Ready, set, shoot! A group of scouts practice their archery skills at Sugar Hollow Girl Scout Day Camp in Crozet. Photo: Rammelkamp Foto
The year 1912 was pretty bleak for females. Women couldn’t vote. They couldn’t own property. They were only allowed a job outside the home if they were single. But while women’s rights were still virtually nonexistent, young girls got to take a purposeful step forward when a nonprofit organization formed to empower them: Girl Scouts of the USA.
Fast forward to 2015. The Girl Scouts is not only still in existence; today it claims a membership of 2 million girls from kindergarten to 18 years old. Why does the organization continue to flourish after more than 10 decades and countless changes for women? Because its essence hasn’t changed; it’s still about encouraging girls, says troop leader Deanna Nolan.
“It’s a great organization where young women can grow their leadership skills and have fun with other girls while doing it,” says Nolan, who herself was a Girl Scout for five years and has led her daughter’s troop for 12 years. “It’s so rewarding.”
The group remains focused on its original goals to empower young women to build the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place. Changes to the program material mean many of the once-recognizable badges are gone (there are now 45 to earn instead of 100 badges per age group), replaced by three “journeys:” discover, connect and take action. But the Girl Scout law and promise haven’t changed. “That’s our core,” Nolan says.
More than Thin Mints
Charlottesville and Albemarle County have a thriving program, with over 70 troops and 870 active scouts. Some groups meet weekly, others bi-weekly. Meetings are set by troop leaders, usually after school or on weekends. While there are plenty of girls enjoying the experience, there are many in our area on waiting lists to join a troop because there’s a shortage of volunteers to lead them.
“We are blessed in this area—we have more girls interested in becoming Girl Scouts than we do leaders,” Nolan says. (Intrigued? Another bonus of living in 2015 versus 1912 is that all leader training is available online.)
Nolan recalls one of her most vivid memories was as a Girl Scout, going backpacking with her troop leader. “She was the single most influential person in my life. She taught me how to handle money, how to plan, how to lead… that’s why I give back so much to the Girl Scouts today.”
It’s 45 minutes before the wedding ceremony. Your perfect up-do is up. Your airbrushed makeup is cover-model worthy. Your mother helps you slip into your custom-designed wedding gown, carefully laces it up and is tying the final bow when you hear it—the sound of priceless organza tearing. Your wedding dress just ripped from the waist to the top of the corset.
That very scenario happened to one local bride. Fortunately, she’d hired wedding planner Adam Donovan-Groves, who had the situation under control before the bride even knew anything was wrong.
“I said, ‘I’ve got this.’ And I sewed her into her gown. You couldn’t even tell anything had happened,” Adam recounts. “Had it just been her and a couple of friends, the stress would’ve been so much higher.”
And that, in a nutshell, is why wedding planners are worth their proverbial weight in gold.
“We don’t have the emotion invested in the event,” says Adam. “We have a Plan B and even a Plan C—both of which are as good as Plan A—and we’re ready to put those into place at any moment.”
At your service
A wedding planner works for the couple. Forget what the caterer suggests or the venue has in mind, planners will do their best to get the future Mrs. (or Mr.) exactly what she (or he) wants.
“We’re an ally,” says Meghan Streit, owner and wedding planner for Shindig Weddings and Events, when describing her role in the process. If someone’s planning a wedding in the area from afar, “we provide boots on the ground and a sanity check.”
Most wedding planners offer a choice of packages that include anything from “day-of” services to full planning. They can accommodate a bride by providing vendor lists and hotel choices, or handle everything from setting up appointments to attending meetings with, or on behalf of, the couple. Of course, each planner charges different rates so fees will vary, but expect to spend anywhere from $2,500 for minimum involvement to $8,000-10,000 for a full-service planner.
It’s the most important day of your life, and Meghan says it makes sense to trust a professional to guide you through it. “With any major event in our lives—buying a home or having surgery—you look to someone who does this all the time,” she says. “This is no different.”
