How Roof Pitch Determines Roofing Material


Now, it’s time to repair or replace your roof, do you know what comes next? First, be sure to get a roof repair inspection done in El Paso tx. Second, choose your materials. After that, the roofing company tends to take over and they perform the installation. While choosing your roofing material, be aware that the roof pitch may determine what you will be able to use. During that initial inspection, be sure to ask your roofing professional about which material you may need based on your roof pitch. 

How Roof Pitch Determines Your Choice Of Roofing Materials

When choosing roofing materials, it may seem that you have an infinite choice of any material on the market:  asphalt, composite, metal, wood shake, rubber, MSR rooled roofing. The world of roofing materials is your oyster, right?

Not so.  Many factors determine which roofing materials you can use.  One make-or-break factor is roof pitch.  

For example, you may think you want classic composite shingles on your roof, but if your pitch is below a certain ratio, you may be forced to install a different type of roofing–perhaps torch-down or standing seam metal roofing.

Roof Pitch Defined and Explained

Pitch is the term for the angle, slope, or slant, of your roof.  

Roof pitch designations are two numbers divided by a slash, such as 2/12 or 7/12.  A colon can replace the slash, as in 2:12 or 7:12.  The meaning is the same–ratio.

Numerator:  The numerator, or first number, refers to the vertical (height).  

Denominator:  The denominator, or second number, denotes the horizontal (length).  To make things a bit easier, for roofing purposes the denominator will always be 12.  Even though basic mathematics tells us that 12/12 can be reduced to 1/1, this is not done with roof pitch.  The denominator remains 12.

How To Calculate Pitch

Examples:

  • 5/12:  For every 12 horizontal feet, the roof drops 5 feet.  Another way to look at it is that for every 12 feet you go horizontally, the roof rises 5 feet.  Either way, this is the same thing.
  • 8/12:  For every 12 horizontal feet, the roof drops 8 feet.  Or you may prefer to look at it this way:  for every 8 vertical feet, the roof has 12 horizontal feet.
 Average roof pitches will be in the range of 4/12 up to 8/12.  Examples of extreme slopes range from 1/4 / 12 (almost flat) to 12/12 (sloping down at a perfect 45 degree angle).

High and Low Pitch Examples

Two examples at each end of the spectrum:

  • Low-Pitched:  It was fashionable for homes built in the 1960s to have little pitch except for a negligible slope to drain water.  Visually, this roof is flat.  This pitch might be as low as 1/12.
  • High-Pitched:  Roofs on Victorian-era houses were often sharply angled, steeply pitched.  Think of your classic Addams Family haunted house, with its soaring peaks, and you have a picture of a high-pitched roof.  This is one of the rare pitches where the numerator is greater than the denominator, with a slope as high as 18/12.

4/12 to 12/12 Pitch:  Asphalt and Composite

Asphalt shingles or composite shingles are the most popular kind of shingle and are the most serviceable type of shingle in terms of roof pitch.

These shingles can start as low as 4/12 pitch, going all the way up to a 12/12 pitch.  Think of them as taking the middle road in terms of roof pitch–not too flat, not too pitched.

Read the full article here: How Roof Pitch Determines Your Choice Of Roofing Materials http://bit.ly/2whvKZX

Use Fences to Divide your Outdoor Living Space


Landscaping the backyard can be challenging sometimes. Start with a solid fence installation in Denver, then continue on to more aesthetic components. Your fence will act as a beautiful base while you add different types of plants, landscaping, and furniture to your yard. Create a functional space outside by dividing it much like you would divide a house with walls. This not only adds to the aesthetic of your yard, but it creates functionality.

How to Divide Your Outdoor Living Space for Best Use

Why stay cooped up inside when you can extend the livable portion of your property by creating outdoor living spaces? It certainly isn’t difficult to build such “rooms” in the backyard. But it does take an appreciation for the “divide and conquer” approach.

We take it for granted that our houses are divided into rooms, but the concept of having similar “outdoor living spaces” may sound odd, at first.

