Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Learn about Green Roof Systems


Are you the one with blessings of green thumb? In fact, traditional parks are out of fashion now. Instead, you can use your abilities in planting on your roof. Of course, an approach that was first exercised in Germany is now developing in US that look for improving ecological issues such as greenhouse heating in city areas and hurricane water overflow. Undoubtedly, this is what green roof system do and even more.
What is the system of Green Roof?


The term green roof also denoted as eco roof, this is because its name suggests the meaning and that is raising plants on the roofs of houses. In the broader sense, it is related to changing traditional roofing material by an alive system of plants, fertilizer, and soil that is less in weight. Its aesthetic value is not the only thing it gives but also it forms a green layer at the top of your house and makes your living environment much better. In addition, the ecological advantages that happen in the vicinity, as studies have shown that green roofs decrease the expanse of maintaining roofs and also the energy by offering insulation to houses or buildings that covers them from high temperatures.


This technology is not fresh at all. Following many decades of placing it in to use, the Germans, who always feel that they are restricted for space, now they have modified this thought into a fine art. It is estimated that almost 10 percent of Germans have houses that have green roofs. Actually, nearly 350 million square feet in area of green roofs were placed in Germany between 1989 to 1999 and this fashion is still increasing.


What are the Utilizations and Benefits of Green Roof Systems?
In those areas where there is a blend of storm water and gutter systems due to heavy rainfall or storms, this happens when wastewater system gets overload and originating flood. As a result, raw sewage enters into the watercourses. It is seen that green roofs resist against the speed of storm water flow and decrease the whole speed of flow from the roof. Indeed, these roofs are capable of keeping almost 75 percent of the rainwater that is then discharge back slowly into the atmosphere by the processes of transpiration and condensation, whereas they hold back the toxins within the soil.


One more way of using green roofing systems is compacting with the high temperature island effect in city areas. Traditional houses soak up the radiation coming from the sun, re-emanating it has warmth that increases the temperature in urban areas to about 4 degrees Celsius, or 7 degrees Fahrenheit, more hot than the nearby areas around them. Nevertheless, the levels of heat on green roofs on warm days are almost 14 to 44 degrees Celsius, or 25 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, much cooler than the traditional roofs in the neighborhood.

Additionally, green roofs make insulation in the roofs better from the installation place. The studies of environmentalists have shown that by using these roofs will result in the reduction of cooling needs by nearly 26 percent, and decreases the heat losses of winter season by almost 26 percent too. Furthermore, placing a green roof supports in increasing the lifetime of a roof as well by 2 to 3 times.
Finally, green roofs support in offering an environment for animals, plants, and other small creatures that typically do not have any place to live in the city areas. Therefore, it is proved that green roofs, at the top of 20 stories building still attract bees, birds and butterflies. They are also useful as sanctuaries for wandering birds, songbirds and many more that will be happy to find a place to live with natural environment.


To get Roofing Quotes head to Service Central.

Maintenance of Flat Home Roof


One of the most common types of roof is the Flat type. It’s important to know how to maintain it and its necessary to have a regular inspection so that there is no leaks present. To safeguard the roof from any damage you need to keep an eye for the appearance of cracks or leaks. Flat roofs are an exclusive type as they prevent the run-off of rain and snow. This is how they differ from a normal roof. The snow settles on an ordinary pitched roof, but the extent to which this happens on a flat roof is higher. It's important to note that all roof types have their own characteristics. The level of home roof maintenance depends on the particular type of roof you may have selected.

Let us consider that there has been six inches of snowfall. Due to bad weather a flat roof tends to weaken quicker than a normal one. This is true when you have not considered the materials to create your roof. For example, let’s assume that terracotta tiles have been used in the making of a standard pitched roof and roofing felt has been used for a flat roof. In such a case, maintenance through regular inspection becomes indispensable for a flat roof as felt wears off quicker than tile.

Maintenance is actually very simple, and mostly needs a quick eye. Inspection is mandatory several times a year, to ensure that there are no cracks. In the absence of proper care, these cracks may cause leaks, leading to a lot of problems inside the house. Hence, it is vital to have regular inspection, to save yourself from spending money.

