The Benefits of Trimming your Trees

We’ve had a couple people ask us why trees need to be trimmed at all, so we called in out friends from Tree Service North Andover MA to give us a couple of reasons why tree trimming is important.

The first and most obvious reason is the tree’s appearance! Just like with a hair cut, a good regular tree trim will make any tree look like it’s well taken care of and keep it from getting all wild with unruly branches and overgrown limbs.

Next, keeping a segment of trees well-trimmed adds to the aesthetic of the entire landscape, boosting the appeal of entire neighborhoods. Trimming also keeps branches from clustering and allows rain water and sunlight to reach the ground around it, keeping the land nourished.

One of the most important reasons to trim your trees is the trees’ health. And overgrown tree is more often than not and unhealthy tree and will be prone to damage and rot which can lead to the tree being a hazard to its surroundings. The practice of trimming trees for the sake of health is referred to as “pruning.”

As we touched on just now, keeping a tree well trimmed is part of keeping the surroundings safe. Trees with large and loose branches are often a danger to things and people around it. Falling branches can do serious damage, and overgrown roots will damage any pavement or concrete in it’s vicinity.

Get in touch with your local tree experts today to get your trees trimmed and keep your neighborhood clean and safe!

Roofing Materials to Choose From

The roof of your house is one of the most important parts; aesthetically, functionally and as far as your house’s worth on the market goes as well. Putting a little time and thought into what type of material you want on your roof will definitely pay off not only in the long run, but immediately in how much you’ll be able to enjoy your home.

Here are a couple of roofing materials that are popular choices for roofing which you might want to consider using when getting your roof done:

·        Rolled Roofing. This is a material often used for low-slope residential roofs and sheds, shops, as well as other out-buildings. It’s one of the less expensive materials; generally under $2.50 per square foot.

·        Built-Up Roofing. This is one of the oldest materials used for roofing, and is used specifically for flat roofs. It generally costs under $5 per square foot. Using layers of roofing felt and asphalt, it forms four thick layers topped off with crushed stone and hot tar leaving you with a tough and durable roof.

·        Membrane Roofing. If you’ve got a very low-pitch roof or a flat roof then membrane roofing is a great option. You can use Neoprene, PVC, Polymer-modified bitumens and EPDM for mebrane roofs. You can count on it costing under $4 per square foot and it will generally last up to 35 years before it needs replacement.

·        Asphalt Composite Shingles. These shingles are the most popular roofing material across North America. Almost every contractor will give you a 20-30 year guarantee with these shingles and, depending on the quality, they can last you from anywhere between 12-30 years. The will cost you from $1.50-$3.50 per square foot.

·        Standing Seam Metal Roofing. When it comes to metal roofing, the standing seam is the most common. It’s got steel or aluminum panels that join into seams that are raised up to keep out moisture, hence the name “standing seam.” This one’s a little more costly, running from $6-$12 per square foot, but you can count on this type of roofing to last you up to 75 years without needing to be replaced.

These are just a few of the most common roofing materials you can choose from, but there a whole lot more!

Different Kinds of Fireplaces

A fireplace is often a decorative centerpiece in many homes, and it’s almost impossible for it not to be! I mean, it provides heat, it looks good, and it’s usually situated in the main living room space where it’s clearly visible for everyone to enjoy.

Here we’re going to take a little look at a couple different types of fireplaces that you’ll have to choose between when getting a new fireplace put it.

The first step when choosing a fireplace is always deciding what kind of fuel you’re going with and from there you’ll narrow down your options considerably.

Wood is a type of fuel that’s easy to get your hands on not to mention a healthy and renewable energy source. Gas is another easy energy source to get your hands on in most parts of the country. It’s a silent burner and is tidier and easier to maintain than wood since you eliminate the entire lumber purchasing process as well as being able to avoid the hefty amount of cleaning that you need to do with wood fireplaces. Gas is generally up to 55 percent more effective as an energy saver than wood, and you have the added bonus of a simple “press the button” approach to lighting up your fireplace.

Then you’ve got your electric fireplaces. These are the most convenient as far as maintenance and upkeep, but not the most efficient energy-wise. They do look great in a wall, lined up nicely under a good TV in the living room.

Once you’ve chosen your energy source, it’s all downhill from there! Most of the choices you’ll make after that are aesthetic and placement issues, and that’s the fun part!

