By blogger General Information 0 Comments

How Rain Barrels Will Benefit You By Collecting Rainwater

Water is a natural resource that human beings are exploiting at such a rate that it will soon become a scarce resource. In order to protect water, one should not waste it and opt for ways that can prevent water wastage as we are not left with much fresh water on the planet. yes, most part of the earth is covered with water, but only a minimal amount of water is fit for use. Rain is the natural source of water, and when we know how to use it properly, we can benefit from it. We need to opt for efficient ways to collect rainwater so that we can use it. One can collect rainwater in rain barrels. They are systems that will collect rainwater from the roof to use in the future. This is an effective way to collect the water from the natural source. We can reduce the amount of water that flows from our property using it for other purposes.

There are more benefits for a rain barrel that are as follows:

 

Saves Money:

Having a rain barrel system on your property will reduce your water bills, eventually saving you money. Make a list of the things that use water—washing dishes, clothes, cars and bikes, bathing, cooking, watering the plants etc. We use the tap water for all these things whereas we can wash vehicles and water the plants with rainwater. Once the rainwater is collected in the barrel, we can use the water for plants for cleaning vehicles and outside of the house.

Reducing the runoff:

When rainwater flows, it takes all the soil and debris along with it blocking the mainstream. This water will flow in the streams, and with all the dust, leaves, pesticides and other things, it will contaminate them as well. Rainwater will help to reduce this runoff as all the rainwater will now be collected in the barrel. This water can be further used for different purposes without you spending extra on the water bills.

Healthy plants:

Rain, being a natural source of water, is good for your plants. Rainwater contains all the essential minerals that the plants need to grow, whereas the tap water has been filtered for safe drinking and lack those minerals. You will see the difference between the plants that are nourished with rainwater and the ones with tap water. You will get healthier plants that are getting all the essential minerals for their growth just because you took the right decision of using barrels in the first place.

Prevents soil erosion:

When the water flows down from the roof to the ground, it erodes the soil. The topsoil is important for plants to grow and is also essential for the foundation of the house. Soil erosion is the biggest problem we have to deal with, especially for plants in the garden. Plants grow in soil, and if the soil does not hold the roots firmly, the plant will not grow. In order to ensure better growth of the plants, we need to prevent soil erosion. Collect the rainwater in a barrel, and you will get the solution for soil erosion.

 

By blogger Design 0 Comments

How To Hire A Siding Repair Contractor: 5 Questions To Ask Before Hiring

When its concerned with your home, safety always comes first. To keep your family and loved ones protected, you need siding that is strong, sturdy and properly installed. Generally, most siding installations are built for winds up to 110 mph. But if the wind somehow rips it off, the vinyl siding is easy to reinstall than the other materials.

 

If you’re planning of installing a siding repair or reinstallation then hiring the right contractor for this job is important. This article would be useful for you. If you hire, ask potential contractors these 5 questions to ensure that you hire a professional not an amateur.

 

  1. How long have you been in this business?

Search for a siding repair contractor who has many years of experience. The more the experience the better. If they have conducted business in a particular location for more than a year then it shows that they have a strong reputation and can relied upon. Beware of contractors who use post office box rather than any local physical address. It could be a warning sign of scam.

 

  1. Do you have any references?

Ask for references. Talk to people in your community. If possible ask for pictures of the past completed repairs or remodels. This will help in choosing a good contractor. You can also check the company’s online reviews and ratings.

 

  1. Can you show me your registration and insurance?

 You won’t believe how many contractors are operating their business without a registration and insurance. It involves a huge amount of risk for you. Always make sure you ask the contractor for their registration and insurance. Never hire a contractor who has no registration or insurance. Insurance coverage is important to protect you from liability in case of possible future accidents. Proper licensing is also necessary and make sure they have it before hiring them.