Ooohs and aaahs are normal for women’s wedding ring sets, but the same attention isn’t given to men’s wedding bands. In the spirit of gender equality, we spoke with Rob Matthews, store manager of Fink’s Jewelers, about the top five things men should know before buying their bling of wedded bliss.
1. Mix and match. “Traditionally, men and women thought they had to have matching wedding bands. That’s a rarity nowadays,” Matthews says. So go ahead, pick what suits your fancy and forget trying to be ring twinsies.
2. Size matters. Many guys aren’t used to how a ring feels, so they buy it too big—a decision that’s likely to lead to a lost ring. “Fingers expand and contract a thousand times a day,” Matthews says. Go small to be sure you don’t lose your new crown jewel.
3. Comfort counts. Ask if the store has a selection of comfort fit bands. Instead of the band being flat against the finger on the inside, it’s rounded for comfort. “It cushions against the finger, which feels better,” says Matthews.
4. Heavy metal. Men are pretty hard on their jewelry and they need a metal that can last a lifetime. Tungsten is the most popular choice in men’s wedding bands—you can’t cut it or scratch it. Bonus: It’s hypoallergenic, and according to Matthews, “It’s less expensive than gold or platinum.”
5. High maintenance. If you like white gold, be prepared for maintenance. Natural gold is yellow and requires a coating of rhodium to turn it white. Over time that wears off. “Depending on the person, the job they have, if they wash their hands a lot or use a lot of hand sanitizer, it may need to be recoated as frequently as every six months,” Matthews advised.
Catherine Wells, 16, got a Facebook page when she was 13, but before then, "we talked a lot about the Internet," her mother, Cyndi, said. "We discussed how everything online is permanent." Photo: Brianna Larocco
Movies make it easy. Their rating system provides a pretty good suggestion for the appropriate age for kids to see certain flicks. Real-life? Not so much. Which is why it can be challenging for parents who are trying to determine if their child is old enough to, say, walk alone to the school bus stop or surf the interwebs unsupervised.
It doesn’t help that parents are navigating a very different world than the one that nurtured them as they grew. The Internet hadn’t been invented, cell phones were the stuff of fantasy, and Amber Alerts were only found on stoplights. These and other changes mean the norms of yesteryear are totally out the window in today’s modern world.
Of course, age is a number and each child’s maturity level is different. Parents know their kids better than anyone else, and it’s important to remember what works for one family may not fly in another household. So we asked area parents how they’ve handled some age-old concerns.
When should children be allowed to…walk or ride bicycles to friends’ houses alone?
Ten-year-old Jordan Chambers doesn’t go unescorted. The Reverend Ernest Chambers said it was easier for his mother to keep tabs on him during his childhood jaunts to friends’ houses. “My mom could yell my name and I could hear her,” he said. But here in Charlottesville in 2014, that’s not the case. Chambers, who’s also a school teacher, says it’ll be a few years before his youngest son can go alone.
Eleven-year-old Connor Wells is just now able to walk to his friend’s house by himself, but mom Cyndi watches until he’s out of sight, and “he has to call home when he arrives.”
What about simply playing outside unsupervised? “They can go around the block with the neighbors’ kids,” said local songwriter Ellis Paul of his two children, 10-year-old Ella and 7-year-old Sofi. “But we are a few years away from the ‘free roam’ mentality.”
What’s the right age to…go to the movies without a grown-up?
At 12, Carter Tegen is allowed to go to the movies if it is with a group and there is a parent chaperon in the theater.
Anne Delaney said, “Our seventh grader will go with friends, but there is always a parent along. At 14 or 15, we’d be comfortable dropping her off with a group of friends.”
When should children be allowed to…stroll on the Downtown Mall unescorted?
“At what point do you think they’re mature enough to exercise good judgment?” asks Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo. “We see kids as young as 13-14 years old, but usually mom and dad go to the mall to have dinner and the kid meets up with their friends.”
