When getting a roof put in, one of the most important steps is figuring out what kind of material you want to use. You may not be so familiar with the option of rubber roofing, so that’s why we’re going to tackle a couple of reasons why rubber roofing is a good alternative to other roofing materials.

One of the biggest bonuses to rubber roofing is its durability. It’s also fairly simple to repair in case of damage. Rubber roofing generally comes in 2 types; rubber shingles or a membrane stretched over the roof. The membrane is generally made of recycled materials and can be made to custom fit the structure of your roof. With shingles you can emulate more of the classic roof shingle appearance, only rubber shingles are lighter and easier to install.

Rubber roofing is also a lot more cost effective than other types of roofing materials, wooden shingles for example. When compared to its lifespan, rubber roofing is pretty much the best bargain you can get when comparing price and longevity.

An added bonus to using rubber is that you’re essentially waterproofing your house, even if you’re working with a flat roof you won’t have to worry about leaks in any form coming from outside. This makes rubber roofing especially effective in stormy regions.

And last but not least, rubber roofing is simple, sleek looking, and safeguards your house from unwanted water damage.

So if you’re looking into getting yourself a new rubber roof, whether it be shingles or membranes, you’ll want to look up your local professional roofing company. A job like this is not one to be done DIY. Look out for your own safety and the safety of your house by hiring a professional!

Sponsored by Roof Contractor Portsmouth

The saying “a roof over your head” is common for a reason. Having a good roof that can protect you from the elements is one of the core components of having a good house. It’s got to be sturdy and waterproof enough to withstand rain, snow, and especially hail. But of all of these, hail is the hardest to protect against since it’s practically balls of ice falling from the sky at incredible speed. Hail tends to do the most damage to houses across the US, but with the right material you’ll be able to minimize the amount of damage done to yours.

You’ll have to take your entire roof system into account when protecting against hail, and that includes the vent pipes, skylights, and gutters. But most importantly you need to figure out what material to use for your roofing.

The first option you should look at is rubber roofing. Rubber is not only water proof, but will not take nearly any damage at all from hail, send it bouncing off and keeping your house safe. Think of how a car tire hits a pothole and deflects the damage to the wheel, in the same way a rubber roof will shield your house from damage done by hail.

Asphalt shingles and metal roofing are also decent options, but are still susceptible to small amounts of damage, whereas rubber will completely protect your roof plus give you the added bonus of being water resistant.

In the end the choice is up to you, so measure the pros and cons of each and good luck!

Sponsored by Roof Contractor Nashua

Getting a new custom house built is an exciting time for everyone involved. It’s a big life step and one that should fill your life with excitement, but should also be taken seriously. You’ll want to put in the time to do things properly so you can avoid coming across hiccoughs as much as possible.

First off, you’ll want to take enough time to get your act together so you can properly convey to your contractors what style you’re shooting for in your new home. You can take some time looking through Houzz or Pinterest and put together some examples so you can communicate your wishes clearly. This will make you first meeting with your architect a lot smoother and will set them up for better knowing how to fulfill your desires.

Next, you’ll want your banking affairs in order. Get a meeting with a loan advisor so you know how much you are able and willing to spend on your new custom home. This isn’t necessarily one of the quickest parts of the process, and I’d say you can comfortably allot about 2 weeks for getting this one in the bag.

Then it’s time to hire an architect. Try out a few, have some meetings and find out exactly which one suits you and your plans best. Once you’ve done that, then all you’ve got to do is hire a builder. Find one with a good portfolio and lots of good work behind them. It also never hurts to make it someone easy to work and communicate with.

Then from there it’s in the hands of the builders, and I’m sure you can be as involved as you want but it’s pretty much time for you to lie back and relax and wait for your new home to be done!

Sponsored by Home Builder Manchester

Porches and decks without light scan tend to seem dark and dreary. Your home’s exterior is like the face of your home, and you’ll want to put your best foot forward when it comes to your house’s face so you can put forth a welcoming and comforting vibe for your visitors, neighbors, and (most importantly) for you and your family!

Here are a few things that you’ll want to take into consideration when choosing the best lighting and light fixtures for your porch, entrance, deck, etc.

First of all, you’re going to want to take into consideration the size of the lights you want. You’ll want something that provides enough light for dark nights but isn’t too overpowering and allows the charm of your home to shine through. There’s a general rule for choosing a good light for your entrance; make sure the light fixture is about 1/3 or ¼ the size of your front door.

Next on the list is figuring out what color and style of light fixture you want. This will, of course, be greatly dictated by what the décor and makeup of your house is already. You’ll want to find something that doesn’t clash with you already established colors and style in your home.

The amount of illumination provided by your porch lights is also important. This depends on the size of the light, the strength of the bulbs, and the placement of the light fixtures. All these things will determine how much light will be provided.

Now that we’ve got those few things to take into consideration, where should your lights be placed? Well, front doors and entryways look great with two sconces or light fixtures on either side of them while for deck lighting a great choice is covered lights. Garage lights greatly depend on how many stalls you have and their size.

For all of these jobs, you’re going to need a professional electrician to get things set up for you just right so you can fully enjoy and bask in the light of your new exterior light fixtures.

There are a lot of things that add curb appeal to your home, and one of those things is having a well-paved driveway. Not only does this raise the value of your house, but it’s an essential part of having a functional house. A nicely paved driveway won’t only look good and impress your neighbors, but will increase the functionality of your living space.

If you’ve been living without a properly paved driveway, then you’ll definitely benefit from getting one installed. That moment where you first pull your car up onto your new driveway is priceless. First impressions are important, and a paved driveway is like the face of your home. Rather than gravel and dirt, a concrete driveway will put forward a much better first impression for visitors and neighbors.

You’ve got two basic choices of pavement when you’re getting your driveway paved: asphalt and concrete. Some people think that asphalt is a better idea since your roads are likely made of asphalt to begin with, but there are a couple of big advantages to getting concrete instead.

Concrete lasts a while lot longer than asphalt without cracking or falling apart. Once you make the initial investment to get your driveway paved with concrete, you won’t have to worry about repairs and upkeep for a good long while. Asphalt, on the other hand, needs constant upkeep and easily cracks and shifts with heat and extreme cold. Concrete’s lifespan is about 30 years on average, which adds up to nearly 10 years more than asphalt. Talk about a big advantage!

If you get a professional concrete contractor to lay the concrete for you then you can count on an even surface and a long lasting driveway that not only looks good, but will last you for years. Trying to do a job like this on your own with now prior experience will almost certainly result in an uneven driveway with potholes or bumps that will make the experience of pulling up into your driveway less than pleasant. Always go with the pros and hire locally!

Sponsored by Concrete Contractors Rogers AR