Joists and rafters are components used in the construction of buildings. Understanding the difference between them is essential for those working in the construction trades, while basic knowledge is useful for homeowners if repair and maintenance issues arise.

Timber Joists

Joists are the parallel horizontal beams that run across an open space, joining opposite walls in a building to support both the ceiling below and the floor above. Joists are traditionally made from timber. They are nominally 2 inches thick (actual width usually 1-1/2 inches) and come in a variety of widths from 8 to 12 inches. The choice depends on the load-bearing requirement, which is strongly influenced by the length of the span that the beam must bridge.

Other Joist Materials

In many modern building projects, traditional timber joists are replaced by ones manufactured from alternative materials. Steel “I-profile” beams are used in the construction of steel-framed buildings. These have the advantage of spanning greater distances without bowing. Timber “I-joists” are also available. These are manufactured with laminated or dimensional timber forming the flanges of the “I” and plywood forming the centre, or web. Pre-stressed concrete beams are used in some construction projects. These are combined with innovative flooring methods that can help speed building work.

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Rafters

Rafters are the building components that run diagonally from the wall plate to the apex of a roof structure. Rafters form the foundation for attachment of the roof boards, onto which the final roof covering is fixed. In traditional timber, they are nominally 2 inches thick and typically 8 to 10 inches wide.

Roof Trusses

In many modern construction projects, prefabricated roof trusses are used. These triangulated structures, with a high degree of strength and stability due to the geometry used, form both the joist and rafter components of a building. These structures are typically manufactured offsite to a detailed plan and delivered complete, which helps to speed construction.

Any construction project would benefit from cost savings, whether you’re remodeling your home, engaging in house extensions or starting from fresh. With the current economic setbacks in the UK and the entire world is experiencing, it is likely that you are working on a tight budget because construction can be costly. Covering expenses from carpentry and joinery; plumbing; painting and decoration.

Choosing contractors, collaborating with an architect, and managing the daily hassles of a significant remodeling, it is important to learn some money saving tips that can help you gain some sort of control on your construction project.

Some great ways to save money on your home renovation and construction process include, reducing initial expenditures, eliminating costly errors, and lowering the cost of habitation for the completed construction.

There are several ways to keep inside your budget without drastically reducing the scope of your project, from hiring staff and procuring materials to completing some of the work yourself. Below are some great steps to take to save money:

1. Developing and reviewing the project plan step by step

Most building contractors will meet with you to go over the construction schedule and break down all of the costs, a practice that London Building Contractors takes very seriously. This is a great opportunity to save! Sometimes, contractors will assume you want things you do not, and you can often find elements of the project that you can do yourself or put off until later, when you have more money on hand.

2. Take a Do-It-Yourself Approach

Secondly, you can take the DIY approach, whether you are highly skilled or just handy, you can take up some tasks on your construction which are not mundane and require skilled knowledge and do it yourself. Some tasks that you can take up include painting, decking and fencing, minor landscaping etc. This helps save money on labor cost.

3. Go Eco-Friendly

Fresh homeowners must consider energy-efficient LED bulbs throughout their building project which would help in lowering your energy costs. Compared to older bulb types, LEDs typically utilize between 70 and 80 percent less power. They can be used outside the home as well. Your patio may be illuminated with LED string lights and lanterns while using less energy overall.

Installing smart sprinklers is another way we advise homeowners to save money while making summertime home improvements. London Building Contractors always advise homeowners to get a sprinkler system which waters your yard precisely and irrigates your lawn effectively while minimizing water wastage by using weather information and preset lawn knowledge.

4. Repurpose materials

You may stretch your budget further by repurposing used construction materials. Why not try using materials you already have in good condition in your current project?

Any supplies left over from your completed areas of a job should likewise be repurposed to satisfy other needs on the site. The opportunity to match future projects with objects in your current home is a significant benefit of conserving unneeded resources. For instance, you might want to use the same tile from your other bathrooms at the initial stage to remodel a bathroom at some point. Stored leftover products might just end up saving you from price increment or the possibility of shortage in supply in future.