Reverend Chambers said letting 10-year-old Jordan stroll the mall alone might be several more years away. “My youngest is more like me, easily distracted. If you know your kids can handle not being swayed (by other kids), the age could be much different.”
Cyndi Wells’ high school-aged daughter can go to the mall with friends, but has to check in via text every 30 minutes. “It’s building that freedom in the kids, but it’s important to teach them to be responsible.”
By the way, the city of Charlottesville curfew for minors (under 17) means they cannot be out alone after midnight. For Albemarle County, the curfew is 11pm.
What’s the right age to…have a cell phone?
Sixteen-year-old Catherine Wells got her first cell phone in fifth or sixth grade. She had to get herself on the bus in the morning and she needed to communicate if there was a problem. But her parents established clear ground rules first. “She knows it’s our right at any time to look at her phone, but not without her there,” Cyndi Wells said.
At 18, Scottie Chambers has had a cell phone for six years, but his brother, Jordan, doesn’t have one yet. “My oldest son is more grounded,” his father explained.
Twelve-year-old Carter Tegen will likely get a cell phone in eighth grade, according to his dad, John, “so he’s got a year or two to acclimate with it before high school. It becomes a social stigma in high school if they don’t have a cell phone.”
Scottie Chambers (right) has had a cell phone for six years, but his younger brother Jordan doesn’t have one yet. Photo: Brianna Larocco
When should children be allowed to…ride in the front seat of the car?
Anne Delaney’s four kids, ranging in age from 10-16, usually ride in the back. “It’s not just a safety issue—it’s more about keeping the peace. If one gets to ride in the front, it becomes an issue, so they all just get in the back.”
“He always calls shotgun first,” John Tegen said of his 12-year-old son, Carter, who does his best to beat his sister to the front seat of the car.
Virginia state law requires children to ride in a secured child or booster seat in the back up to age 8 or up to 4’9″. According to the Virginia Department of Health, a child under 13 is allowed in the front seat if the air bag is turned off, the seat is as far back as possible from the dash, and the child is safely restrained by a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt, as required by law.
When should children be allowed to…date?
“By herself? 25 or 26 maybe?” laughs Chief Longo, when asked what age he’ll allow his 14-year-old daughter to date. “I’d have to know the young man well and spend some time with him, and get to know his parents to get an idea of the values and character…maybe 16 or 17 years old.“
John Tegen’s daughter Madison is 17. He said appropriate dating age depends on the date: “Is it to the movies? Dinner? Is there parental oversight?” He said it also depends on the date’s age: how much older is he? “One grade is probably O.K. two grades is pushing it.” He summed it up by saying “driving age” is an appropriate dating age.
And for boys? When the time comes, “I’d be O.K. with him dating as a high school freshman if he were supervised,” Anne Delaney said of her 10-year-old son.
When should children be allowed to…get a laptop or surf the Web?
“We have passwords to all of Catherine’s accounts,” said Cyndi Wells of her 16-year-old’s laptop. “We talked a lot about the Internet before she got on Facebook at 13, and discussed how everything online is permanent.”
Carter Tegen, 12, is allowed to play games on the computer and has his own e-mail address, but “he knows we check in on him,” his dad, an engineer, said. He can play shooter games if there is no blood, but “graphic violence is where we draw the line.”
Ten-year-old Ella Paul got a laptop for her birthday this year, but there are limitations on using it. “We have a list of sites she can go to, and she can roam around YouTube a little bit as long as someone is there with her,” said Ellis Paul. “The Internet is a scary place. It’s so easy to get in trouble there. Hopefully they’ll be responsible. It’s their world as they’re growing up.”
When should children be allowed to…stay home alone?
Virginia doesn’t have a state-wide statute for kids to be home alone, and nearly every parent answered the same way: It depends on the child’s maturity level. When asked about his own children, Chief Longo answered, “Probably 12 or 13.”
