How to Go About Hiring Roof Cleaning Contractors - by Muna wa Wanjiru

Roof cleaning is probably not the easiest job around, nor is it the most pleasurable of all household jobs either. It is unfortunately however, a necessary job and something that needs to be done at least once a year, maybe more if you have large leafy trees around your house.

If you don’t do any roof cleaning while you have the chance while the buildup of leaves and other sundry stuff is still only minimal, you will find yourself beset by many other problems when everything finally builds up to point non-plus.

You will then have problem upon problem upon your head and have to expend vastly more time, energy and money on your roof cleaning efforts that you otherwise would have. In fact if you let it go for long enough without getting around to cleaning your roof, you might find that you have to contend with more than a few clogged drains and a few loose roof tiles.

So even if you don’t want to physically go up there yourself and do the entire roof cleaning job, you might want to think about hiring a roof cleaning contractors who can do the job for you, and without all the accompanying hassle that you might otherwise experience yourself.

If on the other hand you feel brave enough to tackle the job of roof cleaning yourself, there are a few things that you might first want to have on hand. The first and the most important of these being a ladder, and medical insurance!

Well, the medical insurance is optional, but if you have a phobia of heights and this is your way of trying to overcome it, then you probably do want to think about at least letting someone else know that you will doing a spot of roof cleaning that day.

When you’re up there you will need to clean away those leaf filled drains (and this can become mucky), check for loose and/ or cracked tiles, as well as looking around for other little details which can lead to your roof falling down in pieces around your head. For instance, if you miss even one cracked tile, there could be repercussions later on with water seepage which could damage your ceiling.

Those roof cleaning contractors are sounding pretty good round about now aren’t they? This in fact your best choice, especially if you have let the roof cleaning bit go by for a few years, in which case you might need more repairs and renovations done to your roof, than the cleaning itself!

Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on How to Declutter Homes for Years. For More Information on Roof Cleaning, Visit His Site at Roof Cleaning

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How To Find A Roof Leak - by Steven Briesemeister

There are many resources on how to find a roof leak but, most of the time, homeowners can locate the problem themselves within minutes. After all, if your roof is leaking, who has time to run out to the store and buy a home repair book or even ask someone how to find a roof leak? A leaking roof should be repaired immediately before further damaged is caused to the structure of the roof, itself, or to the home. If a leak is left untreated, the structure will likely be damaged along with some belongings inside your home.
If you wonder how to find a roof leak, it’s not as difficult as you may imagine. Homeowners should first look inside the home for signs of water. The first, and most obvious, would be water spots, standing water or mold. If you have a wet spot on your floor, look directly above to the ceiling for any signs of leakage. Such signs may include water spots, a soft or of sagging ceiling and damp areas anywhere on the ceiling or wall. A water spot on the ceiling would generally start out small, but grow larger with a brown ring defining it’s shape. The longer this is left untreated, the larger the spot will become as the water adds weight to your ceiling.
If a leak is not immediately visible from the interior of your home, consider that the problem area may be more obvious from an outside inspection. Using a ladder or binoculars, look for visual signs of roof damage or other structural problems. If it is raining, or if the roof is still wet from a previous rain, do not walk on the roof under any circumstances. Walking on a wet roof can be especially dangerous for an individual, but also for the structure of the roof itself. During your visual search, look for any debris that may be causing problems with blocking snow or rain from flowing from the roof’s slope. If there is a large presence of ice, this is a good indicator of possible ice damage. Once the ice begins to melt, the water may travel in through the damaged area.
Bad flashings are usually the cause for a roof leak
If possible, examine flashings and the chimney area for any signs of a problem. In addition, inspect any points at which an antenna or satellite dish connects inside the home. Possibly the most obvious damage sign, during the outside inspection, would be missing or damaged shingles. If you have warped or cracked shingles or shakes, replace them immediately. If they are damaged beyond repair, they will need to be replaced completely. If you need to replace one, or several shingles, this does not necessarily mean that the entire roof will need to be replaced.
If you have experienced a storm with heavy winds, look for any signs that debris may have damaged the structure of your roof. The debris may no longer be located on your roof, but the damage that it caused will be. If you are still uncertain about how to find a roof leak, or are uncomfortable with heights or inspecting your roof in general, call a contractor for a professional evaluation. In addition, a contractor can show you exactly how to find a roof leak in the future. When inspecting your roof, take special care when climbing ladders or repairing any problems.

