Enhancing the Beauty of your Home through Landscaping 2

 Waterfalls

In most cases you will find people investing in devices that produce a sound of waterfall. They place them in the living room or on their work desks and recreate the scene of a small waterfall to help them relax. Why not construct a larger one on your property? Your waterfall could be a constant focal point for relaxation as you develop exactly what you want to see and hear using natural materials. You can lavishly decorate your waterfall with plants, creating a unique look that can remove pollutants from the air and water as it soothes. Many waterfalls can run on solar-powered pumps so you don’t have to worry about huge electricity bills.

 Ponds

You can construct small ponds in the compound to house marine life to further accentuate the scene. A pond built with natural materials can give it a unique presence that will catch the eye of passers-by. Some ponds are large enough that designers will even construct small footbridges over them to enhance the experience. Apart from just serving as a beauty enhancement spot on your property, you can stock the ponds with fish and this can serve a source food.

 Native Flowerbeds

 Developing a nicely decorated flowerbed is one of the cheapest ways to enhance the look of your compound. When doing native flowerbeds go for native species that allows you to do more than beautify. Growing the plants native to your area can better as they require less maintenance, perform well from season to season, and support the insect life that supports native birds. As well, the native plants that you grow will give your garden a sense of belonging.

Natural landscaping doesn't have to cost you a lot of money. You can do the work by yourself. However, it will require patience and time as you grow seeds into flowers and sculpt rocks. Doing your own landscaping has hidden benefits, like reducing stress and providing exercise.

Segregation in Concrete

Segregation is a process by which large aggregates separate small aggregates and is normally caused by pouring concrete from heights of more than one meter.

To obtain a good concrete all the ingredients must be properly distributed so that a homogeneous mixture is achieved. There is considerable difference in the sizes and specific gravities of the constituent ingredients of concrete making it natural that the materials show a tendency to fall apart.

A concrete that is well mixed by taking into consideration various parameters such as grading, size, shape and surface texture of aggregate with optimum quantity of water will result into a good cohesive mix thus limiting the chances for segregation. The cohesive and fatty characteristic of the concrete mix does not allow the aggregate to fall apart and at the same time it plays a crucial role in containing the aggregate by denying water an easy way to drain out freely from the rest of the ingredients.

The conditions that make concrete prone to segregation include;

• Badly proportioned mix with absence of sufficient matrix to bind and contain the aggregates. 

• Insufficiently mixed concrete with excess water content. 

• Dropping of concrete from high heights as in the case of placing concrete in column concreting. 

• When concrete is discharged from a badly designed mixer, or from a mixer with worn out blades. 

• Conveyance of concrete by conveyor belts, wheel barrow, long distance haul by dumper, long lift by skip and hoist are the other situations promoting segregation of concrete. 

• Lack of sufficient vibration. Vibration of concrete is one of the important methods of compaction. It should be remembered that only comparatively dry mix should be vibrated. It should be noted that vibration is continued just for required time for optimum results. If it is overdone particularly in a too wet mix, it is likely to result in segregation of concrete due to settlement of coarse aggregate in matrix.

Segregation can be avoided by; 

•     Properly following the right concrete mix-design. 

•     Mixing concrete ingredients properly. 

•     Maintaining the correct water-cement ratio. 

•     Not dropping concrete from too high heights during placing. 

•     Avoiding over vibration of the concrete.

Bleeding in Concrete

Bleeding in Concrete

Bleeding is a form of segregation where some of the water in the concrete tends to rise to the surface of the freshly placed material. This arises due to the inability of the solid components of the concrete to hold all of the mixing water when they settle downwards (water being the lightest of all the mix constituents). Bleeding of the water continues until the cement paste has stiffened enough to end the sedimentation process.

Remixing of the bleed water during the finishing of the top surface must be avoided as this will result into a weak top surface. To avoid this, the finishing operations can be delayed until the bleed water has evaporated. Conversely, if evaporation of the surface water is faster than the rate of bleed then plastic shrinkage cracking may occur.

