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Is Your Roof Vulnerable to Leaks?

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:48:10 +0000

Is Your Roof Vulnerable to Leaks?

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

When you hear of roof leaks, your first thought is probably directed to the roof covering, such as the asphalt shingles. You may be surprised to hear that approximately 60 percent of all leaks occur at joints, valleys or projections through the roof.

Typical leak locations are at chimneys, plumbing vents, roof valleys, dormers, joints where a roof meets a wall, skylights, and parapet walls. In short, any time you have a roof penetration or projection, you have a more vulnerable area.

Of the remaining 40 percent of roofing problems, approximately 25 percent of roofing failures are due to worn, deteriorated roofing materials. The remaining 15 percent is due to improper roofing material applications, poor workmanship and miscellaneous items.

The remedy for most problem areas is properly installed flashings. Step flashings are typically aluminum “L-shaped\’\’ pieces used to divert water away from the projection or roof penetration. Proper flashings and workmanship should develop a condition where the flashings will be dependable for the life of the roof covering and beyond.

In most instances, proper flashings are made up of step and counter-step flashings. The first piece on a step flashing is the “L-shaped\’\’ piece mentioned above. The average size is 7\” long and 5\” wide. It is bent into the 7\” length, with 3\” and 2\” on each side. This step flashing is placed with the 3\” side against the roof shingles and the 2\” side placed vertically against the wall or chimney, etc.

The second piece, known as a counter flashing, covers the vertical portion of the step flashing to keep water deflected away from the top of the step flashing. At a wall, the siding will act as an apppropriate counter flashing.

At a chimney, the counter flashing looks like an inverted “L\’\’ with the short 3/4\” portion being inserted into the brick or masonry joints after the mortar has been cut out.

Skylights should be installed on a curb to allow room for proper flashings and should never be installed level at the roof surface. The height of the curb is dictated by the slope of the roof (i.e., roofs with a slope of 4/12 to 6/12 should have a curb of at least 4\”). Skylights on flat or nearly flat roofs should have a curb of 8\” or more depending on possible snow accumulation.

Roofs that do not allow water to drain successfully are prone to problems at seams and premature deterioration. Ponding is generally not considered acceptable if it does not evaporate within 48 hours after a rain.

Problem areas should be addressed as soon as possible due to the unavoidable interior damage that will typically occur (e.g., roof sheathing, drywall or plaster and wood-framing components).

Valleys are dependable if the proper materials are used and the workmanship is acceptable. Valleys are vulnerable because a large percentage of the water that hits the roof accumulates in the valleys. This creates a disproportionate amount of wear. It is not unusual for the valleys to wear out ahead of the shingles.

Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

My Best Pointers Relating to a Garden Fork Handle

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 05:43:07 +0000

Ultimately, any gardener starts considering purchasing garden accessories or maybe marveling at your mother-in-law’s Alan Titchmarsh garden spade – but it’s worth noting, only over much of human history have we come to a point where you can. Tribes grew gardens millennia before the invention of the garden fork or the trimmer. What we know as a well-loved hobby started to take shape prior to the beginning of recorded history. Early gardeners worked by a blending of spirituality, practical reasons, and pleasure. Customarily enclosed by stone walls, green spaces were seeded with grapes, fruit and nut bearing trees, flowers, vegetables, and occasionally pools for fish. A portion of the land was set aside, holy plant life planted and cultivated for use in the temples. Priests also grew certain plants in sites away from the gardens. They were hardly the only nation to create ancient gardens. These include the Assyrians, the Persians, to say nothing of the Babylonians, and they often incorporated architectural projects of noteworthy size into this landscaping. The Romans were another tribe who genuinely enjoyed tranquil gardens, but the Greeks were another matter. Food alone flourished in their plantations.

In that era, spades and hoes were the recent innovations that forks or rakes would become in times to come – and that’s before considering what they used for raw materials. They used iron, bronze, stone, copper – the eras of history naturally named after the raw materials seeing action. Everything was abruptly halted during the Middle Ages. Horticulture was no different, but fortunately, the churches kept everything that had been learned alive. Little by little we returned to the pastime of constructing gardens to enjoy. Rules began to evolve, a formal structure dictating the way the garden should eventually appear. Many awesome representations still stand – knot gardens and hedge mazes, which were inspired by sophisticated patterns and textures.

