Making Your Roof Eco-Friendly When You Restore It

The right roof can make a big difference to the look and style of a home, and whether it's flat or pointed, tiled or thatched, it's essential to keep it well maintained. One of the reasons for this is because most of the heat in your home escapes from the roof and the windows, and by having a decent roof you can avoid losing this precious heat and therefore keep your house warmer with smaller fuel bills. Here are a few ways that you can make your roof more eco-friendly, and reduce your carbon footprint while you save some cash.

Insulation

One of the most important aspects of roofing is proper insulation, and when you are having your roof restored this is the ideal time to think about it. It's often easiest to leave it to the professionals, although if you have easy access to your loft then it can be a DIY project.

Materials that can be used include:

• Mineral wool insulation – This is simply laid between the joists, and then a cross layer is added for depth. It can then be covered with plasterboard for a more attractive finish.
• Rigid insulation boards – These are cut to the exact size by professionals and then fitted between the rafters.
• Blown insulation – This loose insulation material is 'blown' into hard to reach areas and is a quick job for professional roofers.
• Loose fill insulation – This is sold in bags and used for areas where matting would be tricky.

Therefore there are plenty of ways to insulate all kinds of lofts and roofs simply and cheaply, allowing you to enjoy savings on your bills.

Repair or replace?

You may have your heart set on a whole new roof, but it's not always necessary to undertake such a big job, and it can be more eco-friendly to simply repair what you already have, therefore cutting down on the materials used.

The best thing to do is consult with a reputable, local trader who is recommended by friends and other customers. If you are looking for Melbourne roof repairs then make sure that the company has many years experience and has worked with roofs just like yours, as this will allow them to make better judgements. Because areas have different weather conditions and therefore different roofing needs, this is one time when a local tradesman will come in handy for a more personal level of service.

Materials

Another thing to consider when choosing an eco-friendly roof is the materials that are used. Things you might want to consider include:

Shingles – These tiles are popular for pitched roofs and look traditional and stylish when they are installed. Because there are many different materials used to make shingles you can choose a shingle that has been made in an environmentally sound way and out of sustainable materials. Some people also choose the material based on their country's weather patterns, and shingles with clay for example can help keep a home cool.

You could also consider using recycled shingles, and many roofers will have plenty of re-useable shingles from old jobs that they can put down for you.

Joists – Older joists may need replacing completely, and this can mean using large amounts of wood. It's a good idea to ask your roofer what kind of wood they plan to use, as well as whether they know the source of it. You can then look at better alternatives such as sustainably grown wood, where trees are replaced at the same rate as they are cut down, reducing your impact on the environment.

Having major work to your roof doesn't mean that you need to go for traditional, environmentally unfriendly building methods. There are lots of ways to cut down on materials, as well as choosing them more wisely, and this can immediately bring down the carbon footprint of your build. One reason why roof restorations can be eco-friendly is that they can cut down on your fuel consumption and therefore your bills, so they may even pay for themselves in the long term. This means you can enjoy a new roof and feel proud that you have kept your carbon footprint under control. 

5 Simple Steps to Help You Find an Apartment on Rent in Bangalore

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Bangalore is a place to be at the current time. Being a first timer in the city, you may feel the need to find a home on rent in Bangalore so that you can settle down faster. Bangalore has a plethora of options for you and it doesn’t matter whether you are a student or a professional who is all set to start a career here; the city has a lot of rent options for you. The only thing that is required is to have a strategy in hand for nailing the best of deal.

The reason behind having a good strategy in hand is because Bangalore is a huge city and it has good number residential localities. You may go lost and haywire while seeking to have a rent based accommodation.  The strategy may not be a deal breaker but it can definitely help you get close to excellent housing options.

1.   The Websites

It will be dumb to underestimate the power of Internet. The online space has a number of websites that one can go for. There are property websites that are solely dedicated to help people in buying a home as per their choice and budget or getting accommodation on rent. You just need to search for known realty sites in your nationality, which can help you finding a home in the new city. However, it’s not a task of just one day; you need to be persistent in searching for the home and remain updated about the new property listings in the site.

2.   Word Of Mouth Is Helpful

Sometimes live interaction turns out to be a powerful weapon than Internet and websites. In addition to spending time on the web, it will be advisable if you tell your friends, acquaintances or colleagues. Who knows that you may get the chance to get into a rented accommodation before it is up on the web. You can even use the power of social media and tell your acquaintances and friends over Facebook etc. to tell them what you exactly want.

3.   The Brokers 

It is good to approach the real estate brokers as these people have been into the business for long. They know the people and understand the property market better. So, if you haven’t approached one then it’s the right time to approach them. You can contact the real estate agents and explain them your requirements so that they can provide you good options in hand.

