Benedict Smythe asked:




Do it yourself projects are efficient ways to minimize cost, and to a certain degree, tap into your creative side. Home improvement is just one area in the wide and complex world of Do- it- Yourself.

In a way, home improvement should be done by the homeowners themselves, because the property is theirs, and if something succeeds or fails, the homeowners take full accountability for what happens. How does one begin a do it yourself project? The following is a step by step guide in determining your general path for future DIY projects.

1. Examine your house- a house that has stood against the elements of nature for at least three years probably has suffered some form of damage. When was the last time that you stopped to inspect whether your house is still safe to live in, or if there is something that you can still do to improve it?

A thorough evaluation of your house and all its parts would definitely give you great ideas for your future DIY project. With you some paper and a pen, list down everything that you think must be repaired, replaced, improved or taken down completely. Be critical of how furniture and electrical wires are placed in your house.

After making your list, start sifting through them. What is it that interests you at the moment? Do you wish to make a new gate made purely of wood, and coated with varnish? Do you think that old door needs sprucing up? Whatever you might choose to do, remember that you have to take into consideration time and budget constraints.

2. Plan first, and plan well- do not commit the mistake of not being able to plan before you try your hand in DIY home improvement. Any project, executed without a clear plan in mind is bound to either fail or finish unsuccessfully.

How does one begin a work plan for a DIY project? First identify what needs to be done. Make a list of the things that have to be done prior to the DIY project. Then proceed to make a list of the things that you need to do. This includes even the smallest of implements in the DIY project, like nails and paint.

After determining the materials needed for the DIY project, begin to compute how much all this would cost. A good and reliable computation should not be based on estimates alone. If you can, make the computation when you’re at the hardware store.

If something seems to be too expensive, then try to find an alternative brand, or if it’s not possible to do this, try to find an alternative, material to replace that which you cannot acquire due to cost, a good example will be thinner gauge plywood for sidings and non load bearing structures.

3. Timeframe- never forget to make a timeframe for a particular DIY project. Failure to do so might mean the project might take too long to finish, or in some instances, it might not be completed at all. A timeframe would tell you what to do and what to complete in a day.



Suzanne

Ben Holloway asked:




There are many different types of roof problems that occur all over the UK, caused by everything from the weather to minor accidents. It is so important that any roof problem is found and resolved as early as possible, as leaving it until it is too late can result in a very large bill for either huge repairs or in some cases a whole new roof.

One of the main causes of roof problems is the weather. The most obvious type of weather that causes problems is the rain. Rain causes roofs to wear down, the metal parts to rust and can cause debris in your gutters to clog. Believe it or not, the sun is also a cause of many peoples roof problems, especially after it has been raining as the sun causes wet materials to expand which often results in cracking. The other main offender when it comes to the weather is wind as that can cause tiles and slates to blow off your roof completely.

As the British weather can change so frequently it is vital that your roof is sufficiently protected.

RoofSURE have over 20 years experience making sure that UK roofs are protected from problems caused by the weather. Their innovative RoofSURE system works to stabilise roof structures giving the ultimate protection against whatever Mother Nature can throw at it.

The system works by coating the underside of your roof covering the slates, tiles and battens with a polyurethane spray foam which stabilises the structure, making it able to withstand gale force storms as well as making sure your loft is insulated effectively.

If you have recently suffered from roof problems and need a reliable solution and need it done quickly, the RoofSURE foam spray treatment can be applied between one and two days by one of RoofSUREs BUFCA qualified installers.

Once applied, the RoofSURE system is guaranteed for 30 years, giving you peace of mind that your roof is completely protected. Not only that, but you will have a dry, secure, warm roof able to withstand the most unforgiving of storms.



Ethel

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:




Fiberglass insulation is different from cellulose insulation because it dose not require chemical treatment. It is made from sand and recycled glass. Fiberglass, rock and slag wool insulation are used to prevent home from moisture. They can hold water and moisture. It is used to protect crawl area from water, fire and humidity. It is better from cellulose insulation because cellulose loses their effectiveness after sometimes. Cellulose is also not useful to protect from moisture and water because it is made from recycled newspapers. It can reduce energy efficiency.

Fiberglass insulation is not just necessary for walls and attics, but it is also necessary for other parts of the home such as ceilings, basement walls, and floors above crawl spaces, knee walls and between interior walls.

The fiberglass insulation methods are selected by the R-value of the material. The R-value is stands for heat resistance. Proper insulation level is identified by R-value of a material such as fiberglass and cellulose. These materials are labeled by R-value. The R stands for heat flow; it provides greater insulating power for material. Most manufacturers are printing R-value for their products. The R-value of fiberglass is lower than R-value of cellulose.

For electrical wiring, plumbing and homebuilding fiberglass insulation is necessary. It gives effectiveness to your home insulation applications. It requires continuous and careful approach to install fiberglass insulation. Installing fiberglass insulation also requires no gaps or compression.

Fibreglasses provide effective insulation for your home. It keeps home warmer in winter and colder in summer. It increases energy efficiency. It is also useful to decrease electricity bill.

Size of batts is also useful for fiberglass insulation; the R-value of the fiberglass determines the size batt. Generally, R-13 is used for a 16 inch on center wall *****.

After selecting appropriate fiberglass size, it is better to cut sludge in the batt so that it fits comfortably any obstruction in the wall. When in the insulation not fits into cracks then gaps are created, these gaps are responsible for lose of energy and reducing the R-value of the insulation. Filling of these gaps is necessary to achieve energy efficiency.

Insulation from hot and humid condition is necessary to provide complete home insulation. Sometimes vapor retarder helps to resist moisture and humidity. These vapor retarders are useful in humid countries such as gulf coast. Building codes are also necessary to provide complete fiberglass insulation.

Generally, fiberglass insulations are high quality products. They are based on industry standard. They are environment friendly and cheap. The manufacturers of fiberglass insulation products are producing energy saving home insulation products. These products are most popular in United States and Canada. These products are branded under the guardian fiberglass label, which is a well-known private brand name. These fiberglass products are most commonly used insulation materials for homes they provide blanket and loose-fill kind of insulation.

These insulation products are high-density insulation products; they have higher R-value than previous varieties. They are designed to provide insulation for areas with limited void space such as cathedral ceilings.



Julio