Steven Briesemeister who is the owner of http://www.roofer911.com has 33 years experience in all types of roof repair problems and new roof installation for residential and commercial accounts. As a Long Island and Northern Virgina roofing contractor, we believe, “Quality Doesn’t Cost…It Pays! For more roof related articles, kindly visit: http://www.roofer911.com/roofing_articles.htm

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How To Find A Flat Roof Leak - Infrared Survey - by Steven Briesemeister

A roof leak is caused by one thing - moisture. This can sometimes be difficult to detect, but technology has provided roofing professionals with a new method of how to find a flat roof leak using infrared survey. Because of their simplicity, flat roofs are very common. Unfortunately, also because of their design, a flat roof is more susceptible to water build up and damage.
The Concept Of Finding A Flat Roof Leak With Infrared Survey
It is thought that infrared surveys may help to promote a longer life for your roof. Inspections, of this type, allows the infrared camera to scan the entire roof area for moisture. The concept of finding a flat roof leak using infrared survey is quite fascinating. During the afternoon, the sun heats the roof structure with it’s warm rays. As the sun sets in the evening, the roof begins to cool. If there is a leak in the roof, the insulation or roof structure will become wet. A higher thermal mass is found in wet insulation than that of the rest of the structure. The infrared survey will be able to detect this moisture from a clear picture of the damaged area. Because of the technical work involved, a professional should be used to detect a flat roof leak using infrared survey.
Two Options Of Finding A Flat Roof Leak Using Infrared Survey
There are two ways to search for a flat roof leak using infrared survey. One is from a distance and the other is by performing a walk-on roof inspection. Anytime you, or anyone else, is walking on a roof, it is extremely dangerous. This is especially true if it is raining or if the roof is wet from a previous rain. Obviously, if you are searching for a leak or moisture, there is a suspicion that the roof is wet, so use extreme caution if you opt for the walk-on inspection. Let your contractor know that the roof may be slippery. Being professionals, they are already likely to be aware of this fact, but it’s a good idea to remind them to be careful.
Detecting Problems Before It’s Too Late
Each day, roofs are ruined because of improper maintenance or simply because the damaged area cannot be located. In order for a roof to last, it requires regular maintenance by the homeowners, but also by professional roofing contractors. Regular checks should be done to search for leaks, cracks, rotting or other damage. If left untreated, these problems can lead to the entire roof needing replaced. This is not necessary if proper maintenance is done, including the use of infrared survey to find a flat roof leak. Flat roofs are especially vulnerable to water damage because there is no roof slope for the water to flow to. Often, water will pool in one area of a flat roof and begin to weigh down the structure, which will cause leaks and other structural problems. The areas of moisture can quickly be identified using an infrared survey.

Steven Briesemeister who is the owner of http://www.roofer911.com has 33 years experience in all types of roof repair problems and new roof installation for residential and commercial accounts. As a Long Island and Northern Virgina roofing contractor, we believe, “Quality Doesn’t Cost…It Pays! For more roof related articles, kindly visit: http://www.roofer911.com/roofing_articles.htm

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How Long to Install a New Roof? - by Steven Briesemeister