 

  1. Are all costs included in the estimate?

It’s important to ask for the costs and discuss everything early as possible before starting the siding project. Sometimes contractors invent huge costs which are not congruent to the project. Ask your friends, family or even search online for the possible estimated costs. Verify that the estimate they provide covers everything including materials, labor, waste materials etc. In unusual cases, some problems do arise and may cause your estimate to rise. Therefore discuss the costs involved with the contractor ahead of time.

 

  1. How long will it take to complete the entire project?

Discussing the timeline of the project is important. Sometimes the weather may cause unnecessary delays in the completion of the project but the renovation and repairs should be worked on continuously. Ask the contractor how much time will be required for completion of the entire project. Make sure that the project gets completed in the estimated time period. Don’t take chances when its about the reliability of the people working on your house. Hire from a company which provides professionals homeowners can rely upon.

 

 

By blogger General Information 0 Comments

Safety concerns while building the roof of your apartment

Building the house is a fantasy for everyone. We give our heart and soul to creating the home of our dreams. It takes hands to construct the place, but only love can make it a desirable home. It is the place where the story of our life begins and where we live the most precious time of our life with our loved ones. The cost of building the house always goes above the estimated cost. Building the house is a very complex task as it requires a wide range of things. Choosing the right team of builders and house constructors is the essential component of building the house. While making the house, it is our obligation to look after our safety and the safety of the people working on the roofing project. Workers are exposed to various types of risks and injuries while they perform the work on the roof. Roof safety is the list of preventative and safety measures that the workers must undertake while performing the rooftop’s repairs. Roofing is the most dangerous and daunting task and can lead to many accidents. Having knowledge about the roof hazards can help us prevent them by taking necessary precautions. So here is a list of standard rooftop safety measures which must be undertaken:

  1. Stability of the roof: it is crucial to check whether the roof is stable enough to walk over it. If the roof is unstable, there may be a risk of collapse, leading to injury.
  2. Installation of the ladder: This the common cause of fatal accidents. The placement of the ladder should be done correctly so that person doesn’t slip off. If possible, there must be someone holding the ladder while the worker is climbing it. The head of the ladder should be tied to the roof so that the ladder should not shift from the place. Wood and fiberglass ladders are safer to use in the process of construction.
  3. Remove the clutter from the work area: It is essential to keep the work area clean and organized. Only the required equipment and the materials must be held on the site. Ensure you have collected the debris to one side so that it doesn’t block the workers’ way.
  4. Weather conditions: Noting the weather forecast and them doing the work accordingly is essential. You should avoid working in extreme weather conditions as there are various risks involved. If there is any chance of rainfall or snow to occur, the work must be postponed to avoid any mishappenings.
  5. Proper training: You need to undergo training before you start with any roofing project as it will teach you how to guard yourself against potential hazards. The appropriate use of the equipment pieces is also acquired in training as going for the roofing is a perilous job.
  6. Holes in the roof: Assuring that there are no holes in the roof is essential to avoid the risk of falls. The top should always be checked for skylights that are not covered. This can be easily avoided by staying cautious at work.
By blogger Eavestrough Repairs 0 Comments

Why Installing A Clean Gutter System Is Important

Usually, homeowners do not pay attention to their gutter systems until and unless they show any signs of substantial problems, which ultimately demand costly repair and replacements. In fact, it is highly recommended to install a clean gutter system in the first place only in order to avoid any potential problems. An efficient gutter system works towards directing the water away from the foundation of your home. Gutters are usually installed along the roof sides of your home.

Additionally, there are various clean gutter systems available in the market but below given three types are main:

  • Screen gutter guards:  Screen gutter guards are usually inexpensive in nature and can be installed easily. Also, the screen keeps the gutter safe from clogging as it does not allow leaves to enter the gutter.
  • Mesh gutter guards: Mesh gutter guards are also quite easy to install. They do not require any hard or complicated processes when it comes to installation. These gutters are excellent in blocking even the tiniest of dirt or debris and further stop gutters from jamming. Also, these gutters are available in the varieties in the market, giving the customers the choice to select from a wide range.
  • Reverse gutter guards: Reverse gutter guards are made out of very lightweight material allowing the water to pass smoothly through them. Even in heavily treed yards, these gutters do not allow debris to clog the gutter in any way.