5. Choose contractors carefully

Professional help in construction projects is key to having some peace of mind and knowing you have someone you can trust is on top of the case for your new home. Taking into consideration how expensive construction projects and renovations are, it is really crucial to choose the right contractor. A professional contractor is well worth the investment because they can manage all the moving pieces of the construction and help you budget for all the important expenses.

A good contractor is also able to manage wastage and can help purchase quality material for your building construction or renovation. This helps save money and prevent any form of try and error or future disasters. A quick tip on where to look for contractors is London Building Contractors, which is one of the leading turnkey solution providers in West London. While working on commercial and residential projects, we have developed excellent relationships with a variety of institutions, Diplomatic Missions, house owners, landlords, and many others by providing full turnkey solutions at every step of the project.

The team at London Building Contractors is trained to help you make selections that will stand the test of time, and you will be covered by our 12-month guarantee.

Get in touch with our team on either 020 8935 5159 or 07791139936, or click here to fill in our online contact form to request a free survey and/or quote

Popularity of home improvement projects have been rising like never before. Creative and practical renovating ideas will not only enhance the appeal of any home, but also add to its value. So it is essential to choose a remodelling project that caters to the aesthetical and functional needs.

Among the varied list of choices, one of the best possible options is the home rendering. Giving your home a rustic look and unique style, this technique will be the ideal choice to provide a complete makeover to your living space without breaking your bank. External surfaces, may it is of brick, concrete or cement, appear barren when naked. However, giving it a finish through rendering will give it a new lease of life.

Rendering techniques are many, from which you can pick and choose. Some of the options include acrylic, white set, granosite, texture and cement rendering in the UK. Evaluating the pros and cons of each option is essential for making the right choice. What are the main benefits of having your home exteriors rendered?

Take a look at the following point to get a better idea.

• Curb appeal: An obvious benefit of rendering is it improves the overall appeal and style for any home. No matter whether it is built with brick, stone or concrete, this technique process working for all surfaces.
• Durable finish: External surfaces of a building are continuously exposed to the harshest climatic conditions such as humidity, dirt, temperature, snow and heavy rain falls. Giving the walls a coat of rendered finish will ensure to keep the surfaces scratch resistant and lasting, no matter whether it is concrete, acrylic rendering or any other technique.
• Energy efficiency: Are thinking how rendering technique has anything to do with the energy efficiency of your home? Buildings with rendered surfaces will have an insulation property which will keep the interior temperature warm and cosy. This will cut down the energy consumption of heating and cooling systems, which means you can save on your utility bills.
• Resistance: As mentioned above, home rendering will increase the impact resistance and weather protection of walls. Chances of cracking or peeling off will be reduced by a greater extent. Moreover, this will help to retain the appeal of surfaces for years to come.
• Value of your living space: When you invest in any kind of home improvement project, you have to make sure that it returns value to your money. Rendering increases the value of home which will be beneficial if you are planning to sell it.

  To conclude, we can say that rendering solutions will prove worthy if you get the job done with the help of skilled professionals.

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What A Feeling, Water Damage On The Ceiling

There are a few ways water damage can happen. Sometimes ice walls resembling The Wall from Game Of Thrones can form in gutters during winter, skylights can let more than just the sun in, and sometimes it’s just ordinary plumbing problems. Whichever one it is, the problem still needs fixing.

Something besides the water also plays a part in causing damage, and if you don’t know what it is, you won’t be able to make a permanent repair.

