Monthly Archives: November 2018

Post Install

The Different Types of Roof and Loft Insulation Explained

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Ensuring your home is properly insulated will help to keep your heating costs to a minimum. With the ever rising fuel costs, the right insulation can make a lot of difference. Heat rises and as a result, most of the heat is lost through the roof of your home. Insulation can be used to block the heat from escaping.

There are a few different types of roof and loft insulation that need to be considered. Take a look at this guide to learn the benefits of each type of insulation.

Depending on your house type and the use of the loft space, different insulation materials may be preferred. Whichever type of insulation you choose though, it is essential that the roof itself is in good condition. Any loose or damaged tiles could allow water into your home and also help heat to escape.

Fibre Glass

Glass fibre is one of the most commonly used materials to insulate your home. It is available in a roll which can be cut easily to shape. It is very lightweight, easy to install and will help to keep the heat inside your home. Glass fibre is ideal to place up in your loft. It will be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to insulate your loft. It’s best used when you’re not actually using the loft space as living space, although it is possible to cut it to size and place between joists, then board over the top. The only real disadvantage of glass fibre is that it can be irritating to touch, you should wear gloves and consider wearing a mask when installing the insulation.

Installing glass fibre insulation is such an easy job that you can do it yourself. There’s normally no need to hire a specialist. Glass fibre matting is readily available from any DIY store.

Sheet Insulation

If you want to use the loft space as a living space, then you would be better using sheet insulation. These board can be cut to size to fit between the rafters of the roof. This will allow heat to warm up the loft and make it a comfortable space.

Installing sheet insulation Is also relatively straight forward. Most of the materials can be cut using either a sharp knife, or a saw. The only thing that is more difficult will be buying and transporting the sheets since they are a lot larger. This may mean you will need to hire a van.

Blown Insulation (Spray Foam)

Another common type of insulation used to insulate a loft or roof cavity is blown insulation. This is similar to expanding foam you use around the home. This requires some specialist equipment since the insulation material is actually blown into the cavity. As a result blown insulation will be more expensive to have fitted. It’s ideal though if the loft is very small or inaccessible.

Blown insulation can be installed to either the ceiling cavity, or the roof joists. This means it is suitable whether you want to turn the loft into living space or not.

Loose Fill

Another slightly less common type of loft insulation is loose fill. In recent years though this has become more popular since it is an environmentally friendly form of insulation. Loose fill insulation involves filling the ceiling cavity with a loose material. This can be anything, although it is typically something like shredded cork, newspaper or even some types of volcanic rock.

Installing loose fill insulation between ceiling joists is very easy. However, you must first check there are no cracks in the plasterboard of the ceiling and that it will be able to support the insulation. Loose fill insulation materials are all light weight which means they can be supported by the plasterboard itself.
Floor boards can the be placed over the top of the insulation to enable you to use the space for storage, however this will block most of the heat coming through the floor of the room below.

It’s certainly worth time researching and insulating your home properly. Effective insulation will reduce heating costs and keep your home warmer all year round. Insulation will also make it easier to sell your house since it will be rated as being more efficient.

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solar panel on roof

Will a Solar Panel Installation Damage Your Roof?

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“Will a Solar Panel Installation Damage Your Roof?” the answer to this question is NO if its done right – but YES if it isnt!.

With the rising cost of power and the desire to go green, more and more people are turning to solar panels. They provide pure and clean energy without the hefty monthly bills. They also have don’t pollute the environment or damage the ozone since they produce no emission.

The rising popularity, growing competition and improving technology has made them more effective, efficient, durable and affordable. Today’s pieces are much lighter but generate more power. They also last for a long time with many manufacturers offering a warranty for as many as 30 years.

The Solar Panel Installation Won’t Damage the Roof

No, the solar panel installation will not damage the roof if it is done properly. Before installation, the contractor will first analyse the integrity and strength of the roof. This allows him/her to know if the framework can handle the extra weight. The examination also alerts the installer on any weak points on the roof and the best positioning. For instance, if the roof has a remaining lifespan of about 10 years yet the solar panels will last for 30 years, the better approach is to fast replace the roof.

The contractor will also check to see that the roofing materials can cope up with the increased temperature and also use a design that doesn’t obstruct any airflow. To prevent leakage, they will drill minimal holes for the rack and will incorporate a flashing the stops water from seeping through.

A popular option to prevent damage is to use panels that do not need drilling holes. And if there are many panels that need mounting, the contractor may opt to place them on a rack the ground rather than on the roof.