Bleeding is predominantly observed in a highly wet mix, badly proportioned and insufficiently mixed concrete. In thin members like roof slab and when concrete is placed in sunny weather excessive bleeding is bound to occur.

Due to bleeding, water comes up and accumulates at the surface. Sometimes, along with this water, certain quantity of cement also comes to the surface. When the surface is worked up with the trowel, the aggregate goes down and the cement and water come up to the top surface. This formation of cement paste at the surface is known as “Laitance” and this causes the top surface of slabs not to have good wearing quality.

Water while traversing from bottom to top, makes continuous channels. If the water cement ratio used is more than 0.7, the bleeding channels will remain continuous and un- segmented. These continuous bleeding channels are often responsible for causing permeability of the concrete structures. While the mixing water is in the process of coming up, it may be intercepted by aggregates. The bleeding water is likely to accumulate below the aggregate. This accumulation of water creates water voids and reduces the bond between the aggregates and the paste.

The above aspect is more pronounced in the case of flaky aggregate. Similarly, the water that accumulates below the reinforcing bars reduces the bond between the reinforcement and the concrete. The poor bond between the aggregate and the paste or the reinforcement and the paste due to bleeding can be remedied by re vibration of concrete. The formation of laitance and the consequent bad effect can be reduced by delayed finishing operations.

Bleeding rate increases with time up to about one hour or so and thereafter the rate decreases but continues more or less till the final setting time of cement.
  

 Prevention of Bleeding in concrete

• Bleeding can be reduced by proper proportioning and uniform and complete mixing. 

• Use of finely divided pozzolanic materials reduces bleeding by creating a longer path for the water to traverse. 

• Bleeding can be reduced by the use of finer cement or cement with low alkali content. Rich mixes are less susceptible to bleeding than lean mixes.

The bleeding is not completely harmful if the rate of evaporation of water from the surface is equal to the rate of bleeding. Removal of water ( after it has played its role in providing workability) from the body of concrete by way of bleeding will do good to the concrete.

Early bleeding when the concrete mass is fully plastic may not cause much harm because concrete being in a fully plastic condition at that stage will get subsided and compacted. It is in the delayed bleeding state and when the concrete has lost its plasticity that undue harm is caused to the concrete. Controlled re vibration may be adopted to overcome the bad effect of bleeding.

Concrete and its Properties 2

Concrete is the pourable mixture of cement, water, sand, and gravel that hardens into a super-strong building material. Concrete is commonly used to cast building foundations, sidewalks, slabs and columns and even highways are all made of concrete.

Proportioning and mixing concrete

The proportion of each material in the concrete mixture affects the strength and durability of the final hardened concrete. Though measurement by volume is suitable for minor projects in large scale projects the proportions are best determined by means of weight as the use of volume may not be as accurate. When proportioning the concrete mixture the environment in which the concrete is to be used should be carefully considered; ie exposure to sea water, trucks, cars, forklifts, foot traffic or extremes of hot and cold.

A good concrete mix should produce concrete that is easily workable, cohesive when plastic and can be easily placed at a favorable cost. The mix should give a strong and durable concrete when it sets and hardens.

Properties of Concrete

Properties of concrete are divided into two major groups;

1. Fresh Concrete Properties

2. Hardened Concrete Properties

In this article and the subsequent series that will follow we shall focus our attention on Fresh Concrete, its properties, challenges and how to avoid them.

Fresh Concrete

Fresh concrete is the type of concrete that is still in its plastic form. This is also referred to as "Green Concrete".

Properties of Fresh Concrete

Properties that determine fresh concrete are;

•    Setting

•    Workability

•    Bleeding

•    Segregation

•    Hydration

•    Air Entrainment

1. Setting

Setting of concrete is the hardening of concrete before its hydration or before it gains strength.

Concrete setting is related to the setting of cement paste. Thus cement properties may greatly affect the setting time.
Some of the factors that influence or affect the setting of concrete include;

• Water-Cement ratio - It is water cement ratio that basically governs the setting of the concrete. The correct proportion of water cement ratio will guarantee a perfect and fast concrete setting.

