Home Maintenance – Start from Above

Roof care is an important aspect of home maintenance. If you ignore roof repair, you may end up spending on a lot more things. Bad roofing can adversely affect even the foundation of your house so it is paramount that you stay on top of the situation all the time. Here are some telltale signs that you need to call the roof expert.

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Signs of Roof Damage

Do you think your current roof has seen many moons and been through a lot? It is always good to take a look. Observe the shingles on the roof with an outdoor inspection. Composition shingles tend to lose shape due to weathering. Missing or broken shingles are also a sign that your roof is damaged. Wooden shingles can get moldy or they start showing signs of decay. Flat roofs are susceptible to damage caused by the collection of water. If the cement around your roof is crumbling that is another sign that it might give way to leaks soon.

You also need to inspect the chimneys and gutters for signs of damage. Old gutters can suffer from rust or their fastening joints get loose. They can also get clogged with debris, quite common if there are overhead trees or there has been a storm. Look at the ventilation points and note if there is any blockage. Bad ventilation is one of the main reasons why roofs get damaged.

From inside the home, you can look for a few warning signs. Paint on the walls starts peeling when the moisture sets in and you may see stains on the ceiling corners and walls. The attic also provides a good indicator to roof health. Damp rafters usually indicate that the roof is letting moisture into the home.

Energy costs are also a good indicator. Larger heating or air-conditioning bills mean that your roof is not doing its insulation job properly.

Choose Quality Services

It is always better that you act on the smallest signs of damage. Leaky roofs can also lead to dangerous conditions. Replace a few shingles now and save yourself a bigger expenditure in the future.

Sometimes, the damage to a roof can be extensive and it requires a larger overhaul. When it comes to choosing roofing services, do not take any chances. Go for certified and trusted local experts who understand the conditions and problems common to the area. Even if you have looked at your roofing system, a professional inspection is better than a casual one. Professionals come armed with more knowledge and they can find out the root of your roofing problem rather than just the visible signs.  They also ensure quick single-day service and flawless finishing.

Responsible roofing practices can go a long way in reducing your carbon footprint. The top roofing providers have this covered. Many use recycled products which bring the same quality and guarantees that you get from more non-recycled materials. GAF roofing systems are considered one of the best available. Active U.S. military personnel, veterans, and retired individuals can also get rebates under the roofs for troops initiative.

The GAF roofing system has won many awards for quality and innovation. Its ventilation component is hailed as one of the best for residential properties. It has also been recognized for its sustainable design and green components.

Simple Ways To Save The Environment

There are many simple ways to save the environment. And of course this ties in to what we have been discussing, saving money on your energy bills!

The New Year is coming and everyone will be making resolutions. What if everyone would do a few simple things that could help save the environment? It would have a HUGE impact! I will discuss 3 different areas where you can have a great impact for zero or very little cost.

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Open Your Windows

Sometimes people forget that it is so nice outside. They have their house all closed up, the sun warms it up, and the air conditioner comes on. It might be 70 degrees outside and the air conditioner is solid burning electricity! And the fresh air is good for you. It makes you feel good. Take advantage of it. Make a habit of watching the weather report and see if you can open the windows and turn that heat or air off.

Bottled Water

As you go into the stores, watch the number of people that come out with bottled water. First it is very expensive and second, those plastic bottles usually end up in the landfill. And they will never disintegrate. I am not saying that your tap water is the best for your body, because it probably is not. But you could be spending pennies instead of dollars and helping save the environment by making your own pure water. The best resource for having pure water in your home is Aquasana.

Get Your Children Involved

After all, why are we doing this? So we will have something to leave our children. And they are going to have the same responsibility! Teach them why we are doing it and what they can do to help. Simple things that they can do such as closing doors, turning lights and appliances off when not in use, and maybe even opening or closing the blinds on their windows. For a little extra effort you could create a game or reward system. Make it fun and rewarding for them. They will be getting an education and you will be saving money on your energy bill and helping to save the environment!

So there you have it. Just a few simple ways that you can help save the environment, and with very little effort and costs. Check the weather and act accordingly, stop buying bottled water, and get the whole household involved.

So when you are thinking about what you can do to improve your life for your New Years Resolution, make sure that you include saving the environment. The future of our planet is counting on you!

Why Energy Efficient Windows are a Perfect Choice

fgh576There are a couple of reasons that you may want the best energy efficient windows in your home, both old and new. The first and most obvious is to save you money. Seems like a nobrainer, but some people do not think of it. The other reason would be to help save the planets energy sources. Unless you are powering your home entirely by a renewable power source, you will be helping save the planet!

The type of window and the fit of the window are very important. You can have the best energy efficient windows in the world, but if the fit is bad they will leak and waste energy.

The windows serve several purposes. Decorate the room, let light in, offer a view of the outside, and of course let in fresh air. But if they are not the best energy efficient windows they can also increase your energy bill.

If you have old windows and want to make them more energy efficient, check around the outside edges to see if they are leaking air. This is best done with a feather or a candle on a windy day. Just move the candle or feather around the window to see if air is getting in. If it is you should seal around the window. Depending upon the gap you could use weather stripping or a caulk sealant.nb988

If you are getting new windows you can save a lot of money. Make sure that the rating is as high as you can afford. Windows energy efficiency is measure with a “U” value. The lower the number, the better energy efficient the window is.

