Precautions While Constructing the Foundation of Your New House

If you are constructing a new home then you must be well informed about the problems faced after its construction. If all the problems are considered then the problems of the foundation are the most expensive to resolve as well as the most common ones faced by homeowners. Prices continue to rise for (New Residential Construction). The sticking of doors and windows, cracks in flooring, tiles and bricks and many more are all due to the faulty foundation. Below are the few precautions that can help you to minimize these defects:

Performing a soil evaluation

Whether you construct your house on a concrete slab or on the pier and beam, the most important component of the whole house is the foundation. Therefore you should not try and save money by skipping procedures. Before the designing of the foundation system a proper soil evaluation must be performed.

Incorporating proper Grading of the soil

Builders can be notorious sometimes and skip a few steps to increase their profits or reduce the workload. Keeping this in mind, you must ensure that a proper grading has been incorporated for the soil by the builder.

Installing proper drainage

It is common sense that a faulty drainage system will harm your foundation in more ways than one so proper drainage is essential for the house. It should include gutters and downspouts.

The right vapour barriers

The pier and beam foundations require proper vents and the right barriers to be put in place for a strong and lasting foundation. So make sure that the builder installs vapour barriers.

Waterproofing the foundation

With time the rain water can damage your foundation and weaken it. Therefore during the building process, proper waterproofing methods should be incorporated so that the foundation remains intact for long and does not cause unnecessary troubles later on.

Bloomberg claims that home values rise in the U.S. for the first time since 2010. Read the full story here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-28/home-prices-in-u-s-cities-increased-0-5-in-year-ended-june-1-.html

Advantages and Disadvantages of Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are one of the most inexpensive materials for roofing purposes. Another reason behind their popularity is the ease with which they can be installed. Asphalt shingles are available in different colors and textures and so they can be used in various different styles.

Advantages of asphalt shingles:

Maintenance:

Asphalt shingles are very easy to maintain and this is a great advantage of using them for roofs. The repair work is very easy incase the shingles get damaged. Unlike other roofing materials which require a lot of regular periodic maintenance, asphalt shingles do not ask for so much maintenance.

Installation:

Among all the roofing materials, asphalt shingles are simplest to install. The installation process is very convenient and perfect options for all those who like to do it themselves. Other roof shingles require specialized tools and can be installed only by professionals.

Light in weight:

Asphalt shingles are not the lightest roof shingles, however the are very light in weight as compared to other materials in the same price range. This makes them compatible with various different structures.

Cost:

They cost a lot less than various other materials used for roofing. When one has, a limited budget then asphalt shingles becomes a great option.

Disadvantages of asphalt shingles:

Asphalt shingles can sometimes decay due to sudden changes in weather conditions. However, nowadays one can treat the shingles to avoid their decay.
Problems related to ventilation in attic can reduce the life span of asphalt shingles.
They do not provide thermal insulation and the solar heat is directly transferred into the room.
They can get damages by strong winds that have the capacity to lift them and tear them.
There is a slight disadvantage associated with their durability, as unlike other shingles, asphalt shingles last for about 20 years only. However, this disadvantage in overshadowed by the cost and easy maintenance.

Metal Roofing Systems and Their Pros and Cons

Metal roofing systems are quite popular nowadays among the home owners. However, you must weigh the advantages as well as the disadvantages of them before fitting them on your house. The more common materials are also good and sometimes better than the metal counterparts and thus you must make a smart choice.

Here is a list of the pros and cons of metal roofing systems:

Pros:

Reflection of heat from the surface of metal is very good so it can keep your house cooler.
There is no doubt about it that your roof will never catch fire as metal is fire resistant and protects inner layers also.
A very good reason for you can be the weight of the metal roofing which is almost 5 times lighter than other materials.
Although the cost is high but the durability and the life of metal is much more than other counterparts so it compensates for the high cost.
Last but not the least, the ease and the speed of installing metal roofing is incomparable to other systems. 

Cons:

The cost of installing a metal roofing is very high when compared to the traditional materials
The sound of the rain drops can be romantic for some people but for others it is a painful experience as metal makes a lot of noise when something falls on it.
Hailstorms will definitely leave large dents on the roof if it is made up of metal just like your car.
Fasteners that are used to hold the roof fittings in place become loose with time due to expansion and contraction of metal in the hot and cold weather.
Modifying the metal roof or replacing/repairing it will be expensive.
There are chances, even if very bleak, that lightning strikes the metal roof so proper grounding is very essential.

Basics of Pole Barn Construction

A structure supported on poles that are deeply set in the ground and then anchored with concrete is known as a pole barn. It is an economical and a durable structure that are a common sight in the farmers’ market, horse riding spots and storehouse and garages. There are various benefits associated with poles barns such as they do not require foundations and finished floors are optional and the choice depends on your discretion.

The size of the barn can be decided according to the requirement and this makes pole barn construction very useful for storehouses. From the builder’s point of view pole barn construction is a great value for money as the materials are cheap and easy to procure and the construction is sturdy. One can add additional features like porches, windows, doors and attics, according to the need.

Essential materials needed for pole barn construction:

The first and the most basic requirement is that of poles which are made of lumber and are pressure-treated. One can use poles of any type of cross-section, square or round.
Trusses, these are triangular frames and provide strength to the basic structure.
Plywood for making the walls, one can choose to use steel for this purpose depending on the requirement and budget.
Gravel and concrete are needed to anchor the poles in the ground.
Roofing sections can be selected from galvanized steel sections and plywood or asbestos shingles.

All these materials are easily available and will not become a burden on your buget. However, before starting the construction of a pole barn one must discuss with the local authorities if any permits are required. The authorities might ask you to submit your blueprints to make sure that your structure and the complete facility meets the set guidelines.