The tiles

We have unfortunately no idea, with the current information, about which was the original roof of the house. Which was the color of the metal on the tower? What about the tiles? And their shape?
Still, I know by looking at the different postcards that the metal looked of a lighter color than the roof tiles (later, instead the metal looks darker). However, the only information I have that is more pragmatic is the fact that before the 70s (and the fourth owners, the Svenssons) the metal looked greenish and that the tiles looked red/light brown.

Today, the roof is still the one from 1976. This is why we have to refresh it and when doing so we had a choice to make around the colors and the tiles. We think that despite the fact that most likely the original roof tiles were not green at all, the roof has its own character with these green glazed dutch tiles and we decided to try to keep them, instead of changing to new tiles.

Then, a problem arises. Where to find such tiles? Are they still in production? We surely need some extra since a minor percentage will anyway break during the demounting from the roof.
The contractors we had talked to didn't seem to be able to find them, so I took the initiative to make a quick search.

Our tiles

On the back side it was stated "J. Kurstjens" among other things and that was the key word that allowed me to find the following: Traditec.
We started to exchange emails with them and after few of them, we got some samples of the tiles they had at the time in stock.

Comparing tiles

We came to the conclusion that they were close enough to ours (the middle one in the picture above). Being used tiles, it means that they have been exposed to weather and pollution, which has of course slightly altered the color. 

Packing tiles

Our tiles are still in Holland. They have been brushed from organic material and packed and they will wait for our "go" before being delivered to Villa Bellevue.

Our coming summer/autumn project

Almost everyone asks us if we are done with all the renovation work in the house or what is coming next. Well, we surely have a big item on our todo list (which is quite huge) coming this year: we are going to renovate the roof.
Indeed, already during the house inspection it was clear that we would have had to face this issue. The tar paper looked torn for how little it was possible to check it out and the previous owner stated that the roof had been fixed by his predecessor during the 70s. In the paper left by him (Bengt Svensson, that is, to Thomas Bachrach) there is stated that the roof was redone 1976. And this is confirmed when looking at the tiles: marked 1976. Also, postcards from the 60s show a roof with brown/red tiles.
Well, after 40 years it is definitely time to have this job done. Pity is that we were very stupid and ignorant when the inspection occurred and we didn't realize the amount of work and cost this would imply.

Roof overview

Last summer, when looking around, we noticed that good part of the sheet metal on the roof is rusty. When contacting contractors they didn't think it is anything that can be saved. It must be rather changed to something new. Pity that we have tons of metal details around the house! We really don't know if there is anything in decent condition.

Detail of the "regndalen" (where the metal is like a valley)

Rusty wind protection

 When having a scaffold around the house, we are wondering if we have to take advantage of it and possibly do other fixes. If we exclude the plaster, we have the chimneys that are "falling apart" (according to the inspection) or anyway do not have rain protection. 

But I am also looking at the garret windows. I wonder when they have been renovated or even just painted last time...

One of the two chimney

A facade painted with acrylic paint?

During December, we had sadly noted a humidity stain appearing in a corner of our "red room". We got of course worried since this could mean tons of things are going wrong.

The evil stain

The stain hasn't increased in size (luckily) over the past months, so we thought it would be connected to the heavy rain that occurred during the autumn storms.
In fact, it was enough to pay attention outside to look at this detail:

On top of the stain

In my opinion, this doesn't look that good and could be the cause of getting water and humidity up in that room. However, we haven't investigated how it looks really in the room just over the "red room" for several reasons. First, there is an heavy wardrobe there and second, just behind that wardrobe there is some "empty" space between two walls, which is not accessible. This is just under the roof and used for isolation and as wardrobes in other rooms.
Or at least, I think there is such a space just behind that wardrobe...

We have also been noticing humidity in the garret floor, but not under the old wet (and probably partially rotten beams) but just nearby the outdoor walls.

A garret window with clear signs of humidity (and flies)

The lime mortar is falling off

 It is very odd that the lime mortar is coming off. Yes, of course it is old, but that doesn't mean it should look bubbly and wet.

Out of concerned, we have contacted a contractor to look around and as soon as he came in, just by touching the outdoor walls, he stated that everything is painted with acrylic paint.
We have still to get a second opinion, but if this is the case, this is going to hit us heavily.
Also, what is quite annoying is that it seems our predecessor did repaint the outdoor walls in 2009, so why not doing a proper job? Acrylic paint is sadly not optimal since it doesn't let the walls "breath" with the result that the water that comes in, doesn't go out, creating humidity problems.
Why it is still used (it was surely popular in the 70s), I have no idea, but it seems still a valid option in the shops, despite the "fame".

How to solve this issue?
Well, we first need to get another point of view over the matter, but for the moment I'd like to use some ethanol and check that the paint is coming off. If that is the case, we have most likely the wrong paint on the house.
But if that is the case, we might need to blast out the paint, possibly causing damage to the plaster and then we have to see if that needs repairing and if that is just lime based or cement mixed.
Then, on top of the plaster we will have to use some lime paint...

Why can't proper material being used in a house like this? (And I blame also ourselves for some mistakes done when hastily, naively and without good knowledge renovation)