Roofing types, maintenance, and typical damage -Your roof might need expert attention right now!

>> Apr 10, 2018

Your precious furniture, choice drapes and necessary electronic appliances remain secure because you have a roof over your head. Your home's reliable, strong and protective roof protects everything within, including you and your family, from the scorching sun and torrential rains. Roofs are the most neglected, yet the essential parts of your home.

Roofs deserve more care than we are often ready to give them. After months, and sometimes, years of standing against the sun, rain, wind, and snow our roofs often cry for attention. We are either too busy to notice, or we simply do not want to add on to our expenses. This continues till one day we notice water dripping from the roof or patches of water soaking through. Silverline Roofing's residential reroof services can help you determine if your roof needs immediate attention.

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Different roofing materials sustain different damage

Just like there are different flooring options for your home, you can avail different roofing materials and styles. You can opt for asphalt shingles, slate and tile shingles, metal roofing or ceramic roofing tiles. Each choice comes with their own set of pros and cons.

Can asphalt roofs sustain damage as well?

The usual asphalt roof lasts up to 25 years with little maintenance. Asphalt is both cost-effective and easy to maintain. It is also one of the more common roofing options in the US. In case you have a roof that’s over 25 years old, you may want experts to take a closer look. Sometimes, even though a roof looks apparently good from the ground, a little closer inspection is necessary to ensure preserved integrity and strength.

Do ceramic tiled roofs need reroofing as well?

Ceramic tiled roofs are great indeed. They are fire-retardant, cost-effective, sleek and fade resistant too. They are quite perfect in posh, stylish and eco-friendly neighborhoods. However, in areas with fluctuating weather, these tend to erode fast. If your home has a ceramic tile roof, you need to check it for wind damage and sun damage from time to time.

Signs of metal roof damage

Metal roofs are usually long lasting and sustainable too. They need very little regular maintenance. They are also much lighter and brighter. You will need an experienced contractor to take care of your roofing needs in case you opt for a metal roof now. They do tend to fade over time in the harsh sun. You can either repaint the roof or replace them, the former being the most pocket-friendly option.

Even the most resilient materials need regular care when they stand out in the natural elements for years on end. Without proper reroofing and maintenance, you will find icicles in your attic, encroaching rodents, and animals that enter through the cracks of the tiles, accumulating water from the melting snow and collecting debris in the gutters from breaking shingles. These are all telltale signs of a damaged roof that needs immediate reroofing.

The 5 Times You Actually Need a Prototype of Your Product

Whatever item your business intends on producing and introducing to the market, creating a working prototype is a critical step in the design process. While an unnecessary prototype is a waste of valuable time and money, lacking a prototype when you need one can cost you even more money and time. This does not take into account the associated frustration that comes with having a false product start.

The extra planning and investment you put into your prototype will eventually pay off big. Even outsourcing your prototyping project for accurate and affordable 3D modeling by PhotoModeler, for example, will streamline the entire process. Here are five situations when you actually need to have a prototype of your new product.

1. To Evaluate and Test the Design

On the other side, design drawings and ideas can sometimes vary significantly from real-world situations your product will experience. When you have a prototype, you have an actual product that will help you determine aspects that need to be discarded or revised. Also, the prototype will help you find omissions that were previously not noticeable on paper.

2. For Patenting

If your new product is unique enough, you should consider getting a patent for it. It does not help that you come with a novel product idea only to have another business produce a similar product. All because you failed to patent key design aspects that another company takes advantage of the situation.

Also, your working prototype will help your patent lawyer have an idea of what aspects might be patentable. Furthermore, it also helps find out what parts of your product likely violate existing patents.

3. Clarification of Production Costs

Prototyping before actual production gives you a first glance into the production process to see what steps need to be changed, removed, or combined. Apart from streamlining your production process, the prototype will also help keep actual production costs down to a minimum. Plus, any production issues will be solved even before mass production starts.

4. For Approval from Higher-Ups or Buyers

If creating a product for someone higher up in a company, or a buyer who wants a custom-made item, you need to demonstrate that you can deliver. Other situations that require a prototype include when you need a proof of concept, need to show the product to a retail buyer, or when a focus group will review your new product.

It is also easier to sell your product to potential customers when you can present to them a working prototype they can hold and manipulate during a marketing presentation. Without the prototype, all you have is a concept, which makes it difficult for any client to commit to purchasing.

5. You Need to Explore Further Possibilities

In some cases, you might be working on two or more very viable possibilities of your product, but you do not have a clear direction of what is best. In fact, there could also be disagreements within your design team on what your new product can and cannot do. Ordering multiple prototypes of various types and more, for A/B testing will help you get cold hard facts that will inform better decision making.

Apart from the scenarios above, having a prototype built is an exciting step in any product lifecycle as you see an idea come to life. Plus, the prototype is a critical tool for creating documents like instructions and procedures before even mass production starts – saving you time, effort, and money. The moment you can finally touch, hold and use an actual working product, you know you have made a significant step as an entrepreneur!

Tips On How to Make Your Shed A Backyard Focal Point

While the main purpose of your shed is to store things like garden tools or heavy machinery, a nicely designed shed with a great placement can add to the design of your backyard. In fact, you can make your shed a focal point of your backyard if you know how to design it well. Here are a few tips to do that:

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Maintain Your Shed

The first thing to do is maintain your shed and make sure that it’s in good condition. If the shed is in a bad shape, e.g. the wood is rotting and everything’s falling apart, you’d best just replace it. You can look for the best sheds online.

Paint Your Shed

If your shed is still in a good condition, then you can proceed to making a few alterations to improve it. Start off with a little bit of paint. You can choose any color you want; express your creativity. A lot of people use bright colors with white trimmings. However, you can paint it in pretty much any color you want. If you can paint well, you can even go with a mural. Just make sure that your shed’s wall paint will compliment the rest of your garden.

Put Some Plants Around It

Another way to make your shed a focal point of the backyard is to put plants around it. By putting some plants around the shed, you’ll make it more eye-catching. Aside from plants, you can also put decors around it.

Install Shed Windows

To add to the design of your shed, you can install a few windows. Shed windows are a great addition to the whole dimension of the structure. When installing windows, remember that it’s crucial for them to match your shed door. If you have a knack for creativity, you can make windows of different shapes and sizes. Shed windows are easy to install, so you should have no problem.

Put Some Wall Art

Aside from painting your shed, you can also add some wall art. Outdoor wall art adds to the total decor of the shed and makes it stand out pretty well. All you have to do is think of a theme for your shed and dress it up with wall art based on your theme. There are a lot of outdoor wall decorations that you can find on the internet. Just choose the one that fits your shed.

Build a Garden Wall

Somehow, garden walls are pretty big these days. The great thing about garden walls is that they go really well with garden sheds. A nice garden wall also goes well with the plants and decors around your shed.

Conclusion

While most people just see their garden sheds as a storage place where they can place their things, it can be much more than that. With some creativity and effort, you can actually make your shed a backyard centerpiece. The few tips above will make your shed stand out.