“We started having our oldest daughter ‘practice’ staying home alone for short periods of time in fifth grade, because there was no after-school program for her in sixth grade,” said audiologist Anne Delaney. “We’d be fine with our 13-year-old staying home alone, but she doesn’t really like to.” As for her 10-year-old son, Delaney said he can stay home alone for 20 minutes while she runs an errand, but at this point, it’s a phone issue. “We don’t have a landline, and he won’t get a cell phone until he’s 11.”
"It's a tremendous honor" to be part of a couple's wedding day, said Dave Norris, former Charlottesville mayor and freelance wedding officiant. Photo: Kate Thompson
“I do.”
Those words have a special meaning for Dave Norris because when he hears them, his workday is coming to an end. Which is a very good thing, but not for the reason you’d guess: The former mayor of Charlottesville is a freelance wedding officiant, specially chosen to be the person who has the privilege of joining a couple in marriage.
During his term in office from 2008-20012, Norris said he performed 15-20 ceremonies, and when he left, he considered what aspects of his job he truly enjoyed. Performing weddings was one of the best, so he decided to start a part-time business doing just that, launching his website www.letdavemarryyou.com. He now gets a couple of requests per week.
The responsibility of marrying people off actually came as a bit of a surprise to Mayor Norris, who initially had no idea that weddings were part of his job description.
“I started with a couple of friends who thought it would be cool to have the mayor as their officiant, and I was happy to oblige. Then word got out,” he said.
Norris now performs relatively simple ceremonies for primarily nonreligious services (although he notes he’s happy to weave in religious elements as requested).
He said his requirements make him unique.
“I don’t provide or expect premarital counseling, so if the couple is looking for something more secular, I offer that.” He said sometimes people who come from different religious or cultural backgrounds choose him because he is a neutral third party. That neutrality doesn’t mean he takes his job lightly.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be part of that moment, and I get really connected to them. I don’t just show up and ask if he takes her and she takes him and get them to sign the paperwork.”
Norris said his time in public office helped prepare him for his new gig, because he had to know how to think on his feet (“You just gotta be flexible; you never know what is going to happen!”), lead events, and work with people.
The vast majority of weddings he performs are for couples from out of town who’ve chosen Charlottesville as the ideal place to exchange vows. Norris said it’s not surprising when you consider “the variety of venues, the wedding professionals, the natural beauty of the area.” Slipping back into mayoral speak for a moment, he added, “And it’s great for our economy.”
Nestled along the Blue Ridge in North Garden, Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyard seems custom-made for wedding albums. Photo: Jen Fariello
Pippin Hill’s mountain vista is picture-perfect “It’s a blank canvas.” That is the first message Meg Forch, event sales and marketing manager, conveys about Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards as a wedding venue. Just how versatile is it?
One couple brought in magnolia trees for their wedding reception. Forch says they chose really serene green and cream colors for their big day, and the trees imbued a perfect rustic touch. Another bride and groom relied on bistro lighting and lanterns to set the stage for their ceremony, basking in the soft romantic ambiance they created.
So is anything off limits at Pippin Hill?
“It’s rare that we say no,” Forch says. Except for bringing in outside food and wine, couples can pretty much do what they want—including bringing their own cake. Although when guests get a sniff of the specialties by Executive Chef Amalia Scatena and her brother, Bill, they may be content to let the dynamic kitchen duo take care of the sweets, too. Known for its vineyard-to-table artisan creations, the venue also provides late-night snacks for wedding guests—anything from hand-cut Parmesan fries and white truffle popcorn to mini whoopee pies and s’mores.
But the food’s not the only thing to brag about. Nestled right up along the Blue Ridge in North Garden, Pippin Hill’s mountain vista seems custom-made for wedding albums. Couples can exchange vows on the sweeping ceremony lawn or on the covered veranda (which makes a great back-up option in case Mother Nature is in a mood on the big day). Receptions are typically held in the expansive granary or in the tasting room, which also serves as an ideal cocktail hour setting. The venue can comfortably hold up to 250 people.