• Type of cement - Cement affects the hydration process and therefore setting of concrete. Cement is the    paste that holds or binds all the ingredients. The quality of cementing material used greatly determines how well fast the setting will come out.

• Cement content - Cement content in the concrete mix should be in the right and advised quantity.

• Type of Aggregate - Rough and angular aggregates are preferable as they provide greater bonding.

Other factors include humidity and temperature.

Concrete and its Properties 1

This week we continue with the second part of our four part series on Concrete and its properties by considering the concrete work-ability.

Work-ability of Concrete

What is concrete work-ability? You may ask.

This is the ease with which concrete can be transported, placed and consolidated without excessive bleeding or segregation. For the concrete to be workable it should be consistent.  Consistence is sometimes taken to mean the degree of wetness. Within limits, wet concretes are more workable than dry concrete, but concrete of same consistence may vary in work-ability.

Because the strength of concrete is adversely and significantly affected by the presence of voids in the compacted mass, it is vital to achieve a maximum possible density. This requires sufficient work-ability for virtually full compaction to be possible using a reasonable amount of work under the given conditions. Presence of voids in concrete reduces the density and greatly reduces the strength of the concrete.

 Factors affecting concrete work-ability include;

1. Water content or Water Cement Ratio

More the water cement ratio more will be work-ability of concrete. Since by simply adding water the inter particle lubrication is increased. High water content results in a higher fluidity and greater workability. Increased water content also results in bleeding. another effect of increased water content can also be that cement slurry will escape through joints of form work.

High water content results in a higher fluidity and greater work-ability. Increased water content also results in bleeding.  Another effect of increased water content can also be that cement slurry will escape through joints of form work.

 2. Amount and type of Aggregate

  The greater the size of the aggregate the less water will be to lubricate it thus making available extra water for work-ability. Using smooth and round aggregate helps in increases the work-ability. Work-ability of the concrete may reduce in a case where angular and rough aggregate is used. Angular aggregates increase flakiness or elongation thus reducing work-ability. On the other hand round smooth aggregates require less water and less lubrication and it allows greater work-ability in a given water/cement ratio mix.

 3.  Aggregate Cement ratio

When the ratio of aggregate to cement is higher than recommended  the less the work-ability on the concrete will be since less cement means less water and this will result into a paste that is stiff thus reducing work-ability.

 4.  Weather Conditions

Weather conditions such as high temperature and strong winds affect both the setting and the work-ability of the concrete. Strong winds and high temperatures cause increase in the rate of evaporation leading to reduction in the amount of water in the concrete mix thus affecting work-ability.

 5. Chemical Admixtures

The use of certain chemical admixtures has been known to increase work-ability of the concrete. For instance the use of air en-training agent is known to produce air bubbles which act as a sort of ball bearing between particles and increases mobility and work-ability. This also helps to decrease bleeding and segregation. Use of fine Pozzolanic material produces better lubricating effect that helps in providing more work-ability.

 6.  Sand to Aggregate ratio

The higher the amount of sand in the concrete mix the more the work-ability will reduce. This is because sand has more surface area and more contact area and this may end up causing more resistance.

When preparing a concrete mix proportion the ingredients using the appropriate weight or volume. This will help to provide the desired strength and work-ability at minimum expense.

A low water-cement ratio may be applied to achieve a stronger concrete. It would therefore appear that by making the cement content high one could use enough for good work-ability and still have a low water/cement ratio. As true as it may be the problem is that cement is the most costly of the basic mix ingredients. 

Dealing with situations in construction

Dealing with situations in construction

Even in full working order, construction can be messy. No amount of process "innovation" seems to alter this basic reality. Owners today remain apprehensive about the risks of construction and the ability of designers and builders to reliably deliver. In what seems to be a nearly permanent state of demand for the next best thing, the marketplace is responding to calls for change of status quo project delivery paradigms. Project constituents never quite seem to catch up. Productivity suffers as the learning curve seems never-ending. However, when notice to proceed is given and schedule pressure takes hold, discussion of collaboration must give way to actual collaboration. One of the most valued collaborative skills for design professionals is expert proficiency in situational judgment. Situational judgment tells us how to go about solving the problem by first understanding what really constitutes the problem.

