Well, I was right about the rafters. They spent most of the day undoing
the foyer roof, tearing off the existing shingles and sheathing (and the
slats that were under that) to get down to the rafters. Then they
nailed the new rafters right to the old ones and braced them with plates
on both sides made from 3/4" plywood.
Of course, now there's nothing to keep what's underneath there dry if it should
start to rain. But the new roof is as solid as a rock.