The Best way forward

If you plan it install solar panels on your roof, it is advisable to first talk to a roofer. The professional will assess the roof’s integrity to see if it can put up with the additional weight. And because they are familiar with the different types on the market, they can help you pick a lighter but more efficient unit.

So, How Can a Solar Panel Installation Damage Your Roof?

Add Extra Weight

Although modern solar panels are lighter than the early ones, they still add some extra weight to the roof. The more the panels the more pressure the roof has to bear. And as you know, the truss or framework is designed to support the roofing only. Without any reinforcement, the structure may not be able to cope with the added weight.

Affect the Integrity of the Roof

When designing and installing the roof, most contractors won’t account for additional weight. They will leave a margin for dust, dirt, snow or ice, and this is minimal. By mounting solar panels on the roof, the structural integrity of the roof will be affected. In due course, it may begin to sag, some parts may come of, or the tiles may develop gaps or even break.

Encourage Leaks

Usually, holes need to be drilled on the roof to support the frame or deck for the solar panels. This means that the tiles, iron sheets, and other covering materials will have holes, which were initially not their. Some materials tend to expand over time leading to wider holes. A good example is iron sheets. Others like tiles may crack because the hole creates a weak spot. These things will make the roof more prone to leaks.

Increase the Temperature

Good roofs can handle low and high temperatures quite well. Nevertheless, you should not exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations. Too cold or too hot and it will crack, warp, break or discolor. Solar panels tend to be heat absorbent and the area above and below the piece will have high temperatures. This will over the years has negative effects on the roofing.

Affect Airflow

For the roof to last a decent period, it is necessary to ensure the airflow is good. This allows quick dissipation of heat. However, improper installation of solar panels may interfere with the ventilation and this will create hot spots that will affect the area below and around the solar panel

Birmingham Roofers is one of the roofers that help consumers to get the best solar installation. The company has been in the scene for years and boast of experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated employees. It is reachable via phone (01214 050961), email (bmroofers@gmail.com), website (https://bmroofers.co.uk/) or social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google plus) and will walk with you through the entire installation process.

picture of roof rotting

How to treat Rotting Roof Structures

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While the best roofs are designed to last for a long time, they are still prone to be damaged. One of the commonest problems is rot, which will affect certain sections of the roof. It may be the fascia, gutter, truss, or any other places. As you probably know, the rot will weaken the roof and making it prone to sagging or even caving in. Sadly, many people seem to overlook the rot and it’s only after a catastrophe that they seek the necessary repair. This should never be the case since you are putting your life and that of others at risk.

Steps to Dealing with Rotting Roof Structures

1. Examination

The first step to treating a rotting roof structure is assessing the damage. How bad is it? Which areas have been affected? What sections are the most badly hit? These are some of the questions that should guide you in the examination. The damage usually isn’t uniform since some areas are more exposed. For instance, the areas that are near a water source or are in the path of water such as the downspouts or gutters are more affected.

The assessment also helps to estimate for how long this has been happening. Poor checking may fail to unearth some hidden zones, which in future will become worse. You don’t want this to happen after a repair.

2. Root Cause Analysis

Generally, for the rot to take place, three things are necessary: warmth, moisture, and a suitable material such as wood. Poor ventilation is also a contributor. Wood is the most prone to rot in comparison to other materials like tiles. Fascias or zones near the downspout or beams next to a water storage tanks are more exposed.

While symptoms such as flaking paint, discoloration, warping and split wood or soft timber help in the assessment, it’s more critical to know the source of the problem. Is it a leaking water tank, gaps and cracks in the roofing that are letting in rainwater, or water splashing from the gutter to the fascias? This will help to not only deal with the problem but also prevent it from occurring in the near future.

worn out rotting tiles

3. Corrective Measures

The next step is coming up with the best plan of action. How you deal with a rotting fascia or soffit may not necessarily be the same as fixing a rot in the roof truss. In the former case, it’s much easier to remove parts of the fascia or soffit. You probably will not need to remove the roofing cover. In the latter case, however, it may mean removing the tiles, slates, or iron sheets to have a better understanding.

If the rot affects a small section, then you may need to only replace the area. This means removing a few planks, boards, or tiles. However, if a large section of the roof is damaged, it makes it likely that the entire roof can collapse due to the weakened structure. In such a situation, you are probably looking at overhauling the entire roof.

4. Preventing Future Rot

After dealing with both the symptoms and root causes, you now need to prevent the rot from happening again. To do this, you need to fully eradicate the causes and then come up with preventive measures. For instance, if the fascias or soffit was rotting because of rainwater splashing from the gutter, you may need to overhaul the gutter system. If the leak was occurring because of leaking water pipes or tank inside the roof, you need to fix this and put a waterproof insulation in the surrounding area.

