Innovative Roofing Material Options for Your Home

Not all roofs are created equal, especially when it comes to sustainability.

A decade or so ago, asphalt shingles were the most popular roofing material, but recent innovations in roofing technology lead to the development of more eco-friendly roofing choices.

If you’re planning to replace your old roof, you’d be surprised at the range of newer options available. The roofing market has plenty of innovative offerings that will make you want to consider lesser-known but more sustainable alternatives to conventional roofing materials.

Aside from being eco-friendlier, most of these innovative roofing materials can outlast asphalt shingles and may even help lower your monthly energy consumption.

Here’s a list of available eco-friendly roofing options to choose from:

Metal Roofing: Where Style Meets Durability

Metal roofs are becoming more popular because they tend to last for a very long time. With proper care and maintenance, you won’t have to change your roof for at least 50 years.

One of the best things about this roofing option is that you can recycle them when it’s time to have them replaced. And then, you can further help the environment by buying a new roof made from recycled metal!

Metal roofs also reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it, which helps cool your home on the hotter months of the year. They are advantageous for homes in snowy areas too, as they help regulate the temperature during the winter season and prevent ice-dam formation because of their slippery surface.

Those who are aiming for a more polished look should go for a standing seam metal roof. 

Solar Shingles is The Future of Sustainable Roofing

Solar shingles serve a dual purpose – that of roofing material and solar panels. Earlier versions of solar shingles used thin solar films, but the latest ones are made from tempered glass or other similarly rigid materials.

The tougher make up of these newer types of solar shingles allow them to perform almost the same as conventional roofing materials. They are also easier to install, often without the need for specialized crew or equipment.

Obviously, the greatest advantage of using solar shingles is that your roof generates electricity during daytime, which helps cut household energy consumption costs. Solar shingles may require a bigger financial investment than other types of roofing materials, but it starts paying for itself as soon as it is installed.

Going Green with Green Roofs

A recent roofing innovation, green roofs, uses a waterproof membrane or layer to absorb water and allow planting of foliage or creating a garden on top of a home or building. Green roofs are not only unique and aesthetically pleasing; they are also very efficient insulators. They keep your place cool in the summer and warm in winter.

Aesthetically, green roofs add a unique appeal to your property and create a tranquil space for relaxation that also benefits the environment.

Roofs Made from Recycled Rubber

You may not have expected to find rubber in this list of eco-friendly roofing, but here it is.

Reinforced rubber shingles are made from recycled rubber – typically steel-belted tires, reducing rubber waste. They are coated with ground slate to improve their texture.

Because rubber is flexible and easy to work with, these shingles come in different styles and colors. They can mimic the look of traditional roofing materials such as wood, slate, and tiles.

Rubber roofs are also very durable. They can stand extreme weather conditions and can last up to 50 years.

White Roof – The Cool Roof

The color of your roof also affects its sustainability. Those who are living in the hotter areas of the country should consider a white-colored roof. White roofs are called cool roofs because they reflect most of the sun's rays, resulting in a cooling effect on the home.

Cool roofs help regulate the temperature, especially during the summer months, so you don't have to use or turn up the air conditioner as much as you used to. This contributes to a significant reduction in energy bills.

Roofing with Eco-friendly Materials

Homeowners who wish to improve their home’s sustainability will find themselves with plenty of options for eco-friendly roofing.

If you think one of these innovative options is right for you, make sure to consult and hire professionals with roofing contractors insurance and experience in installing the roofing material of your choice.

Working with a reliable like Mighty Dog Roofing West Nashville lessens the risk for mistakes and ensures that you get your money’s worth.

Guest Contributor: Rachel Porter

Preventative Maintenance And Why It's Important

Most of us like to enjoy our time at home putting our feet up and relaxing, letting the day or weeks stress melt away as we take some hard-earned time off. What we do not want to have to do is deal with faulty appliances and services that only serve to add more stress to the brief moments of brief calmness in our lives. The best way to avoid unexpected catastrophes at home is to perform preventative maintenance, this can be done yourself if you know what you are doing, or alternatively, you can hire a professional to do it for you for a small fee.

What is preventative maintenance?

Preventative maintenance is, shockingly, exactly what the name implies. It is the practice of inspecting your home to find anything that could cause potential issues in the future and taking care of them before disaster strikes. This can mean anything from a crack in a wall that would eventually grow, or a dripping pipe that could one day become a leak capable of flooding the surrounding area. A little bit of work every weekend can help to prevent serious problems around your home that can be both damaging to your property and mental health, but also expensive to fix.