Plugging The Water Damaged Ceiling

Here’s a quick rundown of what needs to happen to get rid of that stain:

• Inspect the stained surface
  Make sure the water hasn’t caused any damage to the drywall or plaster. Any damage needs to be fixed before further steps are taken.
  If the drywall feels soft and/or spongy, take a look at https://www.londonbuildingcontractors.co.uk to see how to repair it.
• Repair any damage
  This can range from a quick skim coat to cutting out the damaged area and installing a new section of ceiling. If the damage brings up the question “How am I going to fix this?” call a professional.
• Prime the affected area with a stain blocking primer
  You’re going to need to put a defence on the affected area like the Chelsea FC needs a special defender.
  Oil or shellac based primers are best because they will prevent the staining from being reactivated and causing problems down the line.
  *Tip: make sure to get some ventilation for the room (open window, fan, etc) because these primers stink and will give you a headache or other symptoms if inhaled regularly.*
• Paint the entire ceiling
  This may seem unnecessary, but unless you want a patchwork ceiling, the whole thing will need to be repainted. Performing a localized touch-up on the repaired area before recoating the ceiling is the best technique for a seamless repair.

What Water Damage?

Follow these steps and you can once again have that perfect ceiling. No more looking up and seeing a stain on the ceiling, wishing it looked like Anthony Joshua or Halle Berry. If you have to repaint the whole ceiling, look at it as a chance to start over and choose another colour. Make this DIY project a masterpiece.

If you decide that the damage is too much for you to handle, fill out our contact form www.londonbuildingcontractors.uk/contact-us/ or give us a call for an estimate at 020 8935 5159.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FINISHING TOUCHES

Beautifully painted walls don’t stay that way forever. The need for touch-ups on painted interior walls is something to think about in advance. Not only can you avoid headaches by choosing a type of paint that is easy to work with when small repairs are needed, you should be careful to save some of the original paint for touch-ups later on.

Touch-up Mistakes to Avoid

• Same colour, wrong shade. White paint comes in literally hundreds of shades, and touching up the finish properly requires choosing the same shade of paint as was originally painted on the wall.
• Flashing. Professionals use the term “flashing” to describe the variation in the finish which occurs when retouching paint that is shiny or old. Looking straight at a wall, flashing may not be obvious. But when you view the surface from the side, imperfections are visible where light is reflected. Common occurrences of flashing include when a shiny paint finish is applied on patches of bare wall. Other steps are required for the finish to look right, including using repair spackle and latex primer prior to applying a finish of shiny paint.
• Covering stains in a way that produces bleed-through. Not all touch-ups should be handled in the same way. Stains such as cigarette smoke, ink, and water should be sealed before applying fresh paint. Block the stains with a stain-blocking oil primer or a shellac-based sealer.

The amount of trouble you have addressing the need for touch-ups on wall interiors is mostly determined by the type of paint you use on the original paint job. The following is information about the different types of paint, including how well they can be touched up.

Flat / Matte Paint

Matte paint is the most common type of finish used on interior walls. There is no sheen to the finish, and matte paint is ideal for older houses which have imperfections. This type of finish is difficult to clean, which is one reason it requires frequently touching up. The good news is that flat paint is easy to touch up. Matte paint is not recommended for bathrooms and kitchens, but it is ideal for living room walls, ceilings, bedrooms, and walls which have many imperfections.

An Eggshell Finish

An eggshell finish has low sheen and is highly washable. Many homeowners prefer an eggshell finish over satin because it does a better job of hiding imperfections. Living rooms and bedrooms are perfect for an eggshell finish, but it’s not a good choice for hallways and other high-traffic areas. This delicate finish is easily marred, but touch-ups are easy.

A Satin Finish

A satin finish produces a warm, pearl-like, silky sheen. This type of finish works well for children’s rooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms, family rooms, and kitchens. A satin finish can withstand scrubbing; but the problem comes with touch-ups, since slight differences in sheen will stand out.

Gloss

Gloss finishes are typically used on trim, mouldings, and woodwork; very rarely is it used on walls, since imperfections are glaringly obvious. This finish is the easiest to clean and the most durable. Gloss is not easy to touch up, however, because any differences in sheen will be apparent.

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss paint is resistant to humidity and can withstand chipping, stains, and scuffing. This type of finish is often used in kitchens and bathrooms as well as for mouldings and trim. Semi-gloss is highly scrub-able but a challenge to touch up because of the sheen.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for your next project:

Phone: 020 8935 5159

Email: info@londonbuildingcontractors.uk