Rules like these aren’t still compulsory, and as such there’s ultimately no reason to be nervous – have fun, and don’t be embarrassed about investigating how to get rid of that vexatious garden fork deformity or parsing some informative garden spade reviews. “Capability” Brown and those like him took the guidelines – so fixed by then that they were metaphorically stagnant – and ignored those that interfered with their plans, mixing a realistic panorama with interesting statuary and other such accessories. Nowadays, gardens can look very different but nonetheless we grow plants as our forefathers did. Ultimately, they remain some of the most beautiful places on earth.

Please inspect this extensive resource for Alan Titchmarsh lawn rake information.

Assessing Your Asphalt Shingles

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:11:14 +0000

Assessing Your Asphalt Shingles

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

An asphalt shingle roof in good condition will keep your family protected from water penetration, while a roof in poor or failing condition can cause headaches and large bills due to damage and urgency. Asphalt shingled roofs are by far the most common

type of roof covering found in homes today. They first came on the scene in the early part of this century and quickly became the roof covering of choice.

The condition of asphalt composition shingles is dictated by the condition of the granules in the joints between the tabs or cutouts in the shingles. Consider the

following:

*If the granules are intact in the cutouts or joints between the tabs, the shingles are acceptable and should have years of remaining life.

*If the granules in the cutouts are worn and the asphalt matrix is visible, the shingles are marginal because of the obvious wear and limited remaining life expectancy, perhaps six months to two years.

*If the granules and matrix in the cutouts are worn through and you can see the shingles or sheathing below, the shingles are no longer acceptable.

Curling or cupping shingles may be an indication of wear, age, or condensation problems. However, it does not indicate failed shingles. Remaining life expectancy could be two to five years.

Even when shingles are in poor condition, roofs with multiple layers may not leak because of the layer of shingles below. These back-up layers can deflect water to the gutter system.

The life expectancy of asphalt shingles is determined by the following:

1) The slope of the roof. Shingles will last longer on higher sloped roofs because water sheds quickly and more completely.

2) The color of the roof. Lighter-color roofs last longer than darker roofs because they reflect the sun better.

3) Exposure to the sun. North-facing shingles last longer than south-facing shingles because the sun causes as much damage as rain and associated weather.

High-slope, light-color, east-west facing roofs can last 25 years or more. Low-slope, dark-color, south-facing roofs may fail within 15 years. Roofs in the north tend to last longer than roofs in the warmer, southern climates.

Careful attention should be given to flashings at all roof penetrations and valleys.

Proper flashings and valleys should control and divert water away from the roof and walls of the house. The majority of roofing problems come from these areas.

How asphalt shingles are made: Asphalt shingles are made of asphalt flux, a material which is refined from
petroleum in the distillation process. Asphalt flux is typically reinforced with glass fiber or cellulose fibers. Glass fiber reinforcement has evolved as the most desirable hoice.

The shingle matrix then receives a granular surface. Granules protect the shingle from the sun and the weather and increase the fire-resistance rating. Fiberglass-reinforced asphalt shingles typically have a fire rating. However, the primary materials in the shingles are cellulose and petroleum, which are flammable.

Shingles come in different shapes and configurations. The most widely used shingles

are self-sealing strip shingles. Asphalt shingles are normally installed on roof slopes of four inches per foot or more. On slopes of less than four inches per foot or where the January mean temperature is 30 degrees F or less, the requirements are for specific materials that are designed for low slopes. Asphalt composition shingles were not designed for slopes of 4/12 or less.

Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

Awesome Weekly Collection

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:20:57 +0000

The temperature in the summer months – and the sun we get in my neck of the woods – makes it a perfect time to plant a big garden, put the winter tools away, and enjoy the warmth.

I’m a sharing person. I like to share my favorite finds so I thought I’d do it in a more public arena today. Let me know what you consider of these:

Gardens

Do you know what rear-tine and front-tine cultivators are? Buy a rototiller with a few things in mind: force, size and soil type. Buying a rototiller online sounds silly, but it can save you money. The Rototiller Store has a broad variety of tillers at exceptional prices. It was nice to browse the rototiller store from the comfort of my house. It takes two seconds to stop by the site. You can totally see all the best prices and cultivators on the web in one place. They have the best deals around and great prices all in one spot.

