2020 Main House Roof
In August 2019, I woke up one night to hear drop drop drop above me. It was the first time I had stayed when it rained heavily.
It was then that I realised there were a few problems with the roof.
After inviting two artisans to check the roof, they both said “no way” to a “patch”. It was too badly gone.
Here there are some videos of how the attic looked, but also the damage from the rain, especially coming down through the tiles, hitting the foil insulation (which was poorly done) and running down onto the walls. From there is seaped down through the wall and eventually emerged in the 1st floor rear hall.
Videos showing Rain Water Issues
Damp in 1st Floor Bedroom
Damp in Rear 1st Floor Hallway
Original
The Back of the Roof
Closer examination reveals a lot of patching.
Birds Nests and Old Marble Tiles
The while marble tiles were used to hold tiles in place, due to the extra weight.
Moss and Cracks
Rain water builds up behind the moss and flows over into the cracks.
No Words Needed
The old guard-watch was in a pretty poor state.
Patched Poorly
Rain water did come into the roof through here.
Removal
Up come the Tiles
Some tiles were kept and reused.
Then the Wood is Removed
Obviously not reused.
The Dust Was Incredible
According to one of our neighbours.
Poor Insulation
You can easily imagine how the rain water ran along onto of the insulation and into the walls.
Insulation from the Inside
Removal of the slats revealed the poor insulation.
Sad Guard-Dog Watch
Clearly in need of a new roof!
Rotten Wood plus Wood Worm
Luckily the main beams in the house roof were good. Unlike the Gite, more on that later.
Rebuilding
The Insulation
Master stroke. Keeps the attic warm in winter and cool in summer.
Getting Ready for Tiles
Even the watch tower was insulated.
Upper Old Tiles Guide Rain Water into the Trough
In extreme circumstances, water will spill over the tile and run down on top of the insulation.
New Tiles Provide the Trough
Here you can see how they neatly line-up.
Nearly Done
Tiles laid, but edges need to be done.
Around The Velux
Uncovering the Original Window
Look how the main beam running from the top, down is covered in dust.
The Insulation on Show
The insulation was wool and foil.
A Close Up
That space has not been seen for years. Below is the staircase.
Wooden Panels Laid
Ready for the Insulation and then tiles.
Velux In Place
All done.
View from the Garden
The Garden is the Storage
They had to put material somewhere. The lawn was the choice.
Scaffold was not Everywhere
Just at the front, later paths where assembled along the sides.
The Heavy Lifting
Was done by machine.
Looking Down
The garden suffered - a lot - but it recovered
Finished Roof from Inside the Attic
Here you can see the roof from inside the attic. The speaker is Romain who is explaining the colour of the stain used on the wooden beams.
You can see that some wood was still in its natural state and that it really needed to be stained.