The roof is by far one of the most important parts of your house when it comes to protecting the rest of the building and it’s occupants from extreme weather conditions and many roofs are in a state of disrepair. Yet, despite this, they are left to worsen before people are willing to act and either pay for decent repairs or bite the bullet and have a new roof fitted. Paying for patched repairs or doing them yourself, when you don’t really know what you are doing, may prove cheaper in the short term but it won’t be long before you have to patch up the holes on a very regular basis. One of the most effective ways to lengthen the lifespan of any roof is with regular maintenance and checks conducted by a professional.
The life of your roof.
Knowing how long to install a new roof really is a question of knowing how well looked after your current roof is. Many new roofs come with a life of up to 20 years and some more durable and hard wearing roofs will have a life as long as 40 or 50 years but if you don’t care for your roof and regularly have it checked and maintained you face a very real risk of substantially decreasing this lifespan. When you have a new roof fitted you should, as far as possible, pay as much as you can afford to ensure that you get as long a life as possible with your new roof.
Taking the plunge.
Having a new roof fitted will mean a fairly major upheaval in your life. It may be necessary for you to move out while it is being done so it is important to know exactly how long to install a new roof will take. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t that straight forward. Everything depends on the size of the roof, the shape of the roof and exactly what you are having fitted. Applying a single layer of shingles on an existing roof is unlikely to take longer than a few days but having your existing roof completely removed and an entirely new one built can take a number of weeks. To get an accurate idea you should get a quote from a professional roofing contractor and ensure that this information will be included. Do be aware that things can go wrong and even when there is nothing wrong with the roof a sudden change in the weather can set the construction of your new roof back dramatically.
Start as you mean to go on.
Once you have your new roof fitted you shouldn’t just assume that because it comes with a ten-year warranty you won’t need to do anything about maintenance for the first ten years. You should, wherever possible, have an annual check up just to make sure that everything is ok because if a small problem is found it can be fixed before the small problem grows into a much larger and more costly problem.

Steven Briesemeister who is the owner of http://www.roofer911.com has 33 years experience in all types of roof repair problems and new roof installation for residential and commercial accounts. As a Long Island and Northern Virgina roofing contractor, we believe, “Quality Doesn’t Cost…It Pays!

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Home Inspection - Going On Top - by robert hanania

Everyone who buys or sells a house, apartment or condo is going to use a home inspector at one time or another and even though you pretty much know what they do, many of you might have more appreciation for them once you learn more details of there chosen profession. Home inspectors have been around for a long time and they will be here for a lot longer, preparing reports, giving advice and recommendations and to some, a peace of mind. Because this is a big subject and there is a lot to say, right know I will focus on roof inspection and also give a little class on roof construction.
First the basics - Pitched Roofs
The basic structure of a typical pitched roof is: the framework, a deck and a weather resistant covering. The purpose of the deck is to serve as a base for supporting the roof covering, which is what protects the roof. (Pretty simple so far, right?) A pitched roof has a series of parallel beams (joists) joined at the top at angles, like tepees with a supporting overlay (the deck), usually plywood or similar material that serves as a base for supporting the roof covering (shingles), which has the purpose of shedding the water away from the roof either into gutters or just falling off the roofline. The deck is not waterproof so the shingles must be intact and able to withstand all types of weather, (except tornadoes and meteoroids) be it snow, hail, or rain.
I can’t speak for all home inspectors because they have there own techniques and working procedures. Like most people I had a couple of them look over my house, so from my experience they generally do a outside visual of roofs that entails walking around the house, sometimes with the aid of binoculars for close-up viewing or use a ladder for ranch type houses, if practical. They generally don’t want to walk up there for liability issues (fear of there foot going through the roof), but I feel that is the best way to check for roof structural integrity and they need to do it anyway for flat roofs. Needless to say they would be responsible for any damages they do in the course inspection!
A typical roof inspection will include checking for:
Uneven shingles - poor installation of a second layer over an old one. This might be ok but will be prone to water damage. When making an attic inspection the deck should be checked for damage and signs of leakage.

Sagging roof - probably deck damage, but may be a structural problem like a damaged ridge beam (A beam placed on end at the top of the roof and fastened to the rafters) or a roof deck that may not have adequate bracing or spacing of wood-frame support members. This is better left for a structural engineer for evaluation.

