How You Can Keep Any Roof In Ideal Condition
It is impossible to minimize the importance of a roof when it comes to the overall soundness and integrity of a home. But, when it comes down to taking proper care of the roof on your home, you might not know which way to turn. The piece below offers some useful advice for anyone interested in learning more about roof repair and maintenance.
Never hire a roof contractor that can not supply you with a list of satisfied customers. Having a roof repaired or replaced can be expensive. Additionally, if they do not do quality work it could lead to water damage inside of your home. Be cautious and always ask for references before hiring a roofer.
If your contractor cannot make time to do the repairs to your roof right away, temporarily repair the leaks yourself. Try buying heavy duty plastic and layering it over the area. This will cost you a lot of money in the future on repairs.
Make sure that you take the proper safety precautions before attempting to go up on your roof. Even if you think you are perfectly safe going up there without a harness, wear one anyway. It is also a great idea to wear shoes that have rubber soles since they will prevent you from slipping.
Sometimes it can be hard to determine if you just need your roof fixed or if it needs to be replaced. This decision is usually made when you have a leak, storm damage or your roof is at least 15 years old. Have your roof inspected by your insurer and trust in their diagnosis.
If you are doing your own roofing job, make sure to practice proper ergonomics. Roofing involves carrying tools up and down ladders onto the roof. Carry only what is comfortable for you. Bend from your knees and lift with your legs. Always be aware of how your back is bent, when actually installing the roofing materials.
Insurance is something you need to have when it comes to roof work. If you hire a contractor without insurance, you are going to have to pay for any damage that might occur. Don't just ask the contractor if he or she has insurance. You need to find out if it's current and also see the actual documentation.
When it rains, check your attic for leaks. Not every leak will make it down to your ceilings, so there is no harm in heading upstairs to check out what is going on. If you do this a few times per year, you can stave off massive repair bills for unnoticed problems.
Make sure you are being very safe when working on the roof yourself. Secure a ladder, and carefully climb up or down the ladder as necessary. Let someone know where you are in case you get stuck on the roof for some reason. Wear non-slip shoes if you have to stand.
If you have a hard time getting debris out of your gutter, you may want to bring in some new tools. Try fastening a metal angle on the end of a long board, then move the material towards you with a raking motion. Afterwards, clear out extra debris with a wire brush.
To maintain your roof, keep it free of sticks, leaves and other debris. If these things build up on your roof that could trap water onto it. When water sits on your roof, the shingle's bottom layers with probably rot and those are expensive repairs.
If you want a roof that is environmentally friendly, you should choose one that is made of coated metal. The materials are 100% recyclable, and can significantly reduce your energy costs. This type of roof can be placed over an existing asphalt roof.
If your roof is leaking, check your gutters before calling a professional. A common leaky-roof cause is clogged gutters. The reason for this is because these gutters can cause water buildup whenever it rains. Therefore, if you clean your gutters, you may be able to resolve your leaky roof. This can save you a lot of unnecessary money because you won't have to hire a professional.
Before deciding to completely replace your roof, ask your contractor if it can be repaired. Sometimes small leaks or minor damage can be corrected without a full replacement. Tis can save you both time and money. If the damage is more extensive, the only option might be a full roof replacement.
Don't pay for a roof fully before there has been some work done. Shady contractors will get full payment up front, then they do not finish the job. Rather, pay a percentage up front for start-up, and then pay the remainder when the job has been done to your satisfaction.
After the roofing work is finished, get up there and make sure everything looks good. You don't have to be an expert in construction to spot an issue or to know if something is not quite right. Do not write out the final check until you take it upon yourself click here to inspect the work that was done.
When you are trying to hire a roofing contractor, you should avoid being shy. Open up and feel free to ask him any questions you have. The last thing you want is to shell out a lot of money to have a job done that you really do not understand.
Always ask your roofer how long his company has been in business for. How much experience the roofer has is important, but that is not the same thing. You want to go with an established company that has a number of satisfied customers. They will work hard to make sure they uphold their reputation with each job that they do.
When a large storm or natural disaster blows over, a lot of larger towns will become flooded with shady dealers that should learn to avoid. Research any potential contractors and make sure they have an established history within your local community or you could become victim of an opportunistic fraud.
Do not be intimidated by the amount of information that needs to be learned about roofing. The tips in this piece can be very helpful in any number of situations. Whether you go out and learn more or just use what you've learned here, you shouldn't have any problems. Apply these tips as needed.
Beware the lure of unethical solar power
Solar power may combat climate change, but a damning report suggests it’s not always ethical
Solar energy may be the future. But only if it lets go of the past.
International NGO the World Economic Forum has issued a damning report card on the state of the world’s solar panel manufacturing. It may be experiencing rapid growth. It may be one of the cheapest sources of power. But its climate credentials face intense scrutiny.
Forced labour, coal-fuelled production processes and a lack of transparency around the source of crucial components combine, the WEF says, into a cause for concern.
“The solar industry is currently grappling with supply chain issues that could significantly impact its future,” the authors, professors Morgan Bazilian and Dustin Mulvaney, write.
Much of their concern is concentrated on the production of polysilicon and the drive to make it cheap.
https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/energy/beware-the-lure-of-unethical-solar-power/
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