 What exactly constitutes a situation in construction? A situation usually means that a technical or process problem needs to be solved. It is a precarious moment that requires using proportional measures of delicate diplomacy and blunt talk.

 Construction situations demand that design professionals be part sleuth, part sage, part cool customer, and part improvisation list. This calls for a well-developed ability in areas of diagnostics, experience, mindset, and creativity. If diagnostic skill is all about analysis and discernment of what is relevant, then the foundation of that skill rests on our experience. Our experience is the repository of the knowledge that we use as a basis of comparison to identify with the elements of the situation. However, great diagnostic ability that is firmly rooted in solid experience is not enough. In the construction environment, problem solving is always under some form of duress. The "hurry up" mantra of schedule pressure, cost constraints, and expectations of quality all exert enormous influence on everything we do.  Under stressful conditions, our mindset is vital; it must promote action over paralysis.

 Lastly, we need to develop creative skills that synthesize solutions by using tools on hand, left to us by the situation. Emphasizing development in these four areas should be the goal of every professional involved in the construction process.

Painting An Exterior Wall

Painting An Exterior Wall

Painting is one of those jobs around home that you can do on your own especially if it is not the first painting. However there are certain basics that need to be applied while doing both interior and exterior painting though the latter involves more work because of exposure to tough weather conditions.

 Exterior part of any building is the part that is exposed to direct weather conditions that may adversely affect the aesthetics and even the durability of the building. Here we look at what to do and what to avoid while doing exterior painting;

Dos’

ü      Carefully choose which type of paint that is to be applied, whether latex, water or oil based.

ü      Pick the right set of brushes as well. This is crucial and the choice of brush to be used is largely dependent on the nature of the wall surface, durability and the ease of cleaning amongst other factors.

ü      Certain paint colors do not go well with exterior painting. Be sure to choose the right color for outdoor paint works. Your exterior walls may be exposed to dust and it may not make sense to use bright colors on such. Different colors may be used for different parts of the building i.e. walls, skirting, windows and doors but you should ensure that the colors blend. If you do not have full ownership of the house then you may want to stick to the colors already in place.

ü      Mix all cans of paint of the same color into a bucket before you paint. This ensures the uniformity in the mixture concentration thus giving the final outcome an even tone.

ü      Start painting from top towards bottom. Starting from the top will ensure that any flowing paint does not interfere with already painted areas.

 Don’ts

o       Avoid choosing low quality of paint especially for exterior work. Adverse weather temperatures, rain or even sunlight may result in cracking, peeling or fading too soon of the painting especially if it is of low quality. Bubbling may occur for areas that are highly humid ant this would mean that you will need to repaint sooner and in the long run cheap turns out to be expensive.

o       Do not paint over peeling or bubbled paint or over dirty surfaces. Wash and sand the surfaces and ensure that they are dry before painting. This will guarantee that the paint adheres to the surface properly therefore lasting longer.

o       Do not paint during the rainy since the paint needs ample time to dry. Too hot season may not be ideal too. Schedule your painting work in a period where the temperatures are neither too cold nor too hot.

Enhancing the Beauty of your Home through Landscaping

Enhancing the Beauty of your Home through Landscaping

The compound of any establishment or home is the first thing that will catch the attention of visitors. Is the first part that people see when they look towards any home, therefore manicured lawns and nicely done landscape enhances the beauty of your home and creates a sight to behold. Also a home with a good landscape helps you relax making it a healthier place to live. It improves the value of your property too.

 Various landscaping designs and ideas exist giving you a wider choice of which would you like to use to enhance the beauty of your home.

  Raised Gardens

A common design of natural landscaping is the raised garden or flowerbed. Raised gardens are achieved by putting up a retaining wall to lift the planting bed a few feet higher than the ground level. By use of stones or blocks you can make a short wall that you fill with soil and plant your garden. The selection of building materials that you will use for the retaining wall also creates an opportunity to enhance the beauty of the garden. Raised gardens provide more character to your yard by adding plants at various heights to engage the eye.

