Fiddling on the roof

I had an unusual experience last Thursday. The roof is designed so that there are two peaks running across the building with a flat roof between forming the valley. The flat roof was leaking so the builders had been up to inspect, and thought I might like to go up there too to see what they found.

I don't have much of a head for heights, but somehow being between the two roof-crests seemed quite safe, so up I went. The view of Truro is very good, and on a sunny day the cathedral looks golden and inviting from up there.

The builders wanted me to see the handiwork of a previous builder, probably long gone to his reward. Call me a pedant, but I think tiles ought to be fixed to the battens rather than flapping about, and I quite like the roof felt to extend over the gutter so the runoff drops in. I also think that flashing ought to be tucked under something rather than leaning negligently against the adjoining wall, and even I know that a soakaway drain only works if it is lower than the surrounding flat roof, not if it is 1½ inches higher. That lot aside, everything was hunky-dory.

It will cost a few bob to put that lot right, but it will make the flats a lot more comfortable. And it will remind me to check my own roof at home a bit more often.

During my flights of fancy, I had contemplated asking if we could install solar panels on those roofs, where they wouldn't be seen. I now realise that if we had done that they would probably have fallen into the floor below, so I think we'll leave well alone.