4.   The For-Sale Listings

This is another traditional method that doesn’t guarantee success but can definitely place you in a better position. If you are tired of surfing the net or done with the extra costs that you have to bear while accessing homes through realty agents then this can be a good option for you. Bangalore is a very big and celebrated place and you can find a lot of For-Sale options for yourself.

5.   Asking the Local Dwellers

This is one of the most popular methods of approaching the right accommodation; locals or the shopkeepers for instance in your preferred area can tell you about the available options on rent. Even the landlords sometimes ask the shop keepers or the local business owners to broadcast the availability to new people who visit them.

Get the Right Way!

Finding the right housing option for you can be challenging in a big city like Bangalore. However, following the right strategy can place you and your demands in the right hand and at the right time.

Author Bio

Vineeta is a keen follower of global real estate market and constant fluctuations that the domain experiences. Currently, she is professionally associated with popular realty portal, 99acres.com.

A Short Guide to UK Wasp Species

The summer is a great time of year isn’t it;the gorgeous sun beating down on us while we enjoy a spot of relaxation in the garden.There’s only one thing that could ruin our summer. Yep you guessed it; the low and sinister ‘bzzzz’ and the familiar black and yellow stripes. We all know the fear when a wasp comes even within a metre of us and just doesn’t seem to go away, so imagine finding a whole colony of the things in your shed or tree.

Whether you’re in London or Peterborough, you’re bound to come across at least one wasp this summer and if you do happen to find a nest, it’s time to call the ghost busters of the insect world; pest control. Before we get into what pest control can do for you, let’s identify a few of the UK wasp species you’re likely to see this year.

 

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Ruby-tailed Wasp

This rather pretty wasp is found across the UK and is most commonly seen during April right through to September. Usually, this long, thin wasp can reach up to 12mm in length.

Typically speaking, the head and thorax are a blue-ish green while the abdomen is scarlet. This type of wasp chooses to lay its eggs in the nests of fellow wasp or bee species and when the eggs finally hatch, the larvae will consume the other wasp or bee larvae. Sometimes they are nicknamed cuckoo wasps for their odd breeding habits. Although this species has a sting, it is not venomous.

Wood Wasp

Another wasp that is quite common in the UK is the wood wasp, also known as a horntail. The long thin tube located at the back of the female’s body is frequently mistaken for a stinging organ when in fact it is an ovipositor, a tube used to help the female lay her eggs in tree trunks, usually coniferous trees. Despite their rather frightening appearance, these insects are actually fairly harmless.

Common Wasp

The common wasp is easily identifiable with a black and yellow body and is usually around 2cm in length. Normally sighted in April through to late October, the common wasp can be found nesting in homes and is attracted to sweet and sugary foods. This species typically has a hierarchy which consists of:

The Queen – This is the wasp that lays all of the eggs

Larvae – The baby wasps that hatch from the queen’s eggs

Workers –These wasps bring back food for the larvae (this can include flies, caterpillars and other insects)

Drones – The main purpose of these wasps is to mate with the queen wasp

Usually established underground or in attics, the common wasp nest is made from a paper like material, much like the hornets. At the end of the summer, the queen wasp stops laying eggs and will usually die and the newly developed queens will mate and fly away to find a suitable spot for hibernation during the winter. Each survivor will begin a new colony. Also, by the end of the summer, the remaining wasps will have no food so they must hunt for new alternatives (this usually includes nectar and fruit).

Hornet

Reaching sizes of up to 35mm, hornets are the biggest wasps found in the UK, are usually seen between May and Novemberand can often be found buzzing around gardens and woodland areas.

You can tell hornets apart from common wasps, from not only their size, but also their colour; where wasps are yellow and black, hornets tend to have yellow and brown stripes. Their behaviour is also different from the common wasp as they can be found buzzing around lit windows and security lights.

During the spring time,hornets will establish a papery nest in order to keep the queen and the developing larvae safe. The nest is often created inside buildings, roof spaces like attics and even hollow trees. They create the nest by scraping materials from the building or tree and blending it with their own saliva in order to create a pulp. This pulp is then shaped by the hornet’s jaws in order to establish the nest’s walls.

These are just a few of the types of wasps you’re likely to see this summer.

If you suspect you have a nest hiding away in your attic, home or garden it is highly recommended you contact a pest control specialist in order to deal with the problem. Not only can these services help to eliminate the nest, they will also provide adequate advice on how to prevent this problem recurring in the future. During the elimination process, most pest control companies will stick to using safe and tested methods to get rid of the nest, to ensure that yours and your family’s health isn’t compromised during this process. These companies are both affordable and worthwhile for sustaining a healthy home, making them a must if you suspect you have a pest problem.