Brides enjoy the custom-designed bridal suite, carefully created by Lynn Easton of Easton Events, who owns the vineyard with her husband, Dean. Crafted with the smallest details in mind, the suite is a bride’s dream. (Vogue magazine recently named Easton one of the five-star wedding planners you need to know about), Brides also appreciate that Pippin Hill serves as nearly a one-stop planning experience, with the venue offering everything from table and chairs to linens and table-top essentials. “The only other stuff you need are a florist, cake, photographer and music,” Forch said.
Couples book their event for a six-hour window after the vineyard is closed, so they’ll enjoy complete privacy. Weddings are held Friday though Sunday, beginning at 5:30 or 6pm.
Sallie Bruguiere started working on her family's farm, Dickie Brothers Orchard, when she was 7. Now 16, she helps with the retail work. Photo: Christian Hommel
“I don’t like getting dirty.” Many 16-year-old girls can relate to Sallie Bruguiere’s opinion. But most girls aren’t the daughter of a seventh-generation farmer. A junior at Nelson County High School, Sallie has helped her family farm the Dickie Brothers Orchard since she was 7. She started by checking apples, counting how many bins of produce were filled, and directing customers around the orchard to find the best fruit. Now she helps with mostly retail work, making change and helping at the farmer’s markets.
Farming is in her blood. The Dickie Brothers Orchard has been in her family since 1750, and her father, John, grew up farming it with his brother. Kid or not, it was hard then and it’s hard now.
“You were strong and you sure ate your dinner every night,” John said. “From the time I was old enough to pick up a scythe, I was mowing under the apple trees.”
When he was growing up, John’s family lived off the land. “You have to like the outdoors,” he said, when you’re working outside 365 days a year. But things are a bit easier for the current generation. With more mechanization, farm life for his children has changed significantly.
“We grow smaller trees, and they’re more accessible to work and maintain. But they’re still pruned and harvested by hand.” Planting? That’s done by hand, too, as Sallie knows all too well. While many of her friends were working more traditional part-time jobs, she and her brothers (Alex, 15, and Michael, 14) recently planted 500 trees on the orchard. Sallie wasn’t thrilled about it, but she took it in stride.
“We had pink in our cheeks. At least the weather was good,” she said.
The weather dictates a lot of the work Sallie and her family do in any given season at the orchard. In late spring, she spends time driving the four-wheeler, checking on the crops. Summer is more retail-related, helping customers with sales and educating them on the different kinds of fruit. When things slow down in the fall, Sallie and her brothers help more at home and assist their grandparents, the previous orchard owners, with chores at their house.
John worked at the orchard through high school but left after graduation to pursue a business degree at James Madison University. He worked in the banking and insurance industries for many years, but eventually came back to run the orchard with his brother. “My father let me make my own choice, and I came back,” John said. “I don’t have a 401(k), or health insurance or pensions. But I tell people we have a great view from the office.”
As it has for years, Dickie Brother’s offers apples, blackberries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and pumpkins. Whatever’s in season is available seven days a week to the “pick-your-own” crowd, and the orchard draws tourists and locals alike who want to enjoy the quality fruits and beautiful vistas.
That’s the part of her work that Sallie truly enjoys—the customer interaction. Whether she’s telling a customer how to pick the perfect apple, or which variety is best for cooking, she really likes talking to people. That, and hard-earned lunch breaks for fried chicken at her favorite spot, Mac’s Country Store.
John said the work he did growing up at the orchard made him who he is today, and his children have learned many of the same lessons.
“The hard work is beneficial for anybody. Having to put forth your own efforts and see the fruits of your labor come to fruition is a huge bonus.” He said he’ll encourage his children to get an education, but the farm’ll “be there one day if they want it.”
And it sounds like Sallie, for one, just might. Asked about the future, she said she wants to follow her father’s lead, going to college for a business degree, but also plans to come back to help run the orchard one day…just like her dad.
