If you’re a homeowner, the more you know about your house and its components, the better you can care for your investment. A roof provides one of humanity’s most basic needs: shelter. Here’s a quick primer on roof structure, styles, and materials.

Basic roof structure

The framing boards that form the pitch of a roof are called rafters. The base ends of those boards rest on 2” x 8” or 2”x 10” boards called joists, which in turn rest on top of exterior and interior walls. Sheets of thermal board, plywood or another type of sheet lumber called OSB are nailed on top of these boards to form a covering. This layer is called roof decking. A waterproof fabric material called a vapor barrier, which repels water that may leak through the shingles is laid atop the decking. The final layer, visible from the exterior, is shingles, tiles or metal.

Inside a home’s attic, on the underside of the deck, there may be an insulating thermal coating called a radiant barrier. If your home is older, this may have been added later, but today thermal decking used in new construction has radiant insulating material on its underside.

The roofline you love

The look of the roof contributes a lot to the appeal of a house. There are styles of roofs for everyone’s taste, both for the entire house and for any dormers on the roof. Here are some of the most popular.

• A gable roof is peaked with two sides that are of equal height and upward slope.
• A hip roof has pitch on each side and on the ends of the house. All four sides slope upward. A house can have a main roof that is not hipped but dormers that are.
• Gambrel roofs evoke the shape of a barn. These roofs slope down from the peak on two sides, then slope again at a steeper pitch.
• Flat roofs need no explanation but are popular with some architectural styles.

Dormers can add interest to long expanses of roof. Perhaps the most popular dormer is the classic gable dormer, which rises directly from the main roof at a right angle, with a peaked roof of its own of equal height and slope on each side. An arched or eyebrow dormer has a long, gently arched roof.

Roofing materials

There are many types of roofing materials and many new innovations introduced in recent years.

• Asphalt shingles have been almost ubiquitous for decades because they are durable, come in many color choices, and are effective in climate conditions everywhere. Asphalt shingle roofs last about 20 years.
• Slate and ceramic tile roofs are beautiful, last many decades, and are suitable for warm climates. You often see them in homes in the southwestern U.S. and California. They are heavy, and the roof framing that supports them must be stronger than most of the other roof structure.
• The classic metal roof is laid in large, overlapping sheets, although In recent years metal has been fashioned to mimic slate and ceramic tiles. Metal roofs can last more than 50 years. Two downsides to metal roofs are that hail may dent them and they are noisy during heavy rain (although some people like this feature).
• You don’t have to settle for the stereotypical large solar panels if you want to be environmentally friendly and save on electricity costs. Solar panels can now be made to look like tile that can be used as roofing.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Whether you are single, a couple or a family with kids, living in a small space means adapting to tight quarters. Now add a dog, a cat or both, and the space seems even smaller. How can you live harmoniously with pets in small spaces?

Be very practical

Focus on having just enough furnishings. Save the statuary or other accessories that take floor space for a future, more spacious setting. For now, make life with pets in a limited area easier by focusing only on seating, dining, sleeping and storage that use the minimum floor space necessary. Look for furniture that can do double duty, such as cabinets that can house dog beds or litter boxes.

Go up, not out

Make use of shelving to take items off the floor. Use baskets in shelving spaces to store pet toys, supplies and even pet beds. Your cat might like to sleep up high on a shelf. Hanging baskets can also be used for the same purposes and require no floor space.

Creative use of small spaces

Look for clever places to keep bowls, litter boxes and bedding if you live with pets in small spaces. How about a television cabinet fitted with a doggie door and his bed inside? Or the same space under a stairway or inside a bedroom nightstand?

A low drawer can house food and water bowls and be tucked out of sight afterward. A cabinet with a pet door can open to the litter box. Laundry spaces often provide the best opportunities to keep pet accommodations away from actual living areas. Just make sure your pets always have access to drinking water, their beds and, if you have cats, a litter box.

If you have more than one pet, keep in mind that you may need two feeding spots to prevent rival hostilities.