Indeed, the biggest obstacle standing in most people’s way is that it just doesn’t occur to them to divide up a yard so as to maximize their enjoyment of it. Not consciously, at least. Yet the more conscious we become of outdoor living spaces, the more we can tailor them to suit our needs.

Outdoor Living Spaces: Design Considerations

Part of the beauty behind the concept of separate “rooms” in a house is that each unit is unique unto itself. Consequently, you can install a component in the kitchen that looks great there, without worrying that it would look out of place if viewed from the bedroom. The same is true for outdoor living spaces.

Having separate outdoor living spaces allows you to create mini-landscape designs (each somewhat different from the rest) for each of them. Not that you shouldn’t still strive for unity across your landscape design, as a whole. But the more successful you are in physically separating one outdoor living space from another, the more flexibility you have to diversify without creating a hodgepodge.

For instance, you may wish to include a storage bin for towels in the pool area. Such an element would be functional and would look fine there. But the problem is, you might not wish to view it from another part of the yard dedicated, say, to meditating in naturalistic surroundings. The answer: screen off the pool area with a tall hedge or fence, effectively creating a “room” separate from the rest of the yard.

Outdoor Rooms: Play Areas

If you have kids who enjoy baseball, football, soccer, or just plain running around, set aside a special outdoor room just for them. You can’t beat a grass floor for these activities. While a ceiling won’t be necessary, walls are a must. You don’t want errant tosses rolling into the street or wiping out those flowers you just planted in another portion of the yard. A solid fence will probably best serve the role of wall here, something that will easily stop a ball. Hedges are less effective, because balls either get through them or get lodged within them. By having to repeatedly dislodge balls stuck in a hedge, kids may end up wrecking the hedge.

Outdoor Living Spaces: The “Building Blocks”

Think of the structural components of outdoor living spaces in terms of their counterparts in indoor rooms: floor, walls, and ceiling. Only for outdoor living spaces, the term, “structural” is used metaphorically. So much the better for you, as the “builder,” since it means there’s a lot less to worry about. Taking out a “wall” because you don’t like your initial choice won’t cause the “ceiling” to come crashing down on your head!

Furthermore, think of the materials you need to assemble the floor, wall or ceiling of an outdoor living space as the “building blocks.” Here are some examples:

  • For “ceilings”:
  • Arbors and pergolas
  • The canopies of shade trees
  • Decorative canvas canopies
  • awnings
  • lawn umbrellas


Read the full article here:
How to Divide Your Outdoor Living Space for Best Use http://bit.ly/2vLv22t

Which Type of Wood Fence Is Right For You?


Are you considering a wood fence for your home? There are many different types and styles you can choose from and knowing which is right for you is directly related to the purpose of the fence. This might be privacy or to keep animals away, whatever it may be, be sure you’re going to love it before it is installed. When you are ready, give your Denver fence company a call, we will be happy to help you out! 

Types of Wooden Fences

And Their Landscaping Uses, From Privacy to Animal Control

So Many Types, So Little Time: How Does One Choose?

When it is time to select fencing for your property, you may be overwhelmed by how many types of wooden fences and other options there are from which to choose.

But the decision largely comes down to two considerations:

  1. Form (that is, stylistic considerations)
  2. Function (that is, what practical purpose the fencing will serve)

Fortunately, sometimes there is a happy marriage between form and function. But such is not always the case. For instance, chain-link fencing and other metal products often make for superior security fences. Therefore, if the intended function of your fencing is security, you may have to choose between form and function: the style of your house may cry out for a wooden fence, but security concerns may convince you to go with the metal.

When the Focus Is on Form

In choosing between types of wooden fences, consider their potential for compatibility both with your house style and with your landscape-design style. For instance:

  • Split-rail wood fences and other wood fence designs marked by rough and rugged posts and rails have long been a favorite with:
    • Ranch-style houses
    • Landscape designs with a Southwestern theme (U.S.)
  • Picket-style fencing seems a natural fit for:

When the Focus Is on Function: Privacy and More

There are special circumstances in which wooden fences, despite their beauty, may not be your best choice for fencing. Sometimes, for example, a homeowner in the market for fencing needs to keep animals in the yard — dogs, for instance.