Now, let’s discuss the benefits of installing a clean gutter system:

Saves time and money:

  • Installing a clean gutter system when you set up your new house will eventually prevent dirt and debris from accumulating and further blocking your gutter.
  • If you do not install a gutter system in the initial years only, then you obviously have to suffer time to time clogging of gutters, demanding your time to regularly clean.
  • In addition to that, there are chances that your gutter falls out of function due to the constant accumulation of debris which as a result, will lead to costly repair and replacements.

 

Eliminate insect infestations:

  • A clean gutter system does not allow the stagnant water to stand in your gutter, which as a result, prevents insect infestations.
  • No stagnant water also means that insects won’t be able to develop a way out to utilize that water and establish their breeding grounds. This will cease mosquitoes, mice, squirrels and spiders from making a home in the gutters. This will eventually keep the roof of your house safe.

 

One time investment:

  • A clean gutter system is like a one-time investment and lifetime benefits. All you need to do is get a system installed in your house and then you can reap its benefits in a long time.
  • If you do not consider installing this system in your house, then there are chances that you have to get your gutter cleaned from time to time which will eventually add to your existing expenditures. Therefore, it is recommended that you get a gutter system installed in your house and save yourself from such regular cleaning expenditures.

 

 

 

By blogger Design 0 Comments

Safety concerns while building the roof of your apartment

Building the house is a fantasy for everyone. We give our heart and soul to creating the home of our dreams. It takes hands to construct the place, but only love can make it a desirable home. It is the place where the story of our life begins and where we live the most precious time of our life with our loved ones. The cost of building the house always goes above the estimated cost. Building the house is a very complex task as it requires a wide range of things. Choosing the right team of builders and house constructors is the essential component of building the house. While making the house, it is our obligation to look after our safety and the safety of the people working on the roofing project. Workers are exposed to various types of risks and injuries while they perform the work on the roof. Roof safety is the list of preventative and safety measures that the workers must undertake while performing the rooftop’s repairs. Roofing is the most dangerous and daunting task and can lead to many accidents. Having knowledge about the roof hazards can help us prevent them by taking necessary precautions. So here is a list of standard rooftop safety measures which must be undertaken:

  1. Stability of the roof: it is crucial to check whether the roof is stable enough to walk over it. If the roof is unstable, there may be a risk of collapse, leading to injury.
  2. Installation of the ladder: This the common cause of fatal accidents. The placement of the ladder should be done correctly so that person doesn’t slip off. If possible, there must be someone holding the ladder while the worker is climbing it. The head of the ladder should be tied to the roof so that the ladder should not shift from the place. Wood and fiberglass ladders are safer to use in the process of construction.
  3. Remove the clutter from the work area: It is essential to keep the work area clean and organized. Only the required equipment and the materials must be held on the site. Ensure you have collected the debris to one side so that it doesn’t block the workers’ way.
  4. Weather conditions: Noting the weather forecast and them doing the work accordingly is essential. You should avoid working in extreme weather conditions as there are various risks involved. If there is any chance of rainfall or snow to occur, the work must be postponed to avoid any mishappenings.
  5. Proper training: You need to undergo training before you start with any roofing project as it will teach you how to guard yourself against potential hazards. The appropriate use of the equipment pieces is also acquired in training as going for the roofing is a perilous job.
  6. Holes in the roof: Assuring that there are no holes in the roof is essential to avoid the risk of falls. The top should always be checked for skylights that are not covered. This can be easily avoided by staying cautious at work.
By blogger Design • Do It Yourself 0 Comments

What is Eavestrough and why every House Needs it?