Roof ventilation - in a way roofs have to breathe too, that’s why there are roof vents on the roof and in the soffit (a horizontal board nailed to a roof overhang). Warm air must have an escape in attic space or there will be moisture buildup and the wood will rot. This can also cause streaks on interior walls and peeling paint. An inspection should be made of vent placement and count to evaluate if there is adequate ventilation.

Shingles- If the roof is pitched it will most likely have overlapping shingles to shed water away and down the roof. The south and southwest sides of the roof gets most of the sun that makes brittle and age faster, thereby causing deterioration. If there is any cracking, pealing or breakage of these ’tiles’ they will need repair or replacement because it will not protect the roof.

Flat Roofs
Even if a roof has a slight pitch it is considered a flat roof. As with the pitched roof this is the first thing inspected. Sometimes an interior wall that has signs of water damage could be traced back to the roof. Since this type of roof can’t be seen from the ground inspection must be made at top of the house. On a two story or more building access to the roof has to be made from inside, a stairwell, ladder, or an access hole in the ceiling of a room, probably a bedroom closet or pantry. As with any type of roof ventilation is key so checking for air vents is a must. A ventilation opening can be a pipe coming from the roof top or an open space on the side of the roofline right below the roof. A flat roof differs from a pitched one in that it is water tight, not just shedding water like a pitched one. At one time standing water was considered a good thing because it would cool the roof a bit during the summer months. There should be no ponds of standing water because this could be a breeding ground for insects and more importantly plants, where the roots can break through the asphalt covering. Special attention should me made when inspecting flat roofs because even small cracks between the roofs drain and the roof covering could become serious.
There are many types of flat roofs like single-ply membrane, roll roofing, metal roofs, hot tar covered or built-up roofs an inspecting them is similar in every case. The inspector will look for any visible cracking, blisters, weak spots or any kind of corrosion that will compromise the structural integrity of the roof. The cause of a leak on an interior wall or ceiling may be hard to find because it may have started on the roof, then zig-zagged its way down, but several feet away from the area you saw it.
These are some of the things home inspectors look for and report on when checking roofs. They not only go in 120ºF attics but also crawl under houses, and look in chimney stacks, but do with a great of courtesy and professionalism!

Robert is the owner and operator of this website: http://www.houseimprovementonline.net and a true fanatic of learning and sharing ‘how to’ material and info. If you love anything ‘do it yourself’ you should visit this website and http://www.fileanddatarecovery.com

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Green Roof Is Installed At The New St. Louis Variety Playground In Forest Park . - by Todd Schowalter

Green Roof Blocks ™, recently installed its patent pending self contained green roof system at the new St. Louis Variety Playground in Forest Park. (PRWEB) November 19, 2005 — Green Roof Blocks ™, recently installed its patent pending self contained green roof system at the new St. Louis Variety Playground in Forest Park. The educational green roof was contracted by BSI Construction. BSI served as the general contractor of the 10,200 square foot playground which is located next to the Lindell Pavilion Visitors Center and was dedicated on October 22. Green Roof Blocks™, makers of the nation’;s only portable green roof system, installed the green roof on the playground’s entry pavilion. Green Roofs are aesthetic vegetated roof covers that help to reduce energy consumption and costs, decrease storm water runoff, and preserve the life of roof materials. Green Roof Blocks™ is a subsidiary of St. Louis Metalworks, with offices located at 11701 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033. The company maintains a web site at: www.greenroofblocks.com and media site at, www.greenroofsmedia.com. ###

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Green Roof Blocks„¢ Donates Green Roof Program to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - by Todd Schowalter