Stone Pathways

Stone Pathways is one of the commonly used natural additions to many lawns and landscaping work. They can be placed in a wandering pattern throughout your lawn, reminiscent of stepping stones through an ocean of green grass; also, you can use them to replace cement to give the patio or barbeque area a natural look and feel and to promote better drainage. As a variety of stones are available for any design, you can find nearly any color or style to match your specific needs.

Natural Materials Patio

By looking to nature for your building materials, you can create a lavishly decorated patio that looks as if it were cut out of the Earth. Stone steps and rock retaining walls can elevate the patio and give you the sense of sitting on top of a mountain peak. This form of patio works exceptionally well if your lawn is at a lower level than the rest of the home. Many lawns slope up toward the house, so leveling it at a high point gives you a good start on laying this patio.

Retaining Walls

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are designed to help contain soils and hold them in place behind the inside face of a vertical (wall) structure. They are installed when a large shift in a site’s grade elevation is desired in a very short distance, in some cases for aesthetic reasons.

 Care must be taken when designing and building a retaining wall since the soils contained behind the wall are trapped at a nearly vertical angle and depending on the height of the wall and the soils there can be tremendous pressures from the soil which the wall must withstand. Additionally, any loads on top of the soil contained behind the wall (known as a surcharge), such as paving or other site improvements, will contribute to an even greater loading on a retaining wall structure. Moisture content and adequate drainage of the retained soils is also an important consideration.

 Retaining walls can be constructed using different types of materials, and several basic principles may be applied to resist the pressures developed behind the wall. A gravity retaining wall relies on the weight of the wall materials themselves to resist the pressures exerted by the contained soils and surcharge. Rocks and gabions (rock ballast that is usually contained within wire cages) can be employed in a gravity-based retaining wall on principles similar to those of a gravity dam.

 An example of retaining wall is the cantilever retaining wall. Cantilever retaining wall looks like an inverted letter “T” in cross section. The cross section is designed to adequately contain the soil pressures and any surcharge through its two basic components: a base (horizontal portion) and stem (vertical portion). The outside tip of the base is referred to as the “toe” and the inside tip of the base is the “heel”. A cantilever retaining wall relies much less on material weight, but requires a careful analysis of the loads exerted on the wall components and the soil characteristics at the project site.

 Cantilever retaining walls are most often made of reinforced concrete or combinations of other materials such as steel and wood. Cantilever retaining wall design must address many complex forces interacting concurrently; which include the soil pressure acting on the inside wall stem, any surcharge, soil weights on the wall base, the soil characteristics beneath the base to resist sliding and settling and the movements created by all these forces acting at the heel and toe. Additionally, the connection between the base and stem is a critical structural detail in cantilever retaining wall design.

Understanding various Roofing Styles and Slopes

There are many different roofing styles that are employed in the building field today. Each style is unique in its structure and design and often times to a particular location. Different building types also do determine, at times, the type of roof that will cover it.

The reason that certain roofing styles are used in specific locations is because different roofing styles adapt differently depending on the geography and the climatic conditions of certain places. This article outlines some of the most popular roofing styles used today, and provides some details about each one.

 Hipped Roof

This type of roof is characterized by four uniformly pitched or sloped sides resembling a pyramid. The main differentiator of a hip roof is the fact that all of the walls forming the house are of the same height, and all walls meet the roof at the same height. There are no gables to be found in houses that feature a hip roof, which allows for gutters that follow the circumference of the roof edge without requiring any tricks or seams to complete.

Houses that feature this type of roof are considerably sturdier in areas that are prone to strong winds. High winds tend to flow over the angles of a hip roof instead of being caught up against gable walls. As wind resistance can be a major cause of damage in high-wind events, having a hip roof can end up saving the house from damage or destruction.

On other hand having a hip roof constraints space especially attic space. The other downside is that when constructing a variation of the roof there will be seams formed in the roof (valleys) which tend to collect all sorts of leaves and other material, and these must be kept clear or drainage will be affected.