Eavestrough is also known as a rain gutter. It is one of the components of the water discharge system for the building. It is used to prevent water from dripping or flowing off the roofs in an uncontrolled and directionless manner. It runs around the perimeter of the house’s roof, and collects the rainwater or snow that runoff from the roof, discharging it through the downpipes and eventually to the drainage system. The components of the eavestrough system include:

  • Eavestrough: Narrow troughs that do the function of collecting the water.
  • Downpipes: they attach the roof to the ground level
  • Soffit: it is the underside of the overhanging area of the roof eaves.
  • Fascia: it is the horizontal face of the roof edge where the gutters are attached.

Eavestroughs are essential for any house, as they perform plenty of functions. Here are a top few benefits of the eavestrough system.

  • Leads to an efficient water drainage system: If you don’t have eavestrough installed on your roof, the rainwater or the melted snow will fall directly from the roof. This will cause the water to splatter which can cause dirty and muddy marks on your home’s wall. Also, if the water is continuously pouring from the roof, it can damage the soil as it can lead to oversaturation. This can further result in damages to the foundation of your house. Installing an eavestrough system will prevent all this.
  • Prevents yard flooding: excessive rain or the melting of snow can cause a lot of water to require systematic drainage. If the water is not drained properly, this can lead to flooding in your yard. Water will keep falling from your roof and flood your yard when the ground level drainage system will not be able to handle the high volume of water.
  • Prevents major damages: Due to continuous falling of water from the roof, it can lead to soil erosion and oversaturation of the soil. These issues can cause a problem to your plants or shrubs in your yard, your plants may wither or break. Apart from the damages to your lawn, it can also lead to settling of the ground, basement flooding, house flooding, cracks in deck and patio, and many other foundational problems. By installing the eavestrough you can avoid all these problems and protect the foundation of your house.
  • Prevent roof rotting: when the melted snow does not drain properly, it gets submitted to the different areas of your roof. The accumulated melted snow can lead to standing water on your roof which can wreak havoc on your entire roofing. This can be quite risky and dangerous as it can cause your roof to fall.
  • Better home experience: do you want your guests to pass through Niagara Falls every time someone leaves or enters your house? Getting the eavestrough installed will prevent all this and you will be saved from the waterfall experience outside your main door. A good eavestrough system will surely give you a good home experience.

 

By blogger Construction • Eavestrough & Downpipes 0 Comments

How to maintain your Eavestrough and keep it clean

Eavestrough and gutter are one of the most important parts of your house, and if they malfunction, they can cause quite a problem for you, hence it is important to maintain them and keep cleaning them from time to time. Keeping the eavestrough clear of debris and garbage is an important part of maintaining your roofing system. However, it might sound easy, but the task of cleaning them is not easy and obviously not the most glamorous chores but proper eavestrough cleaning will ensure the proper drainage and foundation of your home is protected and water is channeled to the safe location.

It is important to clean the eavestrough and gutter at least twice a year. Especially before the winters, as the weather begins to become chill. Also, you should consider the surroundings and environment around your house, if you happen to have a lot of trees around your house; it would require you to clean the eavestrough and gutters more often.

You should note that cleaning the eavestrough is not at all easy; rather it can be quite dangerous. You would need to work with a ladder, which can be a dangerous position to be in, especially when devoting free hands to the use of tools. Here are a few tools that you would require for the cleaning process.

  • Gloves: You should wear thick work gloves while cleaning to effectively scoop out the debris and garbage. Make sure that the gloves are thick enough to protect you from sharp objects.
  • Eye protection: when you are working on a height or with any tools, you should make ensure that your eyes are protected with a help of eye protection wear.
  • Trowel: you can scoop out the debris or garbage with the help of a trowel or even a small shovel. You should avoid using your hands as much as possible.
  • Bucket: after you are doing scooping out the debris, you would need a place to throw away the garbage, it is always suggested to keep a bucket handy to dump the debris.
  • Ladder: to reach the roof of your house, you would need a ladder. Make sure the ladder is stable and solid. Also, you should make sure that you do not put too much weight on the eavestrough as the ladder can break or bend it.

