Roofwork
Posted: Sat 3 April, 2010 Filed under: Domestic, Norfolk, People, Thoughts 5 Comments »One thing I find weird living out here in Norfolk is the times people get work done.
All three winters we’ve been here, a noticable number of properties get their roofs redone. I’ve never quite understood that – surely it’s better to get the roof of your house redone in summer when the weather’s better, rather than in winter when it’s cold, wet, snowy and nasty?
The same seems to be true of chimney work – there have been several chimney-stacks this year with scaffolding around them, and again I’d probably rather work on them during summer when the fires aren’t lit and there’s no need for the extra heat.
Of course I realise I’m not at all practical and there’s probably some other very good reasons for roofing to be done in winter. I hope someone can explain it to me.
I’m pretty sure it’s something to do with the expansion and contraction of the underlying timbers of the roof structure during winter and summer, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what that “something” is!
It’s because people put off doing building work until they have water pissing through the ceiling.
And, although the roofers would much prefer to work only in summer, they need to make a living year round, so they have to do the work when it’s offered..
Sorry helllllooooo?
“….in summer when the weather’s better….”
You must have missed the last two summers then. I seem to remember walking out in July and thinking it felt like November!
Friends of mine are having their windows replaced, starting in February – it’s going to take ages, apparently. When I last saw them, they were living and sleeping in two downstairs rooms, cold and miserable. They explained that the builder sucked his teeth and said he’ll be too busy in the summer. I think that they had already realised they’d been suckered, especially as he keeps doing a few days work and then buggering off for a bit.
Well while summer might have been pretty wet – and it has been – I’d say it’s still been better than the last couple of winters.
But also there’s been plenty of other decent time – spring and autumn, which still would’ve seemed like better plans, although BW’s comment also makes sense…