Studies have even proven that dealing with minor and easily fixed issues immediately can save you roughly ten percent on your monthly bills. These savings should really be more than enough to justify a short house check or a quick service call from your plumber.

Now, as we mentioned above, you can perform these household checks yourself, but be sure to do your research first or you may be in danger of missing important checks that result in expensive mistakes. Overall, we find that simply calling your plumber and having them take care of it is the easier route as they will not only catch things you may miss, but they may even be able to fix small issues right then and there, not giving them a chance to get worse.

The different services that require maintenance

Now that we have gone over what preventative maintenance is and why it is important, let’s next look at the different services that require it. Some are obvious, for example, the plumbing inside your home, but there are also others that many of us would not readily think about. Below are the most important services that require preventative maintenance, and what kind of work needs to be done on them.

Mechanical Plumbing:

Mechanical plumbing is plumbing that services the mechanical parts of appliances like air conditioning units, heaters, and ventilation systems in general, and in large buildings, mechanical plumbers may also service things like elevators and escalators. Basically, mechanical plumbing covers anything from interpreting plans and blueprints, designing plumbing systems, and installing, repairing, and maintaining a vast array of appliances ranging from space heaters and waste stacks to heating ducts, ventilation systems, and hot and cold water systems. In addition to these general services, mechanical plumbers are also responsible for installing and maintaining essential services like sprinkler systems. In short, they do an awful lot so you may be beginning to see why it may best to hire a professional to check your home rather than doing it yourself.

A final note regarding mechanical plumbers that is worth mentioning is that they will be aware of any local regulations that your town or city has in place, these are things that many homeowners will not know and so are very easy to miss when doing a DIY inspection.

Electrical:

Electrical services cover any of the internal wires in your home as well as electrical components of your other services. A thorough electrical inspection will look out for any potential electrical hazards, any exposed, damaged, or outdated wiring and will also cover the testing of any power points, lighting, and fuse boxes. Electrical inspections will also ensure that things like smoke and CO2 detectors are in working order while also ensuring, similarly to plumbing, that your home complies with the local regulations set by your town, city, or government.

If you plan to perform an electrical inspection yourself it is extremely important that you do your research regarding both what you need to check and how to do so. Failing to notice something like an exposed or damaged wire can lead to the loss of your property, your belongings, and your life. In addition, ensuring that you know exactly what to do is critical because when dealing with electricity a small mistake can be harmful to your health and potentially even fatal.

Electrical inspections are something that we highly recommend getting a professional to do simply due to the amount of damage that can occur if one is done incorrectly.

Heating:

On a less dangerous note next up are heaters, an average water heater should last roughly a decade, depending on a few factors such as how well taken care of it is, how much it is used, and even the quality of water running through it. For example, a house in a cold area will need heating more, meaning it will wear out faster, and poor-quality water in your area can cause internal issues that are important to take care of with regular maintenance. If you are performing your own inspection you need to look at the factors surrounding your water heater. Is it near carpet or hardwood floors or drywall that would be vulnerable to damage if a leak were to occur? Even if your heater is outside of your house, for example in your garage, how close is it to the walls, and could water make it through to damage your house. It is common practice for heaters to be located out of the way since they are often loud and not exactly easy on the eyes, however, this, unfortunately, means that they are in places that could be devastated should an issue occur. If you find that your heater is placed in such an area, it is a good idea to have it replaced or relocated as soon as possible to avoid any potential damage.

Finally, another thing to look out for when checking your heater is its size. If you recently bought your home, you may find that your water heater is significantly undersized for things like your bathtub or even just general use by your family. This can happen due to a few reasons, for example, perhaps the previous owners’ children moved out and they no longer needed such a large heater, in order to save money, they had it replaced with a smaller one. An undersized water heater will simply not fit your needs and you will end up with either a cold house or frequently cold water due to the heater being unable to handle the load that is being asked of it, so you may find it necessary to replace it with a larger one more capable of suiting your needs.

General Appliance Maintenance

Most of the following advice will relate to your main bathrooms and kitchen as they are often the only places with things like sinks, tubs, and toilets, however, even if you have guest bathrooms that are rarely used it is equally important to also check them.

Toilets:

Toilets are full of working parts and unfortunately, all of those parts are prone to wearing down and causing issues. Luckily, toilets are also one of the easiest appliances to fix should you want to give it a try yourself and there are a few easy tests you can do to check if you have problems.

Firstly, you can remove the tank lid on your toilet and flush it, if it doesn’t stop running once the flush cycle is finished then you have a problem and are wasting water.

