Types of Roofing

When deciding on what type of roof Mike’s Construction LLC. should place on top of your house or business, it is very important as to consider what each roof type has to offer.



The following list will help you in the decision you have to make between EPDM flat roofing, asphalt shingles, or metal roof systems.

EPDM Flat roofing consists of ethylene propylene diene monomer, and is considered to be the most popular modern day roofing type for flat or low slope roofing systems.

1. This type of roofing has a service life of over 30 years given that the proper steps of installation and design are taken.
2. This type of roofing is common for businesses. Asphalt shingles are divided into two categories:
   
   1) Fiber glass and organic.
   
   2) The organic type has been known to be more durable, but fiber glass asphalt shingles are cheaper to buy and easier to manufacture.
3. This type of roofing is used primarily for homes. Metal roofing systems offer a huge benefit, in that they can reduce the energy consumption inside the home or business. They do this due to the certain colors that they come in. They also have a much longer life-span than both asphalt and EPDM roofing at 40-60 years with minimal maintenance. 
4. Metal roofing systems are used primarily for homes, but can also be used for businesses and industries.

 Trying to find the right roofing system for you can be a difficult process, but you educating yourself with the knowledge of several roofing types can be indispensable when the time comes to make a decision.

References

EPDM Roofing Systems, http://www.firestonebpco.com/roofing/epdm/

EPDM: A Roofing System for every climate, http://www.firestonebpco.com/templateFiles/includes/common/displayFile.ashx?fileId=17974

Asphalt Shingles, http://www.roofhelp.com/choices/asphaltshingles/

Residential Metal Roofing, http://www.mbci.com/residential.html 

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Are You Ready to Remodel Your Home?

A Pre-Remodeling Checklist

Remodeling your home can bring up quite a few emotions. Anxiety, excitement, frustration, and accomplishment are all feelings that can be associated with the remodeling of your home. Here are a few questions that you should consider before jumping in to any home improvement project:

“Do I have enough funds to complete the project?”

This is probably the biggest question you should be able to answer with a resounding yes, however many people don’t research the true cost of starting a home remodeling project. Paint, lumber, tools, nails, glue, the list can go on and on. Many people also overlook the fact that mistakes WILL be made during the process and you should budget accordingly.

“Do I have the skills needed to do this on my own?”

Many people believe that they are a carpenter, plumber, electrician, architect, interior designer, landscape artist all rolled into one being. The truth is, although we may have one or two of the skills above, we do not have all of them. This isn’t even considering the fact that half of those listed trades need licenses in order to do that kind of work. You should check into exactly what your remodeling project will entail before jumping into it.

“Do I have a plan?”

Almost everyone wants to be able to remodel some portion of their home, but very few of these people actually have a plan in place to carry it through. In the remodeling business, you should never want to “go with the flow” as unwanted consequences may emerge. Having a plan also reduces the amount of stress and frustration you may have when remodeling your home. These are just three questions that you should consider before taking a dive into the remodeling of your home. You should contact Me as your local Missouri home remodeling business if you need a contractor to do work that is outside your skillset or licensing.

How to decide on what Construction Company to Hire

“The construction industry has yet to move from a hesitant up-and-down pattern to more sustained expansion,” stated Robert A. Murray, Vice President of Economic Affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction.

“After plunging 23 percent in 2009, new construction starts edged up only 1 percent in 2010 and were unchanged in 2011, so the modest 2-percent increase predicted for 2012 is really more of the same. The backdrop for the construction industry remains the fragile U.S. economy, which continues to see slow employment growth, diminished funding from federal and state governments, and the uncertainty related to the U.S. fiscal stalemate and the European debt crisis. Read full story at CE News

How to decide on what Construction Company to Hire

Deciding on what construction company to hire can be a difficult task. Things ranging from quality of past work to the costs associated with the work being done are important factors when choosing a company. However, there are other things you should consider when hiring a construction company in Missouri to do work on your house, business, or any other project.

Depending on where you live, there may be licensing requirements that a company needs to have before they can begin work. If you knowingly hire a construction company or contractor that doesn’t have the required licenses, you can be held responsible if something goes wrong. Make sure you make copies of these licenses to have on file in case something does, in fact, go wrong.



When deciding on a construction company, also ask to have pictures of past work they have done. You may not know if the work was done properly so take these pictures to their other contractors you meet with to ensure the quality of the work. When asking for these pictures, make sure you receive pictures that show work similar to the work you want to have done. This ensures that the company has experience in the work you want to be done.



Finally, discuss the costs of the work that needs to be done with an expert to ensure you are not over paying the company doing work for you.  Educate yourself with costs of the lumber, tools, and accessories needed to complete this project on your own before hiring a contractor or construction company in Missouri to do the work for you.



Hopefully by following the above three steps you can become more knowledgeable when hiring a construction company. There is no possible way to keep mistakes from happening, however you can reduce the chances of one being made when you follow licensing requirements, check past history, and have a brief understanding of costs associated with the construction project.

Thirty-Two Percent of Missouri Construction Companies to add employees:

According to an AGC.com survey.

The title says it all, but what does this say about the construction industry as a whole? The survey also states that thirty-two percent plan no change at all, with eighteen percent either not knowing or laying off their employees. The numbers speak volumes about the country’s volatile economic climate and even more about the construction industry. So what could be the cause behind the uncertainty? With most companies jumping from one job to the next at some point companies hit a dead end. The construction industry is oversaturated with thousands of companies fighting over hundreds of jobs.



So what could be the solution for this gigantic problem? Well the merging of current construction groups could increase work output, while also diminishing the number of construction companies bidding for work.  A majority of the hiring companies are taking anywhere between 1-5 new employees. This represents a 25% increase in the hiring company’s workforce.



Keep this in mind as the companies who are laying off 1-5 employees are doing so losing 96% of their employees. Therefore, most companies who are hiring will most likely be picking up the displaced workers of small construction crews. Over time, if this continues, many will see a decrease in the amount of competition over construction projects.



This article is not intended for financial advice and is meant for recreational reading purposes. Contact your financial adviser for a detailed assessment for your investment strategy.





2012 Construction Outlook Survey Results MISSOURI, http://www.agc.org/galleries/news/Missouri.pdf, AGC of America

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.

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.