Our current trial had opening statements yesterday. It’s all about an apartment’s roofing damage, mold/mildew causing health problems and the repair/destruction of “popcorn” ceilings leading to asbestos issues with the tenants. My court reporter looked over at me pointedly. If I hadn’t just cut my fingernails really short, I’d have been gnawing on them right then.

The highly-recommended roofer came by my house yesterday. I wasn’t there for the inspection as I was stuck at work with this trial, but Mr. W left work early and went to my house to meet the roofer. (Awww.) Turns out the entire flat upper of the roof needs to be replaced, AND since my central A/C and heating unit is up on the roof, a crane has to be rented to lift it for the roof demolition. Crane rentals are like $360, I think he said. The primary reason for the leaks is that due to lack of maintenance on the roof (the Homeowner Association’s responsibility), both drain pipes were completely clogged. There are (still) two deep pools of water in front of both drain pipes, which led to the internal leakage. The roof was originally constructed to purposely angle toward the drainholes, but the undrained pools of water over time have softened the material underneath and created a sag, so that the roof is no longer angled toward the drain hole. All things the association, had they done their job of regular roof maintenance, could have prevented or repaired before I got internal damage.

I get the roof job estimate on Monday. Everyone’s telling me to make the association pay for the internal damage as well.

Oh, I asked the roofer (who was very nice and seemed to really know his shit) about the asbestos. He asked when my house was built, and then promptly said that they stopped building with asbestos at least 5 years prior, so I’m fine. Besides, he explained, asbestos is only bad when it’s airborne, like when you tear into the construction, and not when it’s merely used as a construction material. Whew!