Green Roof Blocks„¢, makers of a portable self-contained green roof system, recently donated its patent pending product to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The university will use the green roof system for research purposes. St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) August 11, 2005 — Green Roof Blocks„¢, makers of a portable self-contained green roof system, recently donated its patent pending product to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The university will use the green roof system for research purposes. Green Roofs are vegetated roof covers that help to reduce energy consumption and costs, decrease storm water runoff, and preserve the life of roof materials. Individual Green Roof Blocks„¢ cover four square feet of roof surface and contain a growth medium with drought resistant plants. The initial Green Roof Blocks„¢ were installed on the SIUE Engineering Building on July 20. The event was attended by several notable SIUE faculty and administrative members including, Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, Provost and Vice Chancellor Sharon Hahs, Vice Chancellor Ken Neher, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Stephen Hansen, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Kent Neely, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Wendy Shaw, Director of the Environmental Sciences Program Kevin Johnson, Director of Facilities Management Bob Washburn, Associate Professor of Environmental Science Program and Department of Biological Sciences Dr. William Retzlaff, Campus Architect Richard Klein, Engineering Faculty Dr. Susan Morgan, Environmental Sciences Faculty Dr. Nic Guehlstorf, School of Engineering Director of Development Sarah MacDougal and Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Krista Forrester. Also in attendance were Green Roof Blocks„¢ president Kelly Luckett, Green Roof Blocks„¢ vice-president Mike Crowell, Jost Greenhouse owner Vic Jost, and Lakeside Roofing. The initial 16 Green Roof Blocks„¢ installed are part of an eventual 1000 Green Roof Block„¢ system. The remaining Green Roof Blocks„¢ may be purchased by individuals for $100 each, with proceeds benefiting the student research project. Contributors will be able to compose a message on an engraved plate that will be mounted on a plaque overlooking the green roof. Each position on the roof will have a corresponding position on the plaque allowing donors to identify the particular Green Roof Blocks„¢ their donation made possible. Those interested should contact Marilyn Marsho, 618-650-5048 or by e-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots. The research project is being directed by Dr. William Retzlaff of the Environmental Sciences Program and will evaluate green roof performance “ including storm water runoff quality and quantity, plant growth, performance, and coverage, and green roof thermal characteristics. Research information as it becomes available will be posted at, http://www.green-siue.com. Green Roof Blocks„¢ is a subsidiary of St. Louis Metalworks, with offices located at 11701 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033. The company maintains a web site at, www.greenroofblocks.com and media site at, www.greenroofsmedia.com .

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Green Roof Blocks„¢ Attends Environmental Expo Hosted By Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee - by Todd Schowalter

Green Roof Blocks (TM), makers of a completely self contained, portable green roof system, has been invited by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) to demonstrate its product Green Roof Blocks„¢ during the Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Products Exposition for Olympic Projects taking place July 12“14, 2005 in Beijing. St. Louis, MO July 11, 2005– Green Roof Blocks (TM), has been invited by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) to demonstrate its product Green Roof Blocks„¢ during the Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Products Exposition for Olympic Projects taking place July 12“14, 2005 in Beijing. Green Roof Blocks„¢ are self contained portable units that hold four square feet of drought resistant sedum foliage. Green Roof Blocks help to reduce energy consumption and costs, decrease storm water run off and preserve the life of the roof by up to four times.The decorative and functional units are placed on the existing roof and provide building owners with a decorative and affordable way to literally add “life” to the building. A typical commercial green roof requires expensive water proofing, drainage systems and an excessive amount of soil. However, Green Roof Blocks„¢ are completely self contained and provide an affordable solution to installing a green roof. The Beijing expo will allow exhibitors to demonstrate their products and services to China ’s growing green construction community. The expo will be attended primarily by owners, investors, contractors, designers and municipal government departments involved in the Olympic projects. In addition to the upcoming Olympic Games, Green Roof Blocks„¢ hopes to expand its sales efforts to additional China markets. Green Roof Blocks„¢ is a subsidiary of St. Louis Metalworks, with offices located at 11701 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033.The company maintains a web site at, www.greenroofblocks.com and media site at, www.greenroofsmedia.com .

