Monthly Archives: February 2021

Lifestyle, Tips

Essential Roof Care Tips

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A set of responsibilities always accompanies homeowners. Whether it’s mowing the lawn, changing an air filter, or fixing the attic, a home needs constant care. One part of my home that demands constant attention is the roof. Nothing sends shivers down my spine more than a damaged, leaky, or out of shape roof! If yours is in dire need of repair, however, getting an expert like an Excelsior Roofing Company to handle it is important. You want the repairs to last, after all. In the meantime, below are the roof care tips I religiously follow.

Proper Inspection

Roofs tend to deteriorate due to exposure to harsh conditions. I have made it a habit to check out mine periodically. My visual inspections are done twice a year when the roof is free from snow. However, I tend to also take a good look after hurricanes, gales, and any windy conditions.

The inspection routine is done in two steps. First, I use binoculars to check for any wear and tear. At this point, I also compare my roof’s condition with that of my nearby neighbours. The second inspection involves grabbing a ladder and heading up to check missing tiles, signs of rust, chimney flashings, and any missing sections.

Cleaning Off Debris

Whenever we clean our homes, the roof is probably never on our list. However, it’s vital to ensure no dirt, foreign objects, or vegetation are present. Since my roof contains asphalt shingles, it’s prone to algae, moss, and mold. Mold growth can be spotted as black or green stains.

I spray-wash my shingles with a mixture of water and bleach to eliminate the algae. I generally avoid pressure washers. I tried them once and ended up damaging my shingles. Once everything is done, I rinse the entire roof with clean water.

Trim Nearby Trees

Low-hanging tree branches can wreak havoc on any roof. These branches might scrape shingles and generate gaping holes and leaks to the roof. Alternatively, large branches risk falling on and damaging the roof during heavy storms.

Trees also shed leaves and small twigs that might accumulate on gutters and block them. As a precaution, I have few trees near my house and regularly trim any branches that appear to overgrow.

Check and Clean Gutters

Gutters are the best indicators of issues with shingles. A large collection of shingle granules pinpoints to degraded shingles. Gutters also play a critical role in directing water and debris away from the foundation and roof. Stalled water tends to damage the roof, soffit, foundation, fascia and accelerate the growth of mold. Installing Seamless Gutters is a great way to protect your home against heavy storms by moving water away from your home without interruption.

I clean my gutters each season. When cleaning, I keep an eye on clogged leaves, debris and check on any leaks present. A clean gutter ensures that water flows properly off the roof! If cleaning seems daunting, you can bring in experts like Smart Florida Gutters to take care of all of your gutter needs including cleaning, installing, and repairing.

Keep Ice and Snow Off

I reside in a bitterly cold location, where snow and ice are a daily theme. Built up snow and ice weighs heavily. When this weight is exerted on the roof, it creates stresses and interferes with its structural integrity. Besides this issue, ice also melts and might start leaking water into the house.

I have solved the snow and ice problem by redesigning my roof. However, my roof still experiences minor ice accumulations during the winter. Luckily, some professional contractors live nearby and help remove the accumulated ice. They even go a little more in depth at times with their cleaning services, which is great. Removing ice from roofs is extremely hazardous and requires professionals to do the job.

Swift Action

Roof care demands quick action. A small issue like a leaking roof can spiral in magnitude if it isn’t fixed quickly. I am constantly on the lookout for warning signs such as daylight penetration, debris from broken slates, and mortar droppings in the gullies. Smoke leaks through the brickwork help me identify chimney hitches. The presence of these signs indicates that my roof needs maintenance, and I do precisely that.

Bring in the Expert

DIY fixes on the roof can sometimes be extremely dangerous and costly. A policy that I follow to the latter is that it’s better to enlist an expert whenever I doubt something. And not any other handyman, but an accredited roofing expert. From experience, such professionals are genuine, well-versed with roofing, and have the technical know-how to solve issues. There’s much to be learned, money to be saved, and advice to be taken from roofers.

Going Healthy, Health, Life

The Tips To Look After Mental Health for Better Memory

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Memory is crucial for us. It could record the journey of our life, bring back the beautiful time that we share with the others, and help us learn new things. Could we imagine what life would be like if we could not remember things? There are plenty of factors that affect how well our memory works, especially mental health. For example, individuals who suffer from depression and anxiety will usually also endure poor memory. It is why people will sign themselves into places like the Honey Lake Clinic and similar facilities to get help on this, or other matters. This article discusses the tip to look after mental health for better memory.

Exercise Regularly

Physical activity could increase the blood circulation in our bodies as well as our brains. Thus, it could help our mental health and our memory stay sharp. Also, the studies showed that exercise could release chemicals in our brain that make us feel good. Besides, exercise regularly could boost our self-esteem and help us concentrate, sleep and feel better.