Always make sure you have the assistance as managing all the tools along with the ladder can be quite challenging. It is always better to have someone around the ladder while you are cleaning.

The steps involved in the cleaning of the eavestrough are quite simple, you will need to position your ladder at the end of your eavestrough and climb the ladder. Run some water through the eavestrough to know where the blockages are occurring and if there are any leaks. The next step is to remove the debris using a trowel or a small shovel. Once the section is clear of the debris, run the water again to ensure the smooth flow of water.

By blogger Do It Yourself 0 Comments

The Ideal Frieze Board Trim

In order to make your home a perfect place to live, the exterior is as important as the interior, and the beauty of the exterior is often hidden in trivial details. The selection of the frieze board and its installation are essential to successful home projects, no matter how experimental you are going to be with the construction. Frankly, even though a frieze board is one of the most critical parts of your home designing, it comes at the last position in your mind while thinking about what could make your home well-built.

Though frieze boards can often be missed while the designing process is going on, this is that subtle detail that is critical and makes a difference in the final design and at the same time enhances the appearance and performance of your home. Also, frieze boards ensure that the house is intact, well-protected, provides better stability for the exterior of the house, and ensures the integrity of your home.

FINDING a Good Frieze Board

Frieze board is usually installed in between the soffit and the top of a house’s siding panel. Its primary function is to give a finishing touch to the house’s exterior, and they come with a variety of options. The market has various types of options available for frieze boards. Still, it is necessary to first scale-out the maintenance, cost, requirements, and durability, and then it is advisable to decide. Also, be sure to ask the company some questions:

  1. How long will this board last?
  2. The cost, warranty (if any), and procedure of installation.
  3. Is the board’s material immune to the external environment?
  4. Can it be painted?

INSTALLATION of a Frieze Board

Frieze Board Installation is done using a trim board hook, which should be lined up with the seam and then fixed with a nail. Even if, at times, homeowners miss the frieze board, which makes it undervalued, it still serves two major roles.

  1. It fills the gap between the soffit and the siding.
  2. It gives the exterior a posh appearance.

Thus, it prevents moisture from snow or rain from entering the siding. At the same time, not having trim gives your house an unfinished appearance due to the gaps.

Also, the frieze board generally infuses a smooth transition from the siding to the soffit. It stabilizes and finishes the home while giving it a decorative feel.

CHOOSING the Right Material

Generally, you have different forms and elements of the frieze board out of which you have to choose for your situation.

  1. Cedar Wood

This is one of the standard options in terms of materials used to make the trim. It gives the trim a good thermal mass and is a heavy log structure making the cedar trims capable of releasing, storing, and absorbing heat.

This material can adapt to various environmental conditions and has energy-saving benefits with low moisture content by undergoing the air-drying process to lose the moisture naturally.

  1. Fiber Cement

It is an alternate option to the commonly used cedar trim and has its own pros. It can also adapt to the weather and is made of sustainable elements.

By blogger Do It Yourself 0 Comments

Importance of Drip Edges

Drip edges are molded metal strips made of industrial-grade galvanized aluminum or steel. These are fixed with the help of nails to the edges of the roof, ensuring a water-tight fixture. Drip edges help protect the roof shingles by safeguarding the wooden structures underneath them that are typically prone to rot and water damage. Not having a drip edge installed can lead to problems like curling of shingles and cracking or sagging roof along the edges. A drip edge provides support to overhanging shingles at the roof edges, furnishing a systematic structure to the overhang and directing water towards the eavestrough, away from the fascia of the roof. It adds a clean look to a roof while preventing water from entering into vulnerable regions.

Drip edge has two primary purposes –

  1. Diverting the water away from the fascia.
  2. Protecting the deck of the roof from wind-driven rainfall.

The role of a drip edge is to direct water towards the gutter. In case your home has no gutter, the drip edge will help prevent water from entering the fascia and soffit cavity regions. It can save you from spending huge amounts on major recovery projects after encountering extensive damage to your house.