Second, you can remove the tank lid and drop a little food coloring into the water of the tank, leave it alone for about 10 minutes then come back to check on it. If you have any color in your toilet bowl then you have a leak.

Lastly, we have the most obvious test, sit on your toilet and check the floor around it, if your toilet is rocking or if you see water around the base, the seal on your toilet base has potentially worn out and needs to be replaced.

Drains:

Whether they be in your shower, your sink, your bathroom, or your kitchen, drains are prone to get clogged by things like hair and soap. To avoid these clogs becoming a serious blockage, we advise that you occasionally clear out drain traps and clear any debris using a plumbing snake.

Faucets:

These are, again, everywhere and should be checked regularly for leaks, worn washers, and worn cartridges. While it is sometimes obvious that you have a leak, something to look out for is a sudden drop in water pressure. If you feel like your water pressure has gotten worse then you may have a leak somewhere in your house causing damage as well as ruining your showering experience.

Faucets are also frequently the victim of calcium build-up around the aerators, causing erratic spray patterns. To remedy this, you simply need to remove the aerator and clean it by soaking it in vinegar.

Caulk seals:

Caulk is essentially the glue around your appliances that stops water from getting in your walls and under your floors. It’s common for caulk to wear out so be sure to regularly check all of your caulk seals carefully to avoid what can be devastating damage. This is something you can do yourself and it’s a good idea to keep some fresh caulk in the house for when you need it.

Finally, even if your caulk looks fine, it is worth going through your house every few years completely removing any old caulk and re-applying a fresh seal.

Guest Contributor: Phil M. Osborne

7 Essential Tools for Your Garage Workshop

You would never imagine how much DIY home improvement you can do with a well-equipped garage workshop. Before this is possible though, you need to know the most essential tools for a garage workshop and make sure you have them ready.

There are a number of things you can repair and build from scratch when you have the right tools at home. These tools do not necessarily have to be the most expensive in the market. Keeping essential tools such as the ones below will take you a long way already.

1. Table Saw

While you can always just go for the traditional hand saw, since it could also do the cutting efficiently with patience, upgrading to an electrical or a power saw will make building DIY projects more convenient.

A table saw is also a convenient option because it allows precise cutting at a faster speed. There are several good table saw options available for less than you think. 

2. Power Drill

A power drill is also a must-have when you have a garage workshop. While most power drills are corded, many brands now produce battery operated drills.

Power drills have a lot of uses and they vary in size, speed, and power. They can be used in different applications, from simple woodwork to metalwork. They simplify drilling as well as hammering screws into their places. 

3. Hammer

There are different types of hammers such as a brick hammer, block hammer, and brass hammer. However, for a garage workshop, it is recommended that you have the claw hammer around. 

A claw hammer is mainly used for woodwork with one blunt side and fork on the other. It is used to pound and extract nails. A framing hammer may also be considered if you want to speed up the job. It has a bigger head therefore reducing the number of hits when you pound a nail to place.

4. Screwdriver

A screw driver should also be inside any garage. The tool is used to remove screws easily. There are many types of screwdrivers as there are different kinds of screws. Instead of buying one piece at a time, you can go for a set.

You can get a set for just $3, but quality brands like Craftsman or Stanley are worth more investing into.

5. Pliers

Pliers help in all twisting, bending and pulling with strong grip. Some types of pliers have a movable fulcrum allowing the user to adjust the jaws according to application. Others are fixed with flat gripping surfaces ideal for twisting and gripping cables. 

Another type of pliers is the bent nose, which is designed with long bent jaws, used for accessing hard to reach areas. There are also types of hammers ideal for plumbing repairs and basement renovations. 

6. Safety Gears

It is a must that you have safety gears in the garage workshop. It does not matter whether you are doing a small repair or building a cabinet from scratch. You have to be protected with a pair of gloves and safety glasses. 

You would never know when your eyes would catch a flying splinter of wood or whether your hands will handle all the stresses of powerful strikes. It is best to wear safety gears to avoid injuries.

7. Socket Wrench

Like screwdrivers, you can get a socket wrench set so you can take advantage of its different sizes. The most common type is the ratcheting socket wrench, which is more commonly known as a ratchet. socket wrenches are used to uninstall nuts and bolts quickly.

Conclusion

Getting the right essential tools for your workshop garage will take you a long way. You do not necessarily need power tools for simple DIY tasks at home, but still you can make bigger projects when you have basic pliers, a saw, a hammer, and all the other tools listed above.