Comparing Vinyl and Wood Fencing

So as we know, the two most common materials used for making fences are wood and vinyl. Both of these have their pros and cons and depending on what your priorities and desires are, each one might end up being the ideal choice for your fence. Here are a couple of points you’ll want to take into consideration if you’re trying to decide which material to use for your fence:

·        What are your aesthetic goals and what would you like your fence to look like?

·        Why are you getting a fence?

·        What issues with maintenance will you be facing?

·        How long will you need the fence for?

·        How time consuming is the building project going to be?

·        And most importantly: what’s your budget and what are you looking to spend?

Before you get into anything else, you’ll want to establish why you’re getting a fence. Do you need something to simply look good? Are you trying to keep your pets or kids from running out onto the road? Are you looking for more privacy in your yard? Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll be better able to narrow down your search.

Take into account the amount of maintenance that’s needed for wood and vinyl respectively. If you’re willing to put in the time and money, then wood fences might be for you. They do require maintenance from time to time so you’ll need to be prepared for that. Vinyl, on the other hand, requires absolutely no upkeep once installed; besides the occasional hosing down to keep it clean, of course. So when it comes to maintenance, vinyl definitely comes out on top.

As far as aesthetics go, it’s really up to personal preference, since you can make great-looking fences from both vinyl and wood. You can get fancy, cute, classy, simple, and much more from either one.

As far as longevity goes, vinyl is the definite choice. If you’re looking for something that’s going to last for years and years, choosing vinyl will land you with a solid 10 years of quality fence with minimal maintenance.

And finally, what’s the cost? We can safely say that vinyl and aluminum fences are more expensive than wood.

So armed with these tips you should be better equipped to make your decision on which material to use.

Sponsored by Fence Company San Mateo

Why Cold-Formed Steel is the Best for Framing

Of all the essential steps you need to go through in the process of building, framing is one of the most important. Framing sets the stage for what the rest of the building is going to be like and how sturdy it will be. Without a sturdy framing, your house won’t be able to hold itself together.

Although wood framing is still relatively popular, cold-formed steel is a far better option for multiple reasons which we’ll get into here for your benefit.

First of all, you won’t spend nearly as much as with any other material. Nearly any building owner you talk to will be able to confirm that sold-formed steel is by far the most economical choice.

In addition, one of the most durable metals in the world is steel, so choosing it for your building’s framing makes perfect sense if your goal is a sturdy foundation. Wood tends to warp, shrink, rot or splinter under high pressure and moisture, while brick will swell under high moisture and concrete will often shrink and crack. Ask a structural engineer which material is best for framing, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they’ll tell you it’s steel.

Steel is also easy to work with for framework and will save plenty of time that would otherwise be spent on putting a relatively sturdy framing together from any other material.

In addition to all this, steel is even resistant to fire, which is always a good trait for any structure.

So when choosing what you’re going to use for your new building, I think I know what material you’ll use. The benefits are many!

Sponsored by Metal Framing Contractor Boston MA

Trees Native to California

California’s a state with a wide variety of nature where there’s lots to see and experience, from deserts and beaches to forests and mountains! But today we’re going to list a few of the different types of trees that are native to California.

First off, we’re going to take a closer look at the giant redwoods and sequoias. You may have thought that these were the same type of tree and they just went by different names, but there are actually a few differences. What they both have in common is that they’re huge and bring lots of visitors from all over the world who want to experience looking at these enormous trees up close.

Giant redwoods grow mostly on the Northern Californian coast where the climate is moist and humid due to the marine fog coming from the ocean. The soil gleans moisture from the fog which lowers the rate of evaporation, helping to keep the soil moist and contribute to the thick bark which can be up to 12 inches thick. They’ve got an incredible lifespan of up to 2,000 years!

Giant sequoias, on the other hand, are a more mountainous breed of tree which you can find mostly high up along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as this the only place on Earth where they grow naturally. They thrive off the mountains’ periodical dry heat which allows their cones to release seeds. Giant sequoias can grow to be as tall as 311 feet, which is still more than 50 feet short of the giant redwoods which can grow to be as tall as 378 feet! Sequoias, however, can grow to be older than redwoods, with the oldest recorded one living up to 3,000 years!

Other native trees include:

·        Oregon ash

·        California buckeye

·        California black walnut

·        Gray pine

·        Fremont cottonwood

Sponsored by Tree Service Long Beach CA