The Chupacabra of Leaks

The ceiling at top of the stairs has been leaking for 20 or 30 years. I know this because the previous owners cut a small, neat hole in it, about 6 x 6 inches, so that the water would have an easy and agreed-upon escape route. We've consulted with several roofers, of course, and all except one of them refused to take the job. The leak is infamous and legendary within the circle of local roofers, like the chupacabra, invincible, insidious and terrible, and no one will work on our roof. No one will even give us an estimate. The roofers drive up, see that it is our house, and then drive away.

This week another section of the ceiling buckled and began leaking. It's only a small area of ceiling, still with the original plasterboard, at least it was until I pulled it all down this week. Its geometry had changed such that the little hole was no longer the path of least resistance, and the entire section was soaked. What a mess.



So this finally gave me the opportunity to see where all that water was coming from.

Meanwhile, one of the bamboo tops broke off and impaled itself. Cool.


More later about the leak.