According to the Department of Health & Human Services, we should have aerobic activities, like taking a walk, 30 minutes a day, and five days a week. Also, there is a tool on the Department of Agriculture’s website, called SuperTracker, which provides a free physical activity tracker. We could take advantage of it to help us monitor our exercise.

Eat Healthily

A healthy diet is good for our mental health as it is good for our physical health. Our brain needs a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and functioning, as the other organs in our bodies. We should eat vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, skinless poultry, eggs, nuts, and olive oil. Also, we should avoid packaged and processed foods. More importantly, we should limit the intake of red meat, sugar, and alcohol.

Sleep Well

People tend to overlook the importance of sleep. When we are sleeping, our brain gets cleansed and refreshed. Sleep plays a large role in helping us keep our mental health and consolidate the memories so that we could recall things down the road. Studies have shown that we should sleep 7-9 hours a day, and it is not considered a luxury but is essential for having a healthy life. Make sleep 7-9 hours a day as our priority of life.

Talk and Stay Connected With People

Some research shows that even 10 minutes of socializing a day could help our mental health as well as maintain our cognitive functions. We should talk to people and share our feelings with others. We could get involved in clubs, organizations, or religious communities. As a whole, positive social interaction could stimulate our brain, help our mental health and keep our memory to stay sharp. The studies showed that talking and connecting with people could protect us from depression, anxiety, and distress, which could have negative impacts on our cognitive functions.

Drink Wisely

We tend to drink alcohol when we are in a bad mood, trying to change for a better mood. Some of us even drink alcohol to deal with our loneliness or fear. Keep it in mind that the effect from alcohol is just short and temporary. When the alcohol wears off our bodies, the bad feeling gets worse due to the way that the alcohol has affected our brains and bodies to cause more negative feelings. Drinking alcohol is surely not a positive way to deal with our difficult feelings, and it is harmful to our mental health and cognitive functions.

Do Something We Are Good at

It makes sense that when we are doing an activity that we are good at and enjoy, it could make us feel like we are achieving something and boost our self-esteem. It stands to reason that enjoying ourselves helps beat stress and depression, and it keeps mental health for better memory. Think of what we love doing and what activity we can lose ourselves in. Concentrating on a hobby, such as gardening or music instrument, can help us forget our worries or loneliness for a little while and change our mood.

Parenting

Showing Your Support For A Loved One Who Is Trying To Be Healthier

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Whether it’s your partner, friends, or family, you want them to live strong and healthy lives. So, when someone that you care for tells you that they are ready to make positive health changes, you may find it hard not to bombard them with advice, however, telling them what they should eat, drink, and do make not be the best way for them to navigate their changes.

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Image by RitaE from Pixabay

Your support in helping them achieve their goals shouldn’t be underestimated, but it is definitely more than just advice and to do’s. Whether it is choosing to attend one of the American Addiction Centers or make changes with the amount of exercise they do, it is shown that people stick to healthier changes when they have a good support group.

How Can You Help? 

A great way to help, over recommending food they should eat, is to prepare some ready-made meals for them to try. You will find that they react more positively to something like this over being told what to eat, it offers them a chance to try something new. 

You could also ask them why they are making the changes, and what they want to achieve, this way you know what to expect and won’t get carried away or put them off when they are just starting their journey.

Rather than saying what they should and shouldn’t do, try showing them how to set and track goals that can achieve, and don’t make them all about a number on the scale. Although it can be hard to break the habit, health isn’t all about the number on the scale. Maybe ‘I want to be able to run 5k by the summer’ is a better goal than ‘I want to lose 10lbs’. 

Ask Them What Support They Need 

You may think that your friend wants to hear all the advice you have to offer, or every new recipe thrown their way, however, in reality, they just want someone to go on a cycle with or a walk around the block at lunch. 

Rather than jump to the conclusion that they need all your hints and tips, ask them what they need to help them get to where they need to be. And then listen to it. 

Offer To Help With Cooking Or Meal-Planning

It is far easier to make good, healthy choices when you can open your fridge and it is full of nutritious choices. However, planning your meals for a week requires some time and effort. One of the easiest ways to make sure you are ready for a healthier lifestyle is to meal prep so you can grab and go if you need to. It helps to prevent you from grabbing the wrong foods. Offering to help with the food planning, going shopping with them, or preparing some meals could be just what they need to get started and in the swing of things. 

These are just three of the ways you can offer your support to a loved one who is making healthier choices and changes. Do you have any other ways you can show your support? Please share them in the comments below.