In November 2007, Dan Gamache replaced his wood shake roof with asphalt shingles, violating the covenants in his Valley at Erindale neighborhood. Here is a map of the neighborhood:
The homeowners assocation board tried to stop him before he finished it. But he pushed ahead anyway. For the next nine months or so, the board tried to get Gamache to replace it. He was fined every day for non-compliance and the board eventually threatened a lawsuit that resulted in mediation.
Here is a look at Gamache’s roof before it was replaced and after, with asphalt shingles.
Unfortunately, Gamache died Aug. 31, before the deal was completed.
His death shocked members of the HOA board. They wish they had known about his failing health.
Some feel badly his final months were spent in a stressful struggle with the neighborhood over his roof.
And they are upset his family’s time of grief must include worrying about the roof. But the covenants are clear and the neighborhood united in its belief the roof must be replaced. At a special meeting in July, the neighobrhood voted 42-5 to reject efforts to change the covenants and allow asphalt shingles.
Here are the meeting minutes: erindaleminutes
The estate is working to replace the roof. It expects to have the $8,000 asphalt roof stripped off and a new $15,000 stone-coated metal roof installed by Nov. 9 to meet an agreed deadline with the HOA, according to his friend, Peter Landsman.
Here are photos of some of the other roofs in the neighborhood:
Let me first say it was not Dan Gamache’s purposeful intent to defy covenants as you so stated in your article. What started out as a roof repair due to hail damage, turned into a need to replace the entire roof and being during the winter months, time was of the essence.Dan had it replaced with what was felt to be the best product for the design of the house. It is a product used in other “upscale neighborhoods”. Dan had gotten several signatures in support of the new roof and in support of updating the covenants, which have not changed to keep up with the times. Had his health not deteriorated as it did, I know Dan would have collected the number of signatures needed to allow him to keep the roof. How wasteful to change a roof for no good reason. Those of you with shake roofs on your home in that neighborhood need to support an update in covenants!
What a shame. That roof looks very nice to me. I like it much more than red. Red is just not a house color for Colorado. IMO, it looks more expensive, richer. My sympathy to the family. I feel badly for them they must now waste $15,000 on such a petty matter because of so many close-minded people. And we wonder why people go postal and why Colorado Springs has an extremely high suicde rate and noted as the drunkest city.
This is so sad. The HOA should update their covenant. Asphalt shingles are much safer than wood shake shingles, and just as attractive (I think they’re more attractive.) Ironically, MY neighborhood’s HOA requires concrete shingles and prohibits wood shake. You get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance if you switch to concrete, too. I’m sure HOA folks sincerely regret that this man spent part of his last months worrying about this—but hey, his widow and friends are still here. Cut them a break, so you don’t regret that too.