C'erra Rhodes recently led students through a course in soldering, which she learned to do at Computers4Kids. Photo: Elli Williams
Most kids use their Wii remotes to race cars or battle bad guys while playing games on their TV. C’erra Rhodes uses hers to teach other middle school-age girls how to solder metal. The 13-year-old created a “Wiimote” as a project through Computers4Kids in Charlottesville, an organization that teaches tech skills to middle and high school students. Rhodes, a seventh grader at Buford, hopes to teach elementary school, and her tech project proved a perfect opportunity for her first lesson.
She and her mentor took an ordinary pen and added an LED and Bluetooth adapter to it, turning it into a tool to interact with a whiteboard or a tablet. The project required soldering, a skill new to Rhodes. She figured while she was learning it, she could teach her friends.
“I was excited because it was my first time teaching a class,” she said. And having her friends as students? “Most of them have never heard of this, so I felt good teaching them a trait while they’re working on making it.”
Rhodes showed the students how to solder a robot-shaped pin with blinking lights that they could wear after the class to show off their soldering skills. She said the hardest part of soldering was gauging the amount of metal needed.
“Sometimes it makes a really big bubble and it can be really hot,” she cautioned. She said her C4K mentor, Courtney, inspired her. “She’s funny and cool and she’s teaching me a lot of things I never liked before.” Rhodes said she’d like to sign up for C4K again next year because she’s learned so much about technology. Meanwhile, she wasn’t waiting for a classroom to share her knowledge. “I teach my mom about the computer at home.”
“Do you ever worry about falling off the roof?” “No, it’s hitting the ground I don’t like.” Colin McGhee jokes about his career, but the Staunton-based master thatcher is one of only two people in the U.S. to achieve that designation. McGhee is putting the finishing touches on the new roof at First Colony Winery in Charlottesville, which is undergoing a complete renovation.
The roof is on the vineyard’s processing building, where the grapes are turned into wine. While the whole vineyard is getting a makeover, the thatched roof is likely the first thing to catch your eye. Designed and built by McGhee, it’s made from imported Turkish water reed. The thatched roof has taken a little longer than expected, in part due to the area’s rough winter weather, but McGhee explained the delays have also partly been due to material shortages.
“We had to wait for another container of reed to come in from Turkey. Everything has to be imported. You can’t just run down to Home Depot and buy thatch,” he said.
Raise the roof
Why go with a thatched roof instead of something more readily available? It’s a huge part of Bruce Spiess’ vision for the vineyard. Bruce and his wife, Heather, along with their business partner, Jeff Miller, have spent the last 15 months working closely to bring the feel of a country farm in 17th century northern Europe to Albemarle County. It hasn’t always been a picnic. When the couple told their insurance company that they were planning a thatched roof for the building, the company dropped them.
“They just couldn’t wrap their head around it,” Heather explained. (The pair later found a company willing to insure the structure.) The roof is truly the crowning glory of this renovation, but it is just one part. From First Colony’s processing building to the tasting room and the surrounding land, the overhaul is evident everywhere. Bruce wanted to create the feel of a working European farm (“not a chateau!”), and the ideas grew from there.
Renmark Design in Richmond has done all of the interior design with colors authentic to the era. From exposed beams to wide-plank floor boards (rescued from an old Woolworth’s building in Brooklyn), the feel is “comfortably rustic and elegant,” as Heather described it.
Heather said that, in making renovations, they’ve “created a whole new space.” Take the crush pad, for instance, which now boasts a roof for protection from scorching sun or pouring rain. Originally meant to allow the vineyard to operate more efficiently, the roof’s structural design is in keeping with the rest of the vineyard’s old world charm. And by adding recessed lighting and several patina-enhanced chandeliers, the owners allowed form to follow function, making the space usable for a wedding, company party, or anniversary event.
