You water bill is sure to spike in the coming months, as you turn on your sprinklers more frequently and spend more time in the shower getting off all the sand from trips to the beach! As home maintenance experts, we have a few tips for toilet upgrades that can help you save water. Relax, you don’t have to buy a brand new toilet to benefit from the latest and greatest water-saving technology. Read on to find out what you can do.
Several new product kits replace the inner workings of toilets with dual flush units. One flush setting removes liquids and paper (it uses less water and is used more often), while the other removes solids (if you get my drift!) and uses more water. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that replacing a pre-1995 toilet (which consumes a whopping 3.5 gallons per flush) with a 1.28-gpf toilet can save a family of four up to $2,000 on water bills over the course of the toilet’s lifespan. Although variables like the cost of water in your area and your household size are factors, the savings speak are there nonetheless. Fixing leaks (caused by a broken toilet flapper) can save up to around 200 gallons of water a day, according to estimations by the EPA.
Showing posts with label Roof Maintenance Tips New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roof Maintenance Tips New York. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tips for Maintaining Your Roof
Taking care of roofing may be the most important property maintenance job you do all year. A damaged roof will only get worse over time, and could end up costing big money if it's not taken care of. To prevent long-term and costly damage, follow these top five tips for roofing maintenance.
1. Inspect your roof regularly
If you can see your roof from the ground, it's sensible to take a good look at it from time to time, probably at least twice a year, so that you will notice when something starts to go wrong. Binoculars may be useful, as can taking a look from a neighbor's property. Look out for loose or missing tiles in particular, and see if the roof is suffering from wear and tear. Check that the chimney flashings are intact and that there are no missing sections to the guttering.
2. Look out for problem vegetation
Vegetation such as moss growing in the guttering can cause real property maintenance problems over time. You can probably see if there are pebbles or moss clogging up the roof itself or any sections of the guttering, if so, these need to be cleared away to stop them causing real problems. Moss, for example, may retain moisture and damage the roof covering in the winter months. A job like this is far easier to do during the summer months.
3. Act quickly
Where there is a clear problem, such as a leaking roof, it is important to act fast as roofing maintenance issues can spiral in magnitude and cost over time if not properly addressed. Have missing slates or shingles replaces before further damage, for example to plaster ceilings or roof timbers, occurs. Other warning signs to look out for include daylight penetration, debris on the ground from broken shingles or slates, and signs of mortar droppings in the gutters or gullies. If you use a fuel fire, smoke exiting through brickwork or at the base of chimney pots may also point to serious roofing maintenance needs.
4. Bring in the experts
Amateur roofing maintenance work can be dangerous and costly. If in doubt, ask a surveyor for advice or bring in the experts and get the job done properly by an accredited roofing maintenance team. Genuine roofing experts are often accredited by The National Federation of Roofing Contractors, The Guild of Master Craftsmen or The Federation of Master Builders - look out for these certifications before choosing your team. Unskilled labor or quick-fix options are likely to lead to greater costs in the long run. Expert advice may be required if you have leaning chimneys or pots, and unusual roofing coverings such as lead or thatch may need to be inspected by specialists.
5. Get a few quotes
To make sure you find the right people to take care of your roofing maintenance, don't be afraid to ask for a few quotes from local property maintenance experts. That doesn't always mean going for the cheapest option, however - always take into account the experience and reputation of the roofers you are employing.
Bronx · Belmont · Concourse · Concourse Village · Mount Eden NY · Fordham · Mott Haven · Port Morris · Melrose · · East Morrisania NY · Hunts Point · Longwood · Highbridge · Morris Heights · Tremont/East Tremont · · University Heights · West Farms · Riverdale · Fieldston · Spuytem Duyvil/South Riverdale NY· Central Riverdale · Hudson Hill · North Riverdale · Kingsbridge · Kingsbridge Heights · Marble Hill · Woodland NY · Bedford · Fordham-Bedford · Morrisania · Mount Hope NY · Northwood
1. Inspect your roof regularly
If you can see your roof from the ground, it's sensible to take a good look at it from time to time, probably at least twice a year, so that you will notice when something starts to go wrong. Binoculars may be useful, as can taking a look from a neighbor's property. Look out for loose or missing tiles in particular, and see if the roof is suffering from wear and tear. Check that the chimney flashings are intact and that there are no missing sections to the guttering.
2. Look out for problem vegetation
Vegetation such as moss growing in the guttering can cause real property maintenance problems over time. You can probably see if there are pebbles or moss clogging up the roof itself or any sections of the guttering, if so, these need to be cleared away to stop them causing real problems. Moss, for example, may retain moisture and damage the roof covering in the winter months. A job like this is far easier to do during the summer months.
3. Act quickly
Where there is a clear problem, such as a leaking roof, it is important to act fast as roofing maintenance issues can spiral in magnitude and cost over time if not properly addressed. Have missing slates or shingles replaces before further damage, for example to plaster ceilings or roof timbers, occurs. Other warning signs to look out for include daylight penetration, debris on the ground from broken shingles or slates, and signs of mortar droppings in the gutters or gullies. If you use a fuel fire, smoke exiting through brickwork or at the base of chimney pots may also point to serious roofing maintenance needs.
4. Bring in the experts
Amateur roofing maintenance work can be dangerous and costly. If in doubt, ask a surveyor for advice or bring in the experts and get the job done properly by an accredited roofing maintenance team. Genuine roofing experts are often accredited by The National Federation of Roofing Contractors, The Guild of Master Craftsmen or The Federation of Master Builders - look out for these certifications before choosing your team. Unskilled labor or quick-fix options are likely to lead to greater costs in the long run. Expert advice may be required if you have leaning chimneys or pots, and unusual roofing coverings such as lead or thatch may need to be inspected by specialists.
5. Get a few quotes
To make sure you find the right people to take care of your roofing maintenance, don't be afraid to ask for a few quotes from local property maintenance experts. That doesn't always mean going for the cheapest option, however - always take into account the experience and reputation of the roofers you are employing.
Bronx · Belmont · Concourse · Concourse Village · Mount Eden NY · Fordham · Mott Haven · Port Morris · Melrose · · East Morrisania NY · Hunts Point · Longwood · Highbridge · Morris Heights · Tremont/East Tremont · · University Heights · West Farms · Riverdale · Fieldston · Spuytem Duyvil/South Riverdale NY· Central Riverdale · Hudson Hill · North Riverdale · Kingsbridge · Kingsbridge Heights · Marble Hill · Woodland NY · Bedford · Fordham-Bedford · Morrisania · Mount Hope NY · Northwood
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