Energizing

Skip to the next link in my roundup if you don’t want to be energized. Opportunity to diversify income but you have to try it for yourself. I needed the income and the extra energy that I found here. This isn’t the answer to all your problems but it’s close. I recommend emailing the ‘a’ team to get a taste for free. My friend seriously downed a can at Noon and was going full throttle until midnight – and he’s 70. A low cal energy drink without suguar…I can’t believe it. Join the efusjon team called ‘a’. They are working the efusjon program like made and it’s definitely not a scam. I can’t believe you’re still reading this. Go sign up already! It’s a good matrix plan and it will make you money in no tme. Sounds too good to be true? It isn’t too good – but it’s true. Can’t Wait!

Log Splitters

Time to clean and prep the log splitter for storage. Keep your log splitter out of the elements with a heavy duty tarp. Cleaning is good maintenance protocol. Visit the link I posted earlier for a good variety of low cost log splitters. Their log splitter buyer’s guide is fantastic. You will walk away from the site educated and informed more than you might want. Buying online is good for the cost and convenience.

Chew on it! Glad you read this far.

Easy Peazy Log Splitting

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:05:06 +0000

An effective electric log splitter is a vital piece of equipment used professionally by foresters and lumbermen, as well as the average handyman tackling a home project. Several different electric log splitters are manufactured. Some are better suited for on sight work, while others for indoor use. Be sure to select the electric log splitter that will work best for you.

A common single blade wood splitting axe works just fine for the individual who just needs to split some firewood. The simplest hydraulic wood splitter, the common axe, works when the log splitting ax blade cuts into the lumber forcing it to split along the grain. A 15-25 inch piece of firewood can usually be split with one or two strong axe blows. Any person who doesn’t mind some solid exercise will find the regular log splitting ax to be the ideal tool.

Hydraulic wood splitters are smart investments for those who need more than just a few stacks of fire wood now and then. Both horizontal and vertical log splitters are available to choose from. You’ll need to decide which is best for you. Other options available for hydraulic log splitters include choosing a gasoline or diesel powered engine. If you always have access to a power source or run on a generator while working, an electric electric log splitter will work well for you.

Although a powerful piece of equipment, log splitters basically work by using a piston to direct the log through a fixed blade.

A good brand of hydraulic log splitter is determined by ease of use and how quickly it can finish the job with the least amount of effort by the operator. The best features of a manual wood splitter are its ability to save time, money, and manual labor. Correct safety measures should be followed at all times when using a manual wood splitter. Accidents are avoidable when precautionary safety measures are understood and followed.

While in operation, others should remain clear of the manual wood splitter for safety reasons. Safety eye wear should be worn at all times by the operator. Loose clothing which could become caught in the machinery should be avoided.

For the builder or do-it-yourselfer who works with wood often, purchasing a hydraulic log splitter is a wise choice. A manual wood splitter, with its ease of use and efficiency, is the perfect tool for a variety of wood carving projects. log splitters can be purchased from the same places that carry logging equipment and machinery.

Garden Sheds Don’t Have to Be Too Pricey if You Buy On-line and Take Advantage of the Immense Selection

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:29:01 +0000

There are a great deal of sound reasons why you would want a shed and fortunately there are garden sheds to meet just about every last requirement. Cheap Garden Sheds may be bought just about everywhere but what you will notice is the price will vary hugely. You shouldn’t have to give up the shed you require because it is excessively expensive though. A garden shed is something you purchase once and utilize for a long time and when you have a look on the net you can obtain Cheap sheds at some pretty silly prices. I don’t mean silly and cheap as in quality but as in monetary value. You may find you can obtain the garden shed you want for the price of the one you were close to settle for a lot cheaper and if you possess a garden that you tend to each day you will almost likely require to look into a wooden garden shed as a space to place the fertilizer, water hose and tools and so forth.

Protecting your garden tools and having them easily obtainable is a very good idea. You can find sheds on the net that are the identical sheds you’d purchase in the shop. As A Matter Of Fact, you can even go to the store and shop even touch them to see if it is what you require then go on the net and buy it for a whole lot less. The difference in cost is significant!