Villa Rental in Tuscany: A Guide to Exquisite Tuscan Stays

With regular maintenance your home’s roof can be a major asset, improving curb appeal, increasing property value, and protecting your loved ones from rain, snow, and other extreme weather.

The summer is the perfect time to conduct repairs and inspections thanks to the longer days and warmer weather making access and investigation a much easier task than would be the case in other seasons.

Identifying problems as soon as possible will help you prevent disasters such as flooding and other weather damage as well as saving you from facing much larger repair bills in the long term.

Here are the 8 most important things to remember when conducting roof maintenance:

1. Look out for common signs of repair

Your roof goes through a lot, being exposed 24 hours a day to whatever the Scottish weather can throw at it.

Rain, heat, ice, and snow all have the potential to increase the speed of deterioration, increasing the risk of leaks that could damage your home’s interior.

Some of the more obvious signs of a damaged roof that you will be able to spot through a simple visual inspection include missing/broken tiles, shingles that have collected in the gutters, or a discoloured roof.

It is recommended that you always use a professional to inspect your roof as they will be able to do so in the safest possible manner and will know exactly what to look for.

2. Protect your roof from harmful UV rays

Your roof can be damaged even on the calmest of summer days with UV rays and high heat causing a number of potentially serious issues.

Heat and heat fluctuations can cause your roof to decay, warp, and crack.

Consider applying a coating to your roof that protects it from UV rays, controls temperatures, and helps avoid corrosion.

3. Clean your gutters

Blocked gutters lead to a build-up of water that can seep through gaps and cracks in your roof, damaging property and instigating mould growth.

Some easy DIY ways to clean your guttering include using a leaf blower, power washer, or garden hose.

If you are concerned, hire a professional gutter cleaning company that will have all the debris and blockages removed in no time at all.

4. Remove vegetation

Moss and algae growing on your roof will absorb water over time, increasing in weight, and causing sagging.

It will also increase the likelihood of mould growth as there will be more moisture present on your property.

A professional roofing contractor will be able to get rid of moss and other harmful plants as part of a general roof clean, keeping your roof in great condition and maintaining a healthy and safe environment.

5. Inspect your attic

Inspections of your roof should not only be conducted on the exterior and assessing the attic space between your living space and the roof is just as important.

Keeping an eye out for problems in your loft can help you to deal with underlying problems before they reach your ceilings.

Some of the things to look out for when conducting an attic examination includes water leaks, stains, mould, rust, and damaged insulation.

Unlike exterior examinations, an attic check will not require you to use the services of a professional unless a serious problem is detected.

6. Keep tree branches trimmed

Any branches that are hanging close to your roof and may cause damage if they were to fall should be trimmed.

As doing this could bring about the very disaster that you are trying to avoid, you should get an expert in to complete this task.

Failing to deal with low hanging trees can result in a number of serious issues in the event of a storm including destroying tiles, clogging gutters with leave and trigs, and smashing windows.

7. Don’t forget the flashing

Metal flashing, installed between your roof and obstructions such as chimneys and skylights, is vital to keeping your home weatherproof.

Faults with flashing are often the cause of rook leaks and should be given specific attention during your roof inspection this summer.

Loose nails, holes, and broken seals are clear signs of flashing deterioration, and a roofing professional will be able to identify and repair such problems if they have developed.

8. Create a schedule for ongoing maintenance

Amongst all the busyness of everyday life, roof maintenance can be easily overlooked.

However, this isn’t something that should only be done once in a blue moon, and by creating a schedule, plus a maintenance checklist, you will be able to keep your roof functional and fresh for many years to come.

Your schedule should note all the specific areas of your roof that require the most attention and remind you to contact a professional at www.Vertex-roofing.co.uk when required.

If you are looking for a divorce lawyer and have made the tough decision that it is time to end your mortgage, it can be difficult to know where to start.

The initial consultation can be extremely nerve-wracking and doing some pre-meeting research and preparation is essential to making a positive start to your work together.

This blog will tell you exactly what to expect from your first meeting with a divorce lawyer and give you some top tips for how to make your conversation as productive as possible.

Be ready to get personal

In order to give the most effective counsel, your lawyer will need to know all the details relating to your case.

Given the nature of divorce cases, this will mean that you need to be willing to talk about potentially highly sensitive and emotional issues right from the start.

Some of the information that a divorce lawyer is likely to ask for in your first consultation includes your children’s current arrangements, where you live, the state of your finances as a couple and alone, how long you have been married, and what you are looking to get out of divorce proceedings.

They will also need to know what caused the marriage to break down as this information can be crucial to setting realistic goals for the outcome of the case.

Make a list of priorities

In order to represent you in the best possible way, it is important for your lawyer to understand what your priorities are during divorce proceedings.

Financial settlements, children’s living arrangements, and division of assets such as property are all often the focus of divorce cases, and knowing exactly what you want to get out of the separation will allow your lawyer to develop a gameplan focused on achieving your goals.

Be Honest

It is vital that you are honest with your divorce lawyer about the circumstances surrounding your divorce.

Without all the relevant information at hand, it is impossible for a lawyer to act most effectively in your best interests, and they could be blindsided later in proceedings.

Details such as new relationships, finances, and the events that led to the start of divorce proceedings are all factors that could be crucial in deciding the outcome and you need to be completely honest in regard to these particulars.

Although it may be tempting in the heat of the moment, there is no benefit to putting exaggerated blame at the door of your former partner, if the evidence does not support your statement, so stick purely to the facts at all times.

Be Realistic

A divorce is a negotiation process and managing your expectations is key to not being disappointed with the outcome.

If you come into the process expecting to be granted sole custody of the children, all the money in shared accounts, and the house, you are likely to be disappointed so setting realistic goals is vital.

Some of the key facts about the divorce process that you should understand prior to beginning legal proceedings to avoid unrealistic expectations include:

Divorces can take a long time

On average, in the UK, divorces can take up to 9 months to finalise. Even then this is only to formally end the marriage agreement in the eyes of the law, and any specifics concerning children or finances can take much longer to resolve.

Sole Custody is rarely the best option

Family law is focused on making decisions in the best interests of children caught in the middle of a divorce, and when possible, will always look to ensure that they have access to both parents’ post-separation.

Unless there is genuine evidence that your partner is an unfit parent and cannot be trusted to care for their children, it is very unlikely that you will be granted sole custody, and attempting to achieve this outcome is generally a bad idea.

Finances will almost always be split

If you go into a divorce thinking that you won’t have to share any finances or assets with your former partner, you will probably be disappointed.

If you have been married for more any significant period of time it is likely that money and other assets such as property will be considered legally joint and the default point for negotiations will be a 50/50 split.

It may be that in the right circumstances you are able to secure more than this but expecting to retain 100% of your house, pension, or savings is not a realistic approach.

Contact Oracle Law

Oracle Law Family Law is the leading supplier of top quality family law services at fantastic prices for customers across Scotland.

For more information, or to arrange a consultation, call us now on 0141 332 0915, or fill out our contact form.