Guest Contributor: Allen Michael

5 Surprising Reasons to Regularly Wash Your Windows

Windows play an integral role in not only the value of your home, but to how you interact with the world around you. Windows let in the sunlight, and allow you to look out at your surroundings. 

But dirty windows not only look unsightly, but they can actually cause lasting damage to your home and health. So while cleaning your windows does wonders for making your home look its sparkling best, regularly washed windows also come with the following surprising benefits.  

Clean Windows Improve Your Curb Appeal

If your windows are dirty, they’re one of the first things prospective home buyers will notice about your house. That’s not a good thing. If you’re concerned about maintaining your home’s value, “curb appeal”, or how your home looks to an outside observer, is a hugely important factor. 

Just as an unkempt lawn might lead people to undervalue your home, dirty windows similarly stop your home from showing its best version. But if your windows are cleaned with regularity, your home can look bright and welcoming to everyone stopping by.  

They Keep Your Home Warm

You might be wondering, how can clean windows help warm up your house? During cold months, though it might not feel like it, sunshine coming through your windows naturally heats up your home’s interior, lowering heating bills and bringing with it a natural warmth.

The dirt and grime from dirty windows can block out parts of your window, allowing less sunlight to enter, and thus robbing you of that natural heating. Keeping your windows cleans ensures that you get all the natural sunlight you can, which is great news for your thermostat and your wallet. 

Clean Windows Mean Clean Air

While you tend to assume that you need to open your windows to bring fresh air into your home, a clean window, while closed, can actually help improve your air quality. When dirt builds up on windows, and sills, they often work their way into your home, lowering your air quality.

Even worse, dirt build up  occasionally can bring in mold, which can cause a host of health problems. By cleaning your windows regularly, you keep these bad particles out, and keep clean air in. 

Regularly Washing Your Windows Increases Window Life

Repairing windows that have been worn down or damaged can be an unfortunate and wanted expense. Thankfully, you can keep your windows for longer by regularly washing them. 

Dirty windows build up grime and dirt that can penetrate the glass, which can stain and weaken your window and cause permanent damage. Even when you can’t visibly see debris on your window, consistently washing your windows clears the glass of microscopic imperfections that can lower the lifespan of your windows. 

By just washing your windows regularly, you can keep your windows shining for years! 

Guest Contributor: Jeff Good

5 Changes You Can Do to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly Today

It’s more important now than ever for people to do all that they can to save the environment. From years of carelessness, our environment is suffering irreversible damages; however, it’s not too late to stop these damages before they worsen. If every person made small efforts to save the environment, it’s likely that the ecosystem would see outstanding benefits, preserving the environment and the organisms that inhabit it. The best ways for people to make small efforts to save the environment can be done in the comfort of their own homes. Your home is one of the places that cause vast environmental damage without you even realizing it. This post will detail 5 ways to make your home an eco- friendly place so that you can do your part in saving the environment.

How Can I Make My Home More Eco-Friendly?

Making your home eco-friendly doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With minimal effort, you can make a large impact on the ecosystem. Here are 5 ways to make your home more environmentally savvy. 

• Utilize Solar Energy

Solar energy is an outstanding way to make your home more eco-friendly. The most popular form of solar energy is solar panels. Solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity that can be used to power your entire home. A specialist from a company that sells solar panels in Cherry Hill pointed out that solar panels can save homeowners thousands of dollars in electricity bills per year as solar panels are a sustainable energy source. 

Solar panels can be a bit costly, and though they are an investment worth making, if you can’t afford solar panels, you should consider investing in solar lighting fixtures. These lighting fixtures work the same way, storing sunlight and converting it into electricity in order to provide light to your home. 

• Install a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are an important energy-saving invention to incorporate into your home. Smart thermostats work the same way as regular thermostats, however, you will now have the option to adjust them from an app on your mobile device. Smart thermostats allow you to turn your heating and cooling systems down or off when you leave the house, then back on when you are on your way home. 

Smart thermostats will save you energy and money because they no longer need to be left on when you aren’t home. You can control the temperature of your home from remote locations, allowing you to still come home to a comfortable temperature without leaving your heating or cooling system on all day. 

• Use LED Lighting

Lighting fixtures use copious amounts of energy which is not only harmful to the environment, they can also end up costing you hundreds of dollars in electricity bills each month. To conserve energy when it comes to lighting fixtures, consider installing LED light bulbs. LED light bulbs use only a fraction of the electricity that standard light bulbs do and have a much longer lifespan. In addition to their minimal electricity use, LED bulbs will create less waste because of how infrequently they need to be replaced. And like smart thermostats and solar energy, LED bulbs will ultimately save you money; therefore benefiting both you and the environment. 