The great outdoors

Install a pet door on the back door to a patio, deck or balcony so that your fur baby can spend time enjoying fresh air while you have time to yourself. Once again, be practical in your furnishings if the outdoor space is as tight as indoors. Limit yourself to seating, a grill and a table. Provide a water bowl, but not a feeding bowl, as food outside invites unwanted visitors like raccoons.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

It makes sense that temperatures might affect outdoor appliances, but did you know that extreme temperatures can affect appliances inside your basement, garage or house as well? Here’s what you need to know about temperature’s effect on appliances and what you can do to prevent damage.

Refrigerators and freezers

A refrigerator can shut down in freezing weather if located outside or on a poorly insulated exterior wall in a cold garage or basement. Conversely, extremely hot exterior temps make refrigerators and freezers in these areas work extra hard to maintain temperatures, increasing energy costs.

If you must keep an extra freezer or refrigerator in an unheated garage or basement during the winter, use a space heater to warm the area. Be sure to place the heater safely away from anything combustible and use it only as long as needed to raise temps above the -34 degrees celsius / mid -30 degrees fahrenheit. If there’s an ice maker, insulate its water supply line and, in the bitter cold, turn it off and drain the line.

For home owners in warmer climates, if you have that extra refrigerator or freezer because you need more space for food, calculate the cost savings of buying a new, larger unit for inside the house and eliminating the outside one.

Washing Machines

Icy winter temperatures can cause problems with your washing machine. To prevent damage from ice, keep the washer’s water supply line insulated in winter. When temperatures are expected to drop dangerously low, turn off the water at the wall valve, disconnect it from the washing machine, and drain it.

Water heater

Water heaters are usually located in a garage, attic or basement, all of which are areas subject to freezing temps. To prevent damage when the mercury drops, insulate the water supply line to the heater. Each year, hire a plumber to drain and flush the tank to remove sediment.

Heating and air conditioning

The HVAC component most at risk in winter is the outside condenser. If you live in an area of the country that gets a lot of snow, place a protective hedge, screen or cover around the unit to block snowdrifts or ice from covering it.

When you’re away

If you’re planning to be away from your home for an extended period in the winter, you’ll likely turn down the thermostat to save energy costs. To avoid frozen pipes and other potential damage, though, it’s best not to go below around 12 degrees celsius / 55 degrees fahrenheit.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. The article was revised from HOUSEOPEDIA'S original article.

  

If you turn up the thermostat and don't feel the heat, there's a problem. Old windows, worn doors, and poorly installed outlet covers are basically an open invitation for the frigid winter air to make its way indoors. To avoid feeling the draft — and cut down on your heating bill — follow these tips from the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Similar to smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors are an essential warning device in every home — perhaps even more so. While sleeping residents might be awakened by the smell of smoke and take action, carbon monoxide is odorless and can disable and kill without warning.

Odorless and invisible. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever a fuel is being burned. It is odorless and invisible. Car exhaust produces carbon monoxide. So can a charcoal fire, a gas- or oil-burning heater, or even a wood-burning stove. All of these must be vented to the outside to not only remove smoke, but also carbon monoxide.

Here are some of the most common sources of home carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Home heating system. A home with a gas heater produces carbon monoxide, which normally is vented out of the house. With age, a part called the heat exchanger can crack and allow the gas to leak into the home. Other home heating dangers can occur with any sort of portable, fuel-burning device that is not vented. Gas log fireplaces must be properly vented as well.

• Appliances.  Gas-burning stoves, ovens, dryers and water heaters all produce carbon monoxide and must be properly vented.

• Generators. During a power outage, generators should only be operated outside to vent exhaust. Never run a generator inside a house or garage.

• Automobiles.  Never have a car, motorcycle or any gasoline-powered vehicle running inside a closed garage. An unhealthy buildup of carbon monoxide gas can occur even if the garage door is open.

Symptoms of poisoning.  Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be mistaken for the flu minus a fever. Headache, dramatic tiredness, dizziness and confusion are all indicative of carbon monoxide poisoning. Final stages of carbon monoxide poisoning are lack of muscular control, and unconsciousness leading to death.

Prevention. Have fuel-burning appliances installed by trained, licensed professionals. Have the appliances inspected annually and repaired, if necessary.

Install carbon monoxide detectors. Some smoke detectors now have dual capability. Place one in each bedroom or just outside the bedroom door so that anyone sleeping in the house will be awakened in an emergