Dancing with the Roof Divas (Day 104 of 273)

I knew it was too good—two weeks of dry weather and we're about ready to get "dried in". Eric (potential roofer) put tar paper (30#) on the main house and second floor, and will complete the job on the weekend after Gary gets the garage and mudroom/sauna roof decking on. Eric mentioned that there was a new roofing material that we might look at since it is easier (read less expensive) to put down owing to a new layout pattern, yet it meets the stringent TL requirements of the Kala Point Architectural Committee (lots of retired guys without much to do I guess). We're OK with the idea of a committee, it keeps the houses from looking like they belong in the Berkeley Hills.

So last fall we had to decide on the brand and color of our roofing when we submitted our permit to the committee. We had two choices of asphalt composition roofing: GAF Grand Canyon ($185 and 450# per square) and Certainteed Presidental TL (similar price). The TL is the give-away term, which I've just realized. TL = triple laminate. They really want everyone to have a classic wooden shake roof, but times are changing and these roofs are a known fire threat. So they've allowed "shake like" roofs that have a lot of relief (topographic, not monetary). There is a metal roof with a shake-like appearance and granules, but it looks like dog and is expensive. There is cement tile shake, but its heavier and monotonous. Most owners are going to the TL asphalt shingles. Another key term in the roofing requirements is "earth tone." Now, being a geologist all my career in the SW US, I know what earth tones are: browns, grays, some reds, etc. Not green (flora) or blue (sky). Their idea of earth tone is black or brownish black or grayish black; specifically nothing with green, blue, or reds. Slate is probably OK (but it has all the aforementioned colors) since it cost an arm and a leg, but we won't even do there. So I see a battle ahead.

We filed an amendment to our building application with the committee, and they'll hear it at their monthly meeting tomorrow (Wed.). We're asking for Pabco (brand) Paramont Advantage (model) in Driftwood or (the dreaded) Antique black. Runs about $135 and 495# a square (110 ft2), so its a bit cheaper and a bit heavier. Eric estimates that the labor will be 2/3rds as much as for the two accepted brands owing to the layout pattern. I think the black is a no-brainer for them, but driftwood (browish gray) is a bit touchy. Maybe they need to drive across about 100 miles of Mancos shale (yes Tuttle) in the 4 Corners area to see what an earth tone really is. I figured the Driftwood color would grab them by the cojones, seeing as we have tons of it down at the Kala Point beach. Then again, we're not building a beach house so that's probably a weak argument. Jeff Knott (of driftwood fame), we need your debating skills out here.

Anyway, if they don't have a quorum for the meeting tomorrow no decision will be rendered (as they do with fat), so this could go on for a while. Meanwhile, I'd like to make hay (or roof) while the sun shines. Say tuned for Machette versus the Roof Devils—Chapter 2, then Chapter 3—The Pacific Northwest Monsoon Season Arrives.

P.S. We attended the Arch. Committee meeting this morning (always a good thing to do) and after some jostling, they agreed to the Pabco shingles and the Pewter Gray color, which was about half way between the Black and Driftwood colors that we had suggested. So it was a compromise, all in the spirit of the new Obama administration (just think of the committee as the Republicans and us as the Democrats and the roofing as a $13k miniversion of the $1,000,0000,000 spending-stimulus package.) One more roofing bid and we're ready to pick a subcontractor and roof away.