• Create a Compost Pile

Compost piles are a free and easy way to give back to the environment. Compost piles are created to be used as natural soil in gardens in order to help plants grow. To make a compost pile, instead of disposing of food and waste that is organic and natural, such as fruits and vegetables, put it in a pile outside and let it decompose. After it decomposes, you will be able to use it as soil to give your plants top-notch nutrients.

You will be providing the ecosystem with natural resources to help the organisms within it thrive. And the best part? Compost piles will not cost you a dime; consider creating one in a corner of your yard or in a garbage can on your deck. Be sure not to add processed foods or dairy products to your pile as these foods will ruin it and cause it to smell.

• Repurpose Old Furniture

Repurposing old furniture is a simple, easy, and fun way to make your home eco-friendly. Instead of buying new furniture, consider repurposing your old furniture. Repurposing furniture will allow you to have the exact piece of furniture you have been looking for and will allow you to reduce waste. Try making this environmentally savvy task a family affair; you can repaint, refinish, or repair pieces of furniture with your significant other and/or with your children.

If you don’t have any furniture around the house that you can repair, consider buying furniture from a second-hand shop, or buying used furniture from online and repurposing that. You will be doing your part to save the environment by reducing somebody else’s waste. 

Your Small Efforts Will Play A Part in Your Future

The small efforts you make at home now will have a huge impact on the future of the environment. It’s important for all humans to do their part to save the environment before it’s too late. By doing the small efforts such as the ones listed above, a bright future for the ecosystem is possible. Consider making these small changes to your home today, you won’t regret it, in fact, you will likely benefit too. Make some changes today. 

About the Author

Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer that works with All American Plumbing, a plumber in Sicklerville. Jennifer is also a blogger, dog-enthusiast and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey

Guest Contributor: Jennifer Bell

Things to consider while Purchasing a Notched Trowel

Things to consider while Purchasing a Notched Trowel

There are many types of trowels available in the market and people have to think about many things before purchasing a trowel. One of these trowels is notched trowels. Some of these things, which people have to consider have been described in this article. It is the best one that you can get for spreading adhesive and setting up any type of construction.

Usage of the notched trowel:

The main task of the notched trowels is to skim, mix, scoop, and spread the stucco on the surface. Besides this, trowels are also used for the installation of

membranes, backer boards, glass, and many more. A proper-notched trowel has to be purchased for the application of stucco on the surfaces. This is the reason why tile and flooring installers use the notched trowels for different sorts of applications.

Type of trowels

People need to think about the type of trowels, which they have to use in their house. Trowels are of many types and one of them is notched trowels. Besides this, margin trowel, flat trowel, bucket trowel, trowels having round or pointed corners, etc.

Measurement of the trowels

Notched Trowels are available in different shapes and sizes. They can be small, medium, or large, as they have to be used on wide areas as well as narrow corners. The corners of the trowels are also either round or pointed.

Size of the trowel for tile installation

The size of the notched trowel should be equal or almost equal to the size of the tiles, which are to be installed. Along with size, thickness and surface type should also be considered. The size has to be considered so that the tiles can be properly installed and they properly cover the surface on which they are being installed. There are many trowel manufacturers in India and you can get the best varieties from the online portals also.  

Proper use of the trowel

The trowel and the mortar should have a good chemical bond so that applying the mortar on the surface does not become a problem. The mortar should be applied in a straight line and if needed more mortar can be added.

The mortar will also be distributed evenly if it is applied in one direction only.

Buttering of the surface may also be needed but it depends on the surface or the walls on which the tiles are to be installed.

The number of trowels that you can choose:

The number of notched trowels that people have to use depends on the number of tiles and their sizes. It also depends on the preparation for the installation of the tiles.

Cleaning of the trowel

Cleaning the trowel is very easy has it can be with hose sprayer. A clean sponge and hot water can also be used after using the trowel. When mortar or adhesive has the property to become hard on the notched trowels. In such a case, an electric grinder is a good option to clean it. There is the carbon steel material that can work a long way in ensuring you get the best application techniques.

Replacement of the trowel

There are situations when the notched trowels have to be replaced and such a situation occurs when the corners become bent and worn out. If the tools are not cleaned properly, their life will be shortened. There will also be an improved adhesion possible if you have the right tools with you. The polished metallic finishes can go a long way in ensuring that you buy a better variety of items.

Wrapping Up

These are some of the things that people have to think before purchasing notched trowels. Shape and size must be checked and trowels should also be cleaned properly so that their life can be increased.

Guest Contributor: Emma Smith