You could also have a view through an upstairs window that could help in keeping a constant check on any cracks or leakages. Another helpful tip would be to climb a ladder and get a closer look to inspect it for any damage. All of us want our homes be a secure place and Home Roof Maintenance is just one the many steps that we can take to ensure the safety of our loved ones. The above can be achieved with regular examination of the roof and this will also safeguard and increase its life.

Proper maintenance helps in increasing the value. This is a plus point when you plan to sell your house. You can be assured that you’ll get something extra with regular care. Continual care and maintenance ensures that the roof lasts longer.

Cover Your Home with Corrugated Roofing


As an option, corrugated roofing is a resilient and handy thing for your house and is in more fashion today among your selection of conventional iron. In addition, a range of corrugated roofing like fiberglass and polycarbonate are available in the market as well. The primary advantage of corrugated roofing is not as much of maintenance, according to retailer of roofing Ian Earl. Moreover, corrugated roofing usually remains for years if stimulated to avoid rust and so creating it an intelligent deal.

If we see corrugated roofing as a building material, it is quite lightweight and good for home structure, as it will not put a lot of burden over the house’s structure. Additionally, it is non-flammable and has the potential to survive in extreme weather situation like rains, hard winds, heat, and snow. Are there any disadvantages of corrugated roofing of iron? Actually there are no disadvantages. Until, insulation blankets are present in the roof the house will remain fine as this kills the sound of rain and avoid heat from getting in and cool air coming out, and other things in the winter months.

Corrugated roofing is usable on any kind of house. He discloses that a boost in the popularity of it has come for residential usage. Actually, it has taken over the marketplace in a very short time, according to him. In the same way iron roofing and fiberglass corrugated roofing is available as an option, however, this is typically usable in commercial buildings to have more natural light effect so that it will lower the electricity prizes.
For home use, generally people prefer polycarbonate corrugated roofing. As an example, some people may need more light in their bathroom, then in place of usual skylight, they may place polycarbonate panes over the roof to allow light into the room. Polycarbonate layers may not last for long time as compared to iron layering; it requires swapping after every ten years.

Placing corrugated roofing can be a fancy job for some skillful daring house people. Nevertheless, the work is preferable in the hands of a professional. People should not try to do this by themselves. This is because, you can have the height problem, protecting the sheets properly, and many skillful men may have to use a grinder to cut the layering that you should not attempt. Instead, you can use a handsaw or else an Excalibur cutter instrument. In order to have corrugated roof on your house’s structure, search for a local roofing expert. 

About Several Types of Paints


Paint is a multifaceted subject, but general people may think it as easy. There are several types of paints and all of them have their own use and niche. Mixing up the types may take up one’s time and lead to having to redo the whole exercise of painting again. In terms of different types of paints, they are classified according to the following: durability and toughness; maintenance costs and health and convenience. An individual’s taste and preference will dictate which paint to choose.

There are oil-based and water-based paints. Oil-based paints offer more shine than water-based paints. An oil-based paint is generally more durable than a water-based paint. Water-based paints offer both glossy and matt finishes. The advantage of water-based paints is that they are easy to clean or maintain, as they use water. Oil-based paints normally need a paint thinner as part of maintenance costs. It depends on the individual as to what he finds convenient.

A water-based paint generally smells less and dries fast. For health reasons, it is better than an oil-based paint, at least before they dry. An oil-based paint is normally more durable, but it takes longer to dry and it smells toxic. Depending on the type of the oil-based paint, maintenance may become a breeze. For instance, some glossy paints are very easy to clean once dry. All it takes is a wipe with water with soap and the dirt is gone. Matt and semi-matt finishes tend to present cleaning difficulties. Both water-based and oil-based paints are available in glossy, matt and semi-matt finishes.

In general, oil-based paints are best in the long run, once the initial challenges are overcome. For example, the use of paint thinners is part of maintenance during painting itself. Once the initial phase passes, maintenance may become a matter of warm water with soap. And oil-based paints are more durable. On the other hand it could be a strategy to paint regularly, as painting has a renewing feel on the whole house. In this case, water-based paints are ideal since they are not as smelly, toxic or as expensive. The painting process is easy to manage since the mess is cleaned with only water and soap.

