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Next, the day’s main challenge: building a deck on top of the existing structure. The narrator begins by reinstalling a piece of metal roofing after inspecting and weatherproofing the area. The focus is on ensuring water runoff is properly diverted, which involves carefully installing flashing along the edges and sealing any leaks that have previously seeped through.
Climbing to the roof’s top, the narrator faces the physically demanding task of laying down new decking boards, often dealing with creaky, uneven, or bowed wood. The work involves measuring, marking, and placing the boards precisely every 32 inches to align with the house. A significant challenge is the limited space up high; working on knees and belly, on a precarious roof, demands both patience and caution.