Make sure that the installer seals tightly around the window. Some of the best energy efficient windows qualify for a tax rebate. Check locally to see if you qualify.

There are many types of windows available today. And of course most are enrgy efficient, some more than others. Make sure that you explore all options before selecting to insure that you get the best energy efficint windows that you can afford. It could mean a large difference in your savings later in your energy bill.

Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofers Differences

As you know that residential space refers to your family home but other also argue that it includes townhomes, condos, or even any living space in which people live. However, commercial space is the term for entertainment facilities, office building, restaurants, industrial facilities, hospitals, shopping malls, or any building in which business is located. As you have seen, there are a wide variety of roofs that can cover such buildings and a numerous differences related to residential and also commercial roofs.

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If you are trying to find a professional roofer, you will see a trend that some contractors complete both commercial and residential roofing projects. You will also find certain roofers that only focus on one or even the other. There are also a few differences between residential and commercial roofing that must be kept in mind.

The Roofing Materials

The roofing materials used for commercial buildings are different than you might choose for a residential construction. Home roofs are commonly built from tile or shingles which might be constructed from slate, wood, asphalt, and tile. Also, home roofs are typically designed with some aesthetic ideas, so the style and color of materials can also be one factor in residential roofing.

bhy09 The roofs for commercial building are usually designed with more practical aspects – durability and life expectancy, cost of maintenance, and cost of installation. You will also find various other commercial roofing materials such as modified bitumen. Some smaller commercial places will use asphalt shingles or even metal roofs, large buildings tend to use PVC roofing, TPO, metal and tile roofing. You can even find roofing materials designed for both residential and commercial buildings, though they are usually constructed in a different way and particular attention must be given to weight the structures. You should hire a roofer that has working experience in installing such roofing materials. Choose only a roofing contractor which has a team of expert that can properly install commercial roofing.

Roofing Design

While most home roofs are sloped in design, commercial buildings might be flat or low sloped. Flattop roofs carry their own problems with water damage and you need a commercial contractor who is knowledgeable about such issues. Commercial roofs need frequent and special attention to keep in good shape.

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The Cost

By reason of the size and material costs, Roofs for commercial building are usually more expensive as compared to conventional residential roofs. Roofing costs will be much higher by reason of the specific material or even installation difficulty of the commercial roofing. I highly recommend hiring only commercial roofer rather than hiring residential roofers who mostly don’t even know the complexity of commercial roofs installation.

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As you have read previously, there are many aspects to think about in commercial and residential roofing so I highly recommend to contact Lionheart Contracting . This is a reliable commercial roofing company in Kansas with many years of experiences in installing and maintaining the roofs of your commercial building. Ensure that you consult with them about the services they offer along with a quote.

Company Info

Website :
http://lionheartkc.com/

Address :
3101 Gillham Plaza
Kansas City
Missouri

Contact :
816­.866­.7090

Ways to Make your Pond Look Better

Are you feeling like your pond is not looking as good as it used to? Maybe you just haven’t given it the attention it needs recently, or maybe you just moved in and the pond was already there. Or maybe your style and what you like has just changed. No matter what the reason, if you’re feeling like it’s time to give your pond some TLC and make it look better you’ve come to the right place. Here are some ideas you can try that will make your pond look better.pond cleaning
The first way to make your pond look better is to just clean it up – see this guide. Start by getting all of the weeds out of the pond, changing the water so it’s fresh and clean, and getting all of the old gross decorations out of the pond that you’re no longer in love with. Once you get the pond cleaned up you will have an easier time seeing the potential your pond has. This may even be the only step you have to do, once you get it cleaned up you might realize that’s all it needed.

The next way to make your pond look better is by using a pond liner. This is going to make your pond stay so much cleaner and look more put together. It will help your pond stay cleaner by keeping the weeds and dirt out. It will help your pond look more put together because the ground will be one color and texture.  You can even find a colored pond liner to match the colors you will be using in your pond. For quality pond liners: http://www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-liners-54/ where there is a great selection.
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The last way to make your pond look better is by using decorations. If you go on Pinterest, Instagram or even just google “pond” you will find so many pictures of beautiful ponds. Scroll through the pictures and see what you like and don’t like, and just take inspiration for what you want your pond to look like. There are an unlimited amount of ways to decorate your pond. This is really where you will make your pond either blend in or stand out. You are going to want to buy decorations and anchor them into the pond where you want them to be. Then you are going to want to add the plants, fish, etc. that you also want in the pond. Don’t forget that the area surrounding the pond will also have an impact on the overall appearance of the pond.

If you feel your pond is not looking its’ best, that’s okay! There are many things you can do to make your pond look better. To begin with you can just clean the pond up. You will be surprised by how much better the pond will look after just doing this one simple step. The next thing you can do it buy a pond liner. This will make maintaining your pond a lot easier, along with making the pond look more put together. Another thing you can do to make your pond look better is decorate it.