Security is another practical function many homeowners demand from fencing, a function for which, as mentioned above, metal fencing is generally considered superior to wooden fences.

But wooden fences are an excellent choice for privacy fencing, whether it be in terms of noise barriers or, more commonly, visual barriers. Along with their vinyl copy-cats, they provide some of the most attractive fencing options available when your chief concern is creating a backyard sanctuary.

Read the full article here: Wood Fence Styles Vary Endlessly, So Which Type is Right for Your Yard? http://bit.ly/2fSgYlI

Block Out Road Sounds with These Fencing Options


Along with security and privacy, fences also work as sound barriers. If road sounds are one of the reasons why you want a fence, read below to learn more about how to block out the noise. This is a common reason for fence installations in the Denver area. 

Noise-Barrier Fences: Factors to Consider

A fence intended to serve as a noise barrier or “sound barrier” will typically use thick tongue-and-groove boards, in order to form an impervious barrier.

These boards are nailed to heavy rails, which in turn are supported by heavy posts. The operative word for noise barriers is obviously “heavy.” That is because, as a rule of thumb, mass dampens sounds best — so fencing serving the purpose of blocking road sounds needs to be heavier than most other fencing.

For the same reason, masonry walls are more effective at blocking road sounds than even the best wooden fences. Berms (walls of earth) also make for great noise barriers if you can build them so that they are high enough (which takes a lot of earth).

But if you are, in fact, committed to using wood, aim for a fence that is high and solid (that is, no gaps between the boards). Whichever material you use, first submit a detailed plan (with precise installation location on your property, exact measurements, etc.) to the powers that be to ensure that you will not be violating any city ordinances.

A tall fence situated close to the road will often put you on City Hall’s hit list, especially if it is on a street corner (where it could reduce drivers’ visibility). This is unfortunate, since height is a key element in blocking road sounds (sound waves can travel right over a short fence, thereby defeating

Mass-Loaded Vinyl: a Step Beyond the Typical Noise-Barrier Fence

One way to improve the effectiveness of a wooden noise-barrier fence is to add a soundproofing material called “mass-loaded vinyl” to it. The product is sold in rolls. Make sure it is listed as being for outdoor use.

It is easiest to apply mass-loaded vinyl when a fence is in the process of being built, rather than retroactively. The latter is certainly possible, but it means removing fence panels and then reattaching them later.

Read the full article here: What Kind of Fence Will Block Road Sounds Best? http://bit.ly/2vKDl1L

Schedule Accordingly for your New Fence


Scheduling out a fencing project can get complicated quickly. If you stay organized using these tips, the project will not only be easier on you, but it will be easier on your Denver fence company as well. 

Tips for Scheduling your Fence Project

Know what factors may set you off track during your fence repair or installation.

Building a white picket fence with a gate to welcome guests at the front of your home, or distinguishing your home’s property line with a chain link fence to divide your home from your neighbors, are two potential fence projects you may be considering for your home. Whether you need to upgrade your existing fence due to wear and tear or you need a completely new fence installed around the perimeter of your home, a fence project can be costly and time consuming. Some fence products can be bought by the foot while other material must be built from scratch, so knowing the cost factors of your fence construction project will help you adjust your time accordingly. There are many aspects that influence a home improvement schedule, so keep in mind these five factors when planning your fence project timeline.

1. Hiring a contractor

The first step to staying on track with your fence project is to hire the right professional to get the job done. Hiring a fencing contractor, landscaper or contractor will provide you with efficiency and expertise, which are two elements that will directly benefit your project’s success. When searching for a fence installer, make sure to reach out to two or three contractors who can provide you with estimates. This will give you a general idea of how much your fence installation or repair will cost. Be sure you ask to see a full breakdown in pricing including materials, labor costs, permitting, excavation, equipment rental, and clean-up so you can compare your various contractors equally.  Hiring smart will ensure your fencing is completed in a timely manner, as the right professional will respect your project requests and plans.

