With only two days left before the tiny house move, we’ve got quite a to-do list going on. First thing on the list for this morning was to take down the part of the flue from the fire that sits above the roofline.
Removing a flue from the roof
The main reason for removing the flue is height restrictions. In Victoria, the height limit for loads on the road is 4.3 metres. The tiny house measures (from the ground) 4.2 metres approximately, at the peak of the gable of the roof. The flue and the solar panels are in addition to this. Our flue is actually quite tall, in order to meet the safety standards and to avoid smoke pollution on both our roof and for our neighbours. Although it’s unlikely that someone will have a measuring tape handy and will make a huge fuss about an extra couple of hundred millimetres once we’re on the road, it’s hardly worth the risk. Secondly, it would be a shame if either the flue or the solar panels were damaged in the move.
So, here’s a quick run down of how I got the flue off the roof this morning. Thankfully, it was actually pretty simple.
Step by step
Firstly, remove the silicone holding the rubber flashing to the flue. I started with a stanley knife and then was able to get my fingers in and run them the whole way around.
Next, remove the screws that hold the flashing to the roof. Silicone does make this slightly more difficult, but the drill made short work of it in the end.
Once the screws were out, I used a screwdriver to prise the whole thing up, as there was a healthy dose of glue under the flashing as well.
Under this are more screws that hold the flue steady and attach it to the roof. Remove these, and the whole flue is now basically free standing!
This was the only bit that really caught me by surprise. Without the roof attachments, there’s nothing else to hold the flue up. Once you pull the top piece off/out, the parts inside the house really have to come apart as well. There wasn’t much to this, we just had to get some of the outer guard off the flue so the final few screws could be removed and the whole thing taken apart. This definitely required two pairs of hands – one outside to pull the top piece through the roof and one inside to catch the rest!
Safety first
Another piece of vital information: on a sunny morning, a tin roof will get hot. REALLY hot. If you’re planning any work on your roof and your tin roof is a dark colour like mine, I recommend getting up there nice and early. Avoid any work on your roof if there’s dew or rain or any chance of moisture. Also, consult (or consider hiring) a professional! This post is in no way a substitute for someone who actually knows what they’re doing. If you are going to get on the roof and do your own work, be safe. People get hurt all the time on ladders and climbing on roofs.
We were careful and thankfully it all came off without a hitch. I taped up the hole in the roof with some left over plastic and sarking tape. Fingers crossed it’ll hold properly while we’re on the road. Also, having the flue down is a good (albeit extreme) way to clean out the build up from our fire, and an insight into life with a sky light!
One job down, plenty more still to come. And only 2 days to go!
