Month: March 2017

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Should I fix my roof – DIY or professional tips

roof DIY professional

In this article “Should I fix my roof – DIY or professional tips” we consider should I bother fixing my roof in a DIY or professional manner. If you’re in the market for a new roof or repairs, here are some installation benefits.

Benefits of New Roofing and Maintenance

While a new roof or even maintenance can be an expensive up-front cost, the pros can significantly outweigh the cons. Some signs you could need a new roof include water leakage in the roof space after rain or wet conditions. Often this could result in mildew or mould on ceilings and interior walls. Sometimes exterior paint, siding and sheathing; and missing or damaged tiles could be the cause.

The Return on Investment (ROI) for repairs or replacement can be extremely high, especially if you are trying to sell your home. Often buyers will undertake a professional building inspection before they purchase a home. A damaged roof, or subsequent damage caused by one, will be a quick detractor from potential buyers. A new roof installed by a licensed contractor will carry a warranty, attractive for anyone looking to settle, avoiding on-going maintenance concerns.

With new materials and changes in installation methods, a new roof will help keep your home energy efficient. Your home will be active in keeping the outside and inside environments separated. The cost of your utility bills will decrease. The risk of mould, mildew and other damage will drop, leaving you and everyone in your house healthier. In addition to improving the internal health of your home, a new roof can exponentially improve the external appearance of your home. The result is your home will have better street appeal. If you’re trying to sell a home, this can be the initial attractor. Remember getting buyers past the front door is key!

The Basic tips of Roof Installation and Repairs

  1. To begin with, make sure you have a clean, well-organised working space. Be mindful of dangerous areas, such as power lines. Ensure that you have the right tools for the job. Working on elevated roofs always has its dangers, so make sure you’re operating safely, and minimise the risk of any fall.
  2. Tear off the existing roofing (such as tiles, nails, metal and more) and prepare the surface.
  3. Repair any damaged structural members now that it’s visible before any new installation of roofing material.
  4. Install roof deck protection, leak barriers, starter strips and tiles.
  5. Be sure to use the correct nails for your roofing project to prevent problems down the line, such as tiles blowing off the roof.
  6. After the tiles are installed install ridge vents, valleys, flashing or ridge-cap tiles. Also adding ventilation (such as attic fans) will help to ventilate the roof spaces in your home.

Replacing or repairing my roof – DIY or professional?

Even if you have a working knowledge of how to install a new roof, you need a plan. Just trying to repair it will need careful consideration and planning. Even then it could still be too dangerous a job to undertake as a DIY project. Not to mention it always takes longer than you think. One recommendation is not to leave your roof space unprotected for any extended period. Exposing the insides of your roof will leave you vulnerable to the elements. The weather should be monitored. Any rain, snow or adverse weather can result in internal damage to your home. Hiring a contractor could be a more efficient and safer way to install a new roof or make necessary repairs since the project will go quicker without as many potential hiccups.

Author: Avid Handyman
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Alternative Travel Means – Safety For Women

travel women

Uber started a revolution in offering alternative travel means for those that want to look outside of traditional taxi services; this alone has said to improve safety for women. This has been taken a few steps further by some new exciting startup transportation network companies offering alternatives such as women only drivers and pre-arranged co-sharing ride options.

Uber

What Uber successfully created was a communication platform (APP) that put the onus on being able to ensure travellers know who you are being picked up by, what they are going to be travelling in, and most importantly offer reviews from other previous passengers. In addition to this, both the traveller and the driver do not have to exchange cash as the payment system automatically deducts the money from the passenger’s pre-authorised credit card. Pretty hard to do a runner, when your details are already in the system. The passenger is also protected, as the fair is approximated before the journey.

Women drivers

While some have described this as sexist or discriminatory, the sad fact is that many women feel unsafe using taxis. Some women that have travelled in a taxi can tell a story of such instances that involve inappropriate comments, drivers that ask personal questions and in some rare incidences a driver trying to initiate physical contact. Many women would rather walk than call a taxi. Imagine preferring a 40-minute walk, rather than spend 10 minutes in a car dealing with the severe anxiety of travelling with a male stranger. That’s where the likes of newly operating Go Buggy provides the Go Girl service. The intention is they offer female drivers to make their female riders feel safer while travelling.

Rating Systems

The inclusion of a driver rating systems has made drivers more accountable. Both rider and driver are invited to leave feedback for the other. This way everyone is accountable. In addition to this, Uber put in place what it calls safety time. They go through the information left in reviews and handle any necessary investigations. Additionally, every trip is tracked in real time by GPS. The rider can see the license plate number, driver rating, as well as their name and photo before taking their trip.

Ride Sharing

Alternative companies have popped up for ride-sharing options or to hook up with other travellers embarking on a journey. Services are available from Share Ur Ride and Co Seats. Co Seats operates much the same way as Uber, with passengers able to view profiles before booking a ride.
Share Ur Ride describes themselves as prearranged hitchhiking, with the passenger contributing petrol money. Both parties can make contact before travel to arrange the pickup and drop-off points, as well as agreeing on the cost contribution.

Still, some women aren’t comfortable with co- sharing options provided by these operators. That’s where the likes of GoGirl, and Shebah come into play. Like Go-girl, Shebah is an all-female network of drivers and passengers. They employ only women drivers to ensure that women feel safe choosing them for their travel needs.

Summary

According to an Ipsos survey public transport can be terrifying for women, and most people don’t understand just how harrowing it can be. The truth is that 1 in 3 Australian women aged 15-19 are afraid to be out after dark. 25% of those surveyed believe young women should avoid public transport when they are alone. 33% don’t feel safe at night when out in public space.

Any service that helps people travel without fear of danger or violence and get home safely is a win. Some of these alternative transportation network companies bring rating systems, trackable journeys, no cash handling and women drivers. There is definitely nothing wrong with taking a taxi; however, some people want alternatives, and there are some good options mentioned here to consider.

Do your homework, and enjoy your travels.

Written by: A frequent traveller

 

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