Drip edges are available in a variety of styles and shapes. The most commonly used are the T-, C- and L-style drip edges.

The L-style, as the name suggests, is a simple design that is bent in the center. One end of an L-style drip edge is put under the roofing materials and the other end over the fascia. The C-style drip edges are curved bent, installed under the roofing material with the curve around the roof’s deck. These drip edges are generally used on roofs without a fascia. T-style drip edges are shaped like a “T” having an extra lip, directing water away from the house. This style is used beyond the deck of the roof and is bent backward in a triangular shape. The extra lip extends away from the roof end and moves water out and away from your home.

Below are a few significant benefits of installing Drip Edges:

  1. Drip edges direct the water away from the fascia or directly into your home’s gutter system.
  2. Drip edges are installed below the shingles at roof ends, preventing water from seeping into the unwanted areas.
  3. Drip edges provide support to overhanging shingles, keeping them in a clean and manageable straight line.
  4. Shingles without drip edges don’t look adequately sharp and are more prone to easy damage.
  5. Drip edges cover the gap between a roof deck and a fascia board. This gap is often responsible for allowing small animals or other unwanted pests to enter your home by way of your attic.
  6. Roof edge flashing can protect your roof during strong wind or heavy rain, or even an ice dam formation. An ice dam is a clutter of ice collected on the edge of a roof, which can prevent snow from draining and thawing appropriately.
By blogger Design 0 Comments

De-Icing Cables for Winter

Ice dams are created when melting snow on a roof doesn’t completely flow off into the gutters. When the temperature falls, the consequential ice blockage creates a dam that further slows down additional melting of the ice, enabling it to get beneath the roof’s shingles and infiltrate the protective top layer of your home. The reason ice dams form in the first place is the uneven heating from beneath. Warmth circulates in the attic because heat increases. This melts ice on the roof, which dribbles down toward the gutter, but then reaches the cold edges of the roof where it freezes again, forming ice dams.

The old-school way to solve the ice dam problem was with a shovel and a lot of dangerous manual labour. But with technological advancements, you can cross manual labour off the list. De-icing cables are the solution to your ice dam problems. De-icing cables are electrical cables connected to the roof of the house. They aren’t visually distracting and hence won’t make a dramatic change as many people expect them to. Before investing in de-icing cables, it is recommended that you are well-acquainted with the benefits and functionalities of de-icing cables.

 

The Benefits of De-Icing Cables:

When properly installed, roof de-icing cables work quite efficiently, although they don’t often make much of a graphic change. The cables don’t completely clear patches of snow, but rather melt the ice in close proximity around them, providing sufficient space for water to run off into your gutter. This is an important distinction: ice dams may still form but they won’t block the flow of further snow melt, and that’s what shields your roof.

De-icing cables are only designed for adequate snowmelt to avoid ice dams from building up. How much exposure your roof needs with de-icing cables hangs on the shape and slant of the roof and the spaces where ice dams form. The cables aren’t efficient in extremely low temperatures (–10°F and below). However, ice dams won’t form at such low temperatures, so it’s rarely an issue.

 

Cost:

The bright side of the high electrical bill is the probable savings when your roof isn’t infiltrated by an ice dam. If you’re stressed about an ice dam condition, then investing in appropriately installed heating cables has the potential to pay beneficial returns by shielding your roof and the home beneath it! It is also more preferred over manual labour that never provides a permanent solution to your ice dam problem.

 

Installing De-Icing Cables:

You’re right if you are wondering if installing de-icing cables isn’t something you can do on your own. It’s never an advisable idea to consider working on your roof, especially in winter. Aside from the safety issues, de-icing cables will only work wonders if installed correctly. These are electrical cables that need to be associated to your household electrical system and which will function in connection to water, and hence, it is highly recommended to entrust this job to a licensed electrician or professional who has experience with this type of service.