pull the nozzle off the caulk tube and later to squeeze the last bits out of it. With the spackle blade I smeared the tar over every seam I thought could plausibly be the source of the leaks we observed.
Luckily, as I worked I discovered that wet denim grips sufficiently to wet metal roofing.
However, that also meant that by the time I was done, I was shivering from cold.
Getting back off the roof was a little nerve-wracking because of how stiff my legs had become. They proved flexible enough though, and I was soon in the blessedly warm shower, shedding the evidence of my adventure.
For the first time in days, I slept well and completely through the night.
4 comments :
Life just isn't fair!!
Glad you got the leaks stemmed. Sorry, though that you had to suffer the cold.
Sounds familiar, the lack of sleep I mean. I slept in my clothes last night, just in case we had to evacuate in a hurry, the Cedar is high, but so far it is in it's banks. When I did sleep I dreamed of dams breaking. . .
Mom
Thanks for the update...I was going to call you guys tonight wondering how you are. Say hi to hte kids and your sweet wife for me!
Lisa
We too are suffering from the 100 year flood for the third time in four years. My house is luckily far enough away from the two rivers in town to be safe. My buddy Dave (the guy who played at my wedding) is not so lucky. His house is built up six feet off of the ground and the water still came into the house and halfway up the walls of the first floor. Though the Snohomish River didn't reach record levels (it nearly did) the Pilchuck River did when it went over the dike and spilled right into their house. Luckily they are renters so the landlord will have to pay for the repairs which have already begun. I have toured the house and have given some assistance, but it is a mess that I am glad that I don't have to deal with for my own sake. I have only been inconvenienced in that the two bike routes are still under water so I have had to fight traffic.
I am glad to hear that you are all well and that you were able to make the needed repairs before Fort Bale needed bale-ectomy.
Tom
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