If they had done it right the first time----we would not be having this discussion.

That is unacceptable----for more than aesthetic reasons. The hole was between rafters----that patch has very little support since it is undoubtedly also between the rafters. That means a probable early leak is waiting to happen!

There is a possibility the fix can be easy----if there is an attic space under the patch. Simply add 2x4 blocking along the rafters to support the patch edges and move the patch even with the rest of the roof.

handymac, thanks for your quick reply. It's in a bathroom, but there's room between the roof and the ceiling of the bathroom for 2x4s (it was a curb-mounted skylight).

My question, though: the plywood patch was nailed in from the top, I believe -- how could they push it up from underneath? We looked at that to see if *we* could take care of it ourselves. Could you please explain more what you suggest, so that I can give it directly to the roofer when he starts to tell me that nothing can be done?

Thanks *very* much. I feel a great relief knowing it wasn't just me (and my DH). The mind games some pros try to pull...

Actually, the roofer should know how to fix that when he sees it. But, basically one or two workers get up in the space in the attic under the patch. They should be able to see it (with a worklight). They put a 2x4(or 2x6) beside the rafter on one side of the patch---so the new board is supporting the edge of the patch---and push the new board agaionst the patch to level that side of the patch with the rest of the roof---a third worker is on the roof to direct them. Then they nail the new board to the rafter. They do the same to the other side, then one more step. They cut blocking---boards that are put perpendicular to the rafters---under the ends of the patch to support the ends.

Whole procedure should take 20 minutes or less---depending on how difficult it is to grt into place in the attic.

handymac, this helps a lot--that's pretty much what I was thinking; the plywood is on there fairly tight so I guess it will involve whacking it from underneath with a mallet or something to knock it upwards. It's not difficult at all to get into the area where it is, so that won't be a problem.

You may have saved a house from leaking and I know you've saved some homeowners from constant irritation every time they looked at their roof--it's so much appreciated!

Happy to have helped. Used to do remodeling and understand the homeowners perspective.

Yo Girlfriend! Can't you ever get a break? :^)

Can I offer another idea?

If they sistered 2x4's to the sides of your rafters and used those as nailers for the plywood patch, then have them pull the nails that hold the 2x4s to the rafters with a cats paw.

Then they can push the nailer up a bit and renail it.

If they nailed it off with air, sometimes those nails will snap or the heads will fold before they can be pulled out. In that case I'd use a pry bar to slightly separate the 2x4 nailer from the rafter, then run a sawzall blade between the two to cut the nails.

Then push up the nailers/patch and renail.

Also, since that patch only spans a single rafter bay, I'd have them block the seams between the ply patch and the old sheathing with a 2x4 for added support. Construction adhesive between the 2x4 blocking and the underside of the sheathing (no nailing up into the sheathing/shingles from below), then nail the 2x4 blocking off on the rafters.

ps: I thought of you a few weeks ago. Did a little touring in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. You would have freaked at some of the mosaics. Complete church floors done in 3mm pieces.

Oy!

Mongo

Hello all,

Personally, I would not like it at all either; hey you pay good money,,,they are the professional, so do the job correctly the first time..

Further, I amnot so sure, I woud accept the workarounds mentioned above; it would be easy, however, somewhat a nusance if the roof has not sealed as of yet, rip out the general area in question, and redo from the roof. Just my opinion.

"Its very difficult to do it right, but very easy to correct"

sorry, clarification for the preceding....

"I would not accept the workarounds...."

Cutting corners are unacceptable in my book..

Thanks, you all--I didn't see these posts until now! The roofer *just* called today to say that the replacement skylights are in and they'll be over to install them in the next few days. I've copied and sent to them your replies. jimrac, maybe you'll be bad cop and make the other fixes look more preferable...I've already gotten pushback from him on taking the roof off and redoing it. Makes me sick and a bit disappointed, since he was highly recommended both by my general repairs guy (who was pretty good) and from references/angieslist. They were neat, basically professional, etc., but he never came out to check the work when it was all done. I can't understand that. But that's what Angieslist is for, I guess...but we'll see how he handles your all's advice. I'm not going to pay a cent until it's addressed at least to mongo's specs.

and mongo, those mosaics sound beautiful--I've seen them in pics but never had the privilege of seeing them in person. Saw two panels recently that were Roman (from a residence in Herculaneum) by way of the Louvre (sent to special exhibit in Seattle). It amazes me that they can be installed in floors and heavy-traffic areas, without ditra, latex-modified thinset and epoxy grout, and still be around today :)

The roofing guys are here now (not the owner, just a good foreman and an assistant), and even though the owner never got back to us, the guys were aware of the dip and brought thicker plywood (5/8 vs. 1/2) to fix it. They went right up and took off the shingles and redid the patch! It's flush now and seems to be fine (I'll look when it's reshingled).

Nothing is ever simple, though--if that 1/2 was too thin, then that means that the entire patch for the front of the house where the tree hit, which was the motivating incident for the whole reroof anyway, is done in 1/2 rather than 5/8. I didn't see a big ripple along the patch line, but then again it would only be on one side, finishing up at the front edge rather than against another old part of the roof. I feel a bit sick about this. Will it be an ongoing problem? It was a sizeable, cross-rafter section of the front of the roof...

But none of this fix ever would have happened if you all hadn't responded in such convincing and expert detail. Sending your replies to the roofer, along with my photos, I'm sure made him realize he wasn't going to get out of this fix by convincing us it was raining, iykwim...

Big gardenweb virtual hug to each of you!