3. Site preparation

Whether you are replacing a fence or installing a new fence, it’s important to allocate enough time to prepare the area. This might include removal of the old fence, removing plants or trees, or performing site excavation.  If there are questions or concerns about property lines or erosion, make sure to allow enough time for that type of research to take place. If you are sharing the work load with a professional, find out what you need to do before the materials and crew shows up. Not taking care of initial steps can present set backs for your fence project.

5. Availability

Scheduling your fence repair or installation during holidays or in the midst of a busy season may result in your project taking longer than you had planned. Check the availability of your contractor before you hire. While busier contractors may have a greater amount of experience or popularity, they may be less available to devote 100% time and effort to your home’s project. If your schedule is flexible then you can work around your contractor’s availability. But if you want your fence completed by a specific date, make sure to voice your time frame expectations to your contractor before you begin working with him or her.


Read the full article here: 5 Tips for Scheduling your Fence Project – Porch Advice http://bit.ly/2vNiBXV



Protect your Yard from Pests


Do you know what you need when you have a pest problem in your yard? Chain link fences are sometimes the answer in the Denver area. Depending on the pest, the height and material change, but there is hope when it comes to protecting your yard! 

Keep Backyard Pests from Eating Your Greens

Backyard pests—squirrels, rabbits, moles—can destroy your landscaping and lawns. Here’s how to get rid of the ravenous critters.

Peter Rabbit and other backyard pests weave a path of destruction through your yard. They eat shrubs and gardens, chew power wires, and gnaw tree roots. Here’s how to tell which critters are doing damage, ways to protect your greens, and landscape changes that will encourage these pests to dine elsewhere.

Rabbit rascals

Calling cards: Ravaged vegetables, beheaded borders and flowers(especially tulips), and gnawed trees, such as red maple, honey locust, and evergreens.

Protection: Install 2-ft.-high fences that extend to the ground or below ($50 for 100 ft. of galvanized poultry fencing). Surround young tree trunks with plastic tree guard cylinders ($10).

Change habitat: Eliminate piles of brush, barricade cozy spots under sheds, and flatten back-lot debris piles where rabbits nest. Ivy, wisteria, and periwinkle will curb the munching, and fragrant herbs like thyme and lavender will turn them away.

Squirrely pests

Calling cards: Bumps in the night because they nest in your attic; power loss due to frayed wires; missing vegetables and flower bulbs; quickly emptied bird feeders.

Protection: Plug house entry places, such as gaps around utility pipes, broken windows, and uncapped chimneys. Cover wires with plastic pipe that will rotate, causing the squirrel to fall ($2.50 for a 2-ft. section). Sandwich bulbs underground between two layers of wire mesh ($175 for 100 ft. of 24-inch wire mesh).
 
Change habitat: Trim tree branches 6 to 8 ft. from buildings so squirrels can’t jump onto your roof. Switch to squirrel-proof tilting bird feeders ($25 and up) or domed feeders that close when weight limits are exceeded. Don’t plant oak trees—acorns are squirrel caviar. 

Deer disturbance

Calling cards: Flowering plants nibbled to the nubs; leaves torn from plants from ground level to 6 ft.; 2-inch gouges on tree trunks; hoof prints that resemble a broken heart.

Protection: Deer fence at least 8 ft. high; homemade and commercial deer repellents that taste and smell bad; barking dog.

Change habitat: Replace tasty fruit trees with spruce and pine. Swap lilies for ferns and rosemary. Add switch grass and ribbon grass—they’ll avoid these ornamentals. Bonus: Works for bunnies, too.

Read the full article here: Keep Backyard Pests from Eating Your Greens http://bit.ly/2fRgERK