Raise your glass
But the new and improved First Colony is not just for special events. The owners hope to make a destination winery, where visitors will come for a glass of good wine and decide to hang out for awhile. Future plans include space for a petanque playing area (a popular European outdoor game, similar to bocce or horseshoes), and maybe even a garden area like one you might find in France.
Of course, there’s also the wine. First Colony planted 4.5 acres of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in 2013, and has cleared another 1.5 acres this year to make room for more vines. Overseen by Vineyard Manager Austin Hamilton, the vineyard is growing—and thriving. New programs like a wine club and “Adopt-a-Vine,” which puts individual rows of grapes up for purchase (replete with plaque), are designed to attract repeat customers who aren’t just coming for a single tasting, but have a vested interest in seeing the vineyard succeed.
Renovations are ongoing but the winery is open for business, with daily tastings and weekend vineyard tours.
Before you thatch
Here are some frequently asked questions you may want to consider before deciding on a thatched roof.
How is thatch prepared and applied?
Thatch, made from either straw or reed, is harvested and dried thoroughly. After it’s gathered in bundles, it is attached directly to the roof—there is no sub-roof needed. The bundles are laid out along the roof and the reed is attached with hooks, not nails (the First Colony office manager said the roof install directly above her office was the quietest construction project ever), before the ornamental ridgework begins.
How can a thatched roof keep out water?
Thatch is only applied to a roof with a steep pitch, which helps with water runoff. Each reed is coated with a waxy material that also repels water. When it’s tightly and densely applied, it works together to be a watertight roof. (The density also deters bugs and pests.) Unlike other “living roofs,” where vegetation is planted and grown, thatched roofs do not need to be watered, and will not shrink in high heat or drought.
Is it energy efficient? What about fire concerns?
Thatch is well insulated due to air pockets within the reeds. Thatched roofs are climate-friendly, keeping buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Like any material, a thatched roof is not fireproof, but it’s more likely to smolder for a long period of time before it ignites. A flame retardant can be applied to thatched roofs for protection.
If you’re wondering whether to repair or replace your existing roof due to its age or its condition, there are a few things to keep in mind. You might choose tearing off the current roof and starting from scratch, patching a portion of it, or “roofing over” your existing one. (Always make sure your roofer is licensed and insured.)
Patching can be tricky when it comes to matching colors of existing materials and having the finished roof keep its original lines, with no obvious ridges or humps. This works best when just a few shingles need replacing.
Roofing over isn’t always an option. As a general rule, you can only do this if your existing roof is one layer deep. Why? Individual shingles don’t feel heavy, but by the time you’ve covered an entire roof with them, they can weigh as much as two tons!
You may need to reroof your entire structure, which, surprisingly, could be cheaper long-term. Depending on your existing roof’s age, you might save a little money now and risk greater expenses down the road.
While the first settlers at Jamestown used thatch, your roofing options today are about as varied as housing styles. Some choices, along with a rough idea of cost per square foot, are below. (Pitch also factors into price!) The most popular options around Charlottesville, according to Damon Galessi of Roofcrafters, are dimensional shingle and metal.
Metals roofs provide lasting durability, absorb only 30 percent of the heat of an asphalt roof, and are made from 30-60 percent recycled materials. Expect them to last 40-60 years.
Dimensional shingles are asphalt shingles with a couple of products bonded together for a dimensional look, with more color and pattern options than traditional asphalt. The double-bonded layer offers better wind and hail protection. Typical lifespan is 40-60 years.
Synthetic slate is growing in popularity, Galessi said. It’s more durable but still offers natural slate beauty. Lightweight, it’s freeze and thaw resistant and virtually maintenance free. It’s also recyclable and should last 20-25 years.
And if you’re considering a thatched roof (which should last 50-100 years), you’ll need a very steeply pitched roof and roughly $30 per square foot, plus labor and travel costs for your master thatcher.
Cost comparison
Here’s what each of these roofing options will cost you per square foot.