Gable Roof

The gable roof and its many variations are the most popular roof type used in many parts of the world.  Gable roofs can be found literally everywhere – they’re easily recognizable from the triangular gable walls that are on two ends of the house.
The gable roof itself has two roof surfaces in its most basic variation, which are designed on the same angle of slope and come down to meet the walls on two sides of the house. On the other two sides, the gable walls come up to the point formed by the meeting of the two sections of the gable roof. The many styles of gable roof are well suited to areas that have a lot of precipitation, as the steep slopes of the roof can easily move rain off.

The downside is going by the way that they are constructed, houses that have a this type of roof are susceptible to high winds thus they are not recommended to areas that experience regular extreme and strong winds.

Cross-Hipped Roof

The cross-hipped roof is a variation of the common hipped roof, except that on a cross-hipped roof, perpendicular wings are added to the main section of roof, forming two individual sections both with their own hipped façade. The cross-hipped roof is commonly found on houses that have an “l” shape.  A gambrel roof is constructed so that each side has two slopes; a steeper lower slope, and a flatter upper one. This is often associated with barns.

The cross-hipped roof essentially involved pushing two hipped roof sections together, which forms seams in the roof that are commonly referred to as valleys. These valleys must be carefully constructed and maintained, since they will be an area of weakness in the roof membrane if the initial construction isn’t solid and watertight.

The difference between cross-hipped roof varies from the almost similar cross-gabled roof is the absence of gables on the sides of the house. With a cross-hipped roof, all of the walls are the same height, and the roof meets the walls on a straight angle.  The cross-hipped roof also offers significantly improved internal framing and bracing when compared to a cross-gabled roof, and thus will provide more structural strength.

Cross-Gabled Roof

Cross-gabled roof is constructed much like a regular gable roof, but instead of a single roof section, there are two roof sections put together at a right angle. This type of roof is popular on houses that form an “L” shape, as the roof sections connect together at a perpendicular angle, and allow for just a small seam down the two sides where the sections join.

This kind of roof is a bit complicated and it requires a professional who has built a cross-gabled roof before. So if you plan using a cross gabled roof it is important to have a roofing profession to take a look at the wall structure and plans of your house. If not done properly they can be difficult and the many seams provide the opportunity for leaking.

Understanding various Roofing Styles and Slopes

There are many different roofing styles that are employed in the building field today. Each style is unique in its structure and design and often times to a particular location. Different building types also do determine, at times, the type of roof that will cover it.

The reason that certain roofing styles are used in specific locations is because different roofing styles adapt differently depending on the geography and the climatic conditions of certain places. This article outlines some of the most popular roofing styles used today, and provides some details about each one.

 Hipped Roof

This type of roof is characterized by four uniformly pitched or sloped sides resembling a pyramid. The main differentiator of a hip roof is the fact that all of the walls forming the house are of the same height, and all walls meet the roof at the same height. There are no gables to be found in houses that feature a hip roof, which allows for gutters that follow the circumference of the roof edge without requiring any tricks or seams to complete.

Houses that feature this type of roof are considerably sturdier in areas that are prone to strong winds. High winds tend to flow over the angles of a hip roof instead of being caught up against gable walls. As wind resistance can be a major cause of damage in high-wind events, having a hip roof can end up saving the house from damage or destruction.

On other hand having a hip roof constraints space especially attic space. The other downside is that when constructing a variation of the roof there will be seams formed in the roof (valleys) which tend to collect all sorts of leaves and other material, and these must be kept clear or drainage will be affected.

Gable Roof

The gable roof and its many variations are the most popular roof type used in many parts of the world.  Gable roofs can be found literally everywhere – they’re easily recognizable from the triangular gable walls that are on two ends of the house.
The gable roof itself has two roof surfaces in its most basic variation, which are designed on the same angle of slope and come down to meet the walls on two sides of the house. On the other two sides, the gable walls come up to the point formed by the meeting of the two sections of the gable roof. The many styles of gable roof are well suited to areas that have a lot of precipitation, as the steep slopes of the roof can easily move rain off.