Paints can be classified in terms of a coloured paint versus a white paint. The white paint is then coloured by use of paint dyes to turn it into the desired colour. The advantage of using dyes is that every colour and shade of colour is available. Increasingly, many shops prefer the latter strategy, as it is very convenient for both dealer and client. Computers with sophisticated software can calculate exactly how much paint and how much dye of which colour to add. This is good when the client wants to recoat the walls later.

To hire a Painter to help you choose the best paints head to Service Central.

Taking the Decision about the Appropriate Paint Type


Choosing the suitable paint for your office or home is just not merely about deciding upon the color, and to get painters who are skilled in painting is another important task. Determining the most appropriate paint would be depending upon:

A)    The kind of surface (wallpaper, plasterboard, wood, tile, plastic, brick, metal, aluminium, concrete, and so on)
B)    The surface’s condition
C)    The surface’s age
D)   The sort of paint that was used formerly
E)     Location (exterior, interior, high traffic, and so on)

The basics of paint

Paint is composed of pigments, binders, and additive that are held together via oil or other water-based solvents. The ratio of pigments and binders in the paint would be determining the glossiness the end product would be having. The glossier the product would be, the more durable it generally would be. The purpose of the inclusion of the additives is that it would be enhancing the paint’s performance, including mildew resistance, UV protection, splatter resistance, easy cleaning, etc. The paint ingredients’ quality determines the durability and longevity of the paint when applied. Typically, cheaper paints consist of higher solvents percentage compared to expensive ones.

Oil vs. water-based paints

Generally, paint has 2 categories:

A)    Water based latex paints
B)    Solvent based paints, also known as alkyds or oil-based

Both of the paints are usable on almost all the surfaces, each having its own pros and cons. Latex paints are most popular for several reasons. Generally, it is cheaper and can be applied in both exterior and interior surfaces. Other features of this paint are:

A)    Fast drying time, generally from 1 to 6 hours
B)    Easy to clean with water
C)    Negligible odor
D)   Superior performance
E)     Mildew resistant
F)     Superb color and shine retention

Alkyd or oil-based paints are popular still with the proficient painters for several reasons. High quality oil based paints contains exceptional adhesion features, meaning that they have well grip on the surface where it is applied and offer terrific durability. Oil-based paints have the characteristics of being resistant to stain, and since it becomes thicker, it dries out with little brushstrokes, giving the surface an awesome appearance. Oil based paints are most commonly used in interior surfaces on wood trim, cabinetry, and doors.

The drawbacks of the alkyd or oil based paints are slow drying time, strong odor,
Difficult to clean up and extra equipment required for cleanup.

Primers

Primers help increasing the durability and quality of the paint job. It seals and produces an even surface for the application of the paint. Choosing the appropriate primers is necessary for the condition of the surface, the material type, as well as for the environment. Both exteriors and interiors primers can be found.

Finishes

Finish of paint, also known as sheen or gloss, can have major impact on both the look and service ability. In general, the glossier, the smoother is the surface, and it is more resistant to washing as well as wear & tear affects. When deciding upon the finish, think about the durability and the choice of the color, since the paint’s gloss can change the color’s look. Lighting is extremely important as well due to the quality of reflection in glossier paints. There are 4 basic finishes:


A)    Matter or flat finish paints contain the least gloss amount. They aid in hiding the imperfections in painted surfaces and are mostly used on ceilings and walls. This paint type is not right for the areas of high traffic as it is difficult to clean.
B)    Eggshell or satin finish paints have slight gloss or sheen. These finishes are mostly used on trims or walls, since it has the ability to resist dirt and can be easily cleaned. Moreover, satin finish is preferable for the exteriors as it has the ability to shed water more readily and resists the sun’s affects.
C)    Semi-gloss finish paints are prefers for bathrooms, kitchens, and children’s rooms. It is highly durable and perfect for the areas of high traffic that requires often cleaning.
D)   High gloss finish paints are mostly used for highlighting the architectural features. It is also used on windows, doors, and trims, and has high reflective attribute that would turn up even little imperfections.

The common conventions of painting house are:
A)    Matter for ceilings
B)    Low gloss for walls
C)    Gloss from trims
D)   Low – high gloss for wet areas.