For an attic or loft that has rotting beams, improving the air circulation helps to easily dissipate the humidity. Installing waterproof or moisture absorbent materials is also a worthy move.

NB: It is helpful to have the roof inspected at least once a year by a professional roofer. This should happen whether there is rot or not. By arresting the problem early, you will be able it stop it from spreading and will keep the cost of repair low.

Conclusion

You shouldn’t take roof rot lightly. It doesn’t matter if it only affects a small section. While repairing the roof may seem an economic approach, there are high chances of making a mistake or even getting injured in the process. You may step on a rotten section and fall through; inhale toxic fumes that come from the rot, or are infected by the bacteria or mold.

The best approach is talking to a reputable roofer like Birmingham Roofers. Such a company will first evaluate the situation to ascertain the extent of the damage. Thereafter they will draft the best solution to the problem. To learn more about how to treat rotting roof structures and other roofing services visit https://bmroofers.co.uk or call via 01214 050961. Talking to a reputable roofer will help you deal with any rot on the roof.

news

Roof Contractors News and Updates

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The roofing sector has seen many developments of late. This comes in a period where the market is showing a good recovery from the post-2008 era. In fact, many experts state that although BREXIT had some impact on the industry in general, there seem to be lots of optimism in the sector.

Like other contractors, roofers have to keep up with the changes in order to remain relevant in the industry. This means acquiring newer skills, coming up with better innovations, and using the latest technologies.

One area that seems to receive lots of interest is the “Green” roof sector. Consumers, as well as industry experts, are vouching for more energy efficient and non-polluting solutions to their roofing problems. Gone are the days when asbestos was the main materials. Nowadays you will hardly come across any asbestos roof.

Instead, what you get are roofing materials made from recycled and renewable materials. They provide better cooling, which reduces the reliance of heating, and cooling systems, don’t emit any toxic compounds and also don’t have any negative effects on the people, pets, and the environment.

Another form of “Green roof” is the creation of gardens and greenhouses on the rooftop. This is particularly noticeable on flat roofs and the main goal is to create a biodiversity surrounding that enhances the ambiance in the roof. Plants, as we know, have good insulation properties that if used right will help conserve energy and power. It also creates a natural habitat for wildlife including birds and butterflies.

According to a report by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), more and more contractors are embracing this new ideology. They will train their employees on the basic principles and ensure to stick to the regulations of the Green Roof Code of practice (GRO).

Nevertheless, Britain seems to be lagging behind in comparison to its neighbors like the Scandinavian Countries and German where the green roofs contribute to about 10% of the roofs. London leads lead the pack of cities adopting green roofs and accounts for approximately 42% of the green roofs in Britain. Other regions, nevertheless, are slowly but steadily picking up the pace.

picture of a roofer near me

Another area that has contractors and the industry in general concerned is the widening skill gap. There are more older people in the industry compared to the younger people. And with many of the senior people retiring, the industry faces a shortage of skills. This problem is further worsened by the boom in the construction industry that requires more contractors.

Statistics show that the industry requires about 44,430 new recruitments every year and the number will increase to over 46,000 by end of 2018. The supply, however, is far less meaning that the shortage will continue to be felt. Due to the looming shortage, some contractors are opting to seek services from beyond the borders.

A survey carried out back in 2014 by The Federation of Master Builders indicated that 20% of service seekers faced challenges when recruiting for skilled labor. The reason was that there was a shortage in seasoned bookers including roofers. The ones they found were not very skilled and lacked the desired hands-on-experience.

The skills gap is also evidenced by the rising day wages where in some regions; a skilled person can earn over £250 daily. This is similar to some leading white-collar jobs.
While the high prices are good for the industry, the shortage of skilled roofers isn’t.

The Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI says that the demand for subcontractors is in an all-time high. This is pushing the wage rate higher and at the same time putting pressure on the few available contractors.

Picture of a king post roof truss

Sadly, the end user, who is the service seeker, has to dig deeper into the pocket to get the service. Some, who find the prices a bit too much, may be forced to seek shoddy services from less-experienced or incompetent contractors. This may look economical in the short run but may ruin the good reputation of the existing contractors.

It is, therefore, necessary to come up with long-lasting solutions. A good approach is trying to market the sector and offer incentives for the younger generation. Many leading firms are playing an active role in not only marketing the roofing sector but also taking part in recruiting and training young people. The number of apprenticeships has increased to narrow down the gap.

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