The downside is going by the way that they are constructed, houses that have a this type of roof are susceptible to high winds thus they are not recommended to areas that experience regular extreme and strong winds.

Cross-Hipped Roof

The cross-hipped roof is a variation of the common hipped roof, except that on a cross-hipped roof, perpendicular wings are added to the main section of roof, forming two individual sections both with their own hipped façade. The cross-hipped roof is commonly found on houses that have an “l” shape.  A gambrel roof is constructed so that each side has two slopes; a steeper lower slope, and a flatter upper one. This is often associated with barns.

The cross-hipped roof essentially involved pushing two hipped roof sections together, which forms seams in the roof that are commonly referred to as valleys. These valleys must be carefully constructed and maintained, since they will be an area of weakness in the roof membrane if the initial construction isn’t solid and watertight.

The difference between cross-hipped roof varies from the almost similar cross-gabled roof is the absence of gables on the sides of the house. With a cross-hipped roof, all of the walls are the same height, and the roof meets the walls on a straight angle.  The cross-hipped roof also offers significantly improved internal framing and bracing when compared to a cross-gabled roof, and thus will provide more structural strength.

Cross-Gabled Roof

Cross-gabled roof is constructed much like a regular gable roof, but instead of a single roof section, there are two roof sections put together at a right angle. This type of roof is popular on houses that form an “L” shape, as the roof sections connect together at a perpendicular angle, and allow for just a small seam down the two sides where the sections join.

This kind of roof is a bit complicated and it requires a professional who has built a cross-gabled roof before. So if you plan using a cross gabled roof it is important to have a roofing profession to take a look at the wall structure and plans of your house. If not done properly they can be difficult and the many seams provide the opportunity for leaking.

Compressed Earth Blocks/ Stabilized Soil Blocks

Compressed Earth Block or Stabilized Soil Block as commonly referred is a type of manufactured construction material formed in a mechanical press that forms a compressed block out of an appropriate mixture of fairly dry inorganic soil, non-expansive clay aggregate and cement.

Compressed block technology has been developed for low-cost construction. Stabilized soil blocks technology has been advanced by eco-friendly contractors, manufacturers of the mechanical presses, and by cultural acceptance of the method. This technology is gaining a wide acceptance in the developing countries because of its cost effectiveness.

There exist different types of soil blocks production machines from manual to semi-automated and fully automated. Automated machines are more common in the developed world while manual machines are widely used in the developing world.

Using Stabilized Soil Blocks:

Foundations

Standards for foundations are similar to those applied to brick walls. A stabilized soil block wall is heavy therefore footings must be at least 10 inches (250mm)  thick, with a minimum width that is 33 percent greater than the wall width. If a stem wall is used, it shall extend to an elevation not less than 8 inches (200 mm) above the exterior finish grade. Rubble-filled foundation trench designs with a reinforced concrete grade beam above are allowed to support stabilized soil block construction.

Walling

Construction method is simple. Less skilled labor is required; wall construction can be done with unskilled labor encouraging self-sufficiency. The blocks are stabilized with cement so they can be laid just like bricks and assembled using standard masonry techniques of brick-laying or even in some cases dry stacked further reducing total construction costs.

Finishing

Finishing on stabilized soil block walls require either a reinforced bond beam or a ring beam and plaster finish, usually cement and or lime plaster. Properly stabilized blocks can be left exposed with no outer plaster finish.



Advantages of Using Stabilized Soil Blocks

The soil block technology has got a host of advantages. On-site materials can be used, which reduces cost and increases efficiency and sustainability. The wait-time required to obtain materials is minimal, because after the blocks are pressed, materials are available very soon after a short drying period. The uniformity of the blocks simplifies construction, and minimizes or eliminates the need for mortar, thus reducing both the labor and materials costs. The blocks are strong, stable, water-resistant and long-lasting. Advantages of CEB include:

1. Uniformity

Uniformly sized building components can result in less waste, faster construction and the possibility of using other pre-made components or modular manufactured building elements. Such modular elements as sheet metal roofing can be easily integrated into a CEB structure. The possibility of using such components can often improve the overall quality of the structure as well.