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Best posts on Scaffolding Exeter from Apr 2010

• Find Out if You Really Need Leak Repairs - by Groshan Fabiola
  Posted on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  Many homeowners are faced with a real nuisance, which is roof leaks. Most of them associate a leaky roof with the imminence of roof repairs, without taking into consideration that there may be solutions to their problems, other than leak repairs. The sources of roof leaks are so various, that you will most certainly need the opinion of an expert before you can actually determine that you need roof repairs.
• Find Professional Roofers - by Articles Manager
  Posted on Sunday, April 4th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  <p>If your roof needs repairs or you need a specialist job doing then try to find several (they must have a deep knowledge of job) and select any one according to your requirements. There are many companies as well as contractors who are doing this job. Therefore you should always try to find the right candidate that give accurate quotes.
• First Time Homeowner’s Crash Course in Roofing - by Tim McLoughlin
  Posted on Thursday, April 8th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  An average homeowner’s education never ends–this is especially true for first time homeowners. For the very handy among us, building terms, types of repairs and an understanding of how to locate wall studs seems to have been ingrained from birth. For a homeowner with less repair experience, each and every necessary repair comes with a sense of urgency to learn how to fix it.
• Frequently Asked Roofing Questions - by James C
  Posted on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  Roofs are a big concern for homeowners. It is one of the most important parts of your home providing you with shelter from the rain and helloing to regulate the temperature of your home. Read this article and learn the answers to some of the most common roof questions.How often should I have my gutters cleaned? You should clean them at least twice a year.
• Gallagher’s Construction: Making A Difference in the World of Roofs in Texas. - by suny
  Posted on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  <p>Gallagher’s Construction: Making A Difference in the World of Roofs in Texas.</p><p>Roofs have undergone a lot of changes in the last few decades. A variety of roofing are made these days such as flat roof, asphalt roof, steep roof, wooden roof, slate roof, tile roof, concrete roof shingle roof and many more.
• Get Rid Of The Snow With Snow Roof Rakes - by Andrew Caxton
  Posted on Sunday, April 18th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  Before you attempt to remove the snow accumulated on your roof, you need to take a few precautions. A roof rake will help you get the job done safely and efficiently.Raking the snow off a roof can be both physically straining and potentially hazardous. While the process is usually helped along by gravity and the weather, removing snow from a roof is not as straightforward as removing snow from a walkway.
• Getting In Touch With Roofing Contractors In Connecticut - by Ernest Jarquio
  Posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  There are numerous roofing companies all over the country. But if you are looking for one just within the Connecticut area, then read on. This is a list of roofing contractors in Connecticut. The companies are arranged in no particular order. Please note that the author is not associated with any of these contractors and this list is provided only as a starting point to help make your search more efficient.
• Getting Roof Repairs in Portland Oregon - by Mark Starr
  Posted on Friday, April 23rd, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  Getting roof repair in OR for a home or commercial building is not a task many of us look to with pleasure. Roof repair in Portland, and everywhere else for that matter costs money. As a result, many of us ignore the issue for as long as we possibly can. However, avoiding roof repair for your Portland home or business can cost a lot more in the long run.
• Green Roof Blocks™ Expands Green Roof Program At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - by Todd Schowalter
  Posted on Monday, April 26th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  Green Roof Blocks™, makers of a portable self-contained green roof system, recently donated an additional 108 units of its product to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) October 7, 2005 — Green Roof Blocks™, makers of a portable self-contained green roof system, recently donated an additional 108 units of its product to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The addition to the green roof experiment was installed on the SIUE Engineering Building on September 20.
• Green Roof Blocks™ Expands Operations To Beijing. - by Todd Schowalter
  Posted on Thursday, April 29th, 2010 in roof - Comments: (0)
  Green Roof Blocks (TM), manufacturers of a patent pending self contained green roof system, has expanded its operations to Beijing, China. St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) October 7, 2005 — Green Roof Blocks (TM), manufacturers of a patent pending self contained green roof system, has expanded its operations to Beijing, China. Kelly Luckett, president of Green Roof Blocks™ hopes that this is just the beginning of the company’s global expansion.

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