 2. Affordability

The use of natural, locally-available materials makes good housing available to more people, and keeps money in the local economy rather than spending it on importation of building materials.

3. Eco- Friendly

 Here are some of the Eco-friendly aspects of soil blocks;

a) Energy Savings

A building with soil block walls absorbs heat and releases it evenly, adding to the comfort of the inhabitants. Energy savings are significant as a lot less energy is required to heat and cool such buildings.

b) Renewable Materials

Earth is a renewable, abundant resource. Unlike fiber board, plywood, and other modern building materials, its production does not require the use of dangerous chemicals.

c) Inexpensive

In poor communities, the use of stabilized soil blocks is especially advantageous. The main component which is the earth/soil is readily available and the compression machines can be powered or operated by hand thus avoiding the risk of environmental pollution which may arise from using by fuel/diesel powered machines.

d) Saves Trees

Perhaps the most obvious but still significant environmental advantage of using stabilized soil blocks in construction is that is reduces reliance on forest-based materials. In other words, it does not require the use of wood to bake them thus saving the much needed forests.

e) Insect Control

Many homeowners have had to call in a pest control specialist at one time or another. Some people have regular applications of pesticide in and around their homes. The environmental issues with pesticide use are numerous. But stabilized soil blocks homes are naturally insect resistant, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

For more construction insights, kindly visit our website at www.fundimjanja.com

Understanding various Roofing Styles and Slopes

Pyramidal Roof

As the name suggests, this is a type of roof that is shaped like a pyramid.

The pyramid roof  is a common variation of the hip roof, which is known for its gable-less walls which all come up to meet the roof at the same height. The pyramid hip roof features four triangular sections which meet at a high point in the center of the roof, at its peak; the pyramid roof looks very much like a small pyramid was placed on top of the four walls of the house.

Just like the other types of roofs, the pyramid hip roof has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of a pyramid roof is that there are no gables which can offer significant wind resistance in areas that are prone to extreme wind conditions. While this makes a pyramid roof sturdier, there is less space underneath the roof and accessing the inside of the roof to perform maintenance is somewhat a struggle.

Another positive feature of houses that have a pyramid roof is that they generally also have eaves around the four sides of the house and this helps in providing shade to the walls and can help keep the home cooler during hot weather.

Shed Roof

The shed roof is one of the easiest types of roof to construct, and for this reason is generally found on smaller structures that are either homemade or not meant for housing purposes; hence the name ‘shed’ roof. Generally, if one was to find a shed roof on a house, it would be as part of an addition. The shed roof is very easy to spot as it has a single roof face and a single slope. It is commonly used over a porch or veranda that has been added on to the house.

The construction a shed roof is much easier as compared to the other roof types and can be done by someone with basic construction or carpentry skills.  The shed roof is relatively impervious to leaks, which makes it an excellent choice for structures shed and car parks.

Flat Roof

The flat roof is the most popular type of roofing and is used on many different home designs as it is one of the most economical types of roof to construct. A flat roof contains no slopes, and may or may not have eaves. It is generally made from materials such metal sheets among others.
Some of the benefits of a flat roof are that it's easier to construct and generally more accessible.

The main downside to this type of roof is that it requires more maintenance than other roofs because most of the time debris will collect and settle on the roof.  Also a flat roof is very susceptible to damage from water that collects in the form of pools or puddles should it should sag anywhere. If this water collects and retains on the roof for sometimes it weakens the roofing material used and this may lead to leaking.

In Conclusion

If you are in need of a new roof, and are unsure about what types and styles will work for your home or building, consult with a professional in the field. You can good and qualified professional for your work by visiting the following link and contacting them directly.

http://fundimjanja.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=122

Where you live can make a big difference, as well as the type of building you are wishing to re-roof. There are many options available to you and good professional  to assist you in making this decision.

The cost of your new roof will also vary according to the type of roof you choose and materials used. Certain roofs are more complex than others and some materials cost more than others. The exact type you choose can be a matter of personal preference or can depend on location. Before you make a decision research all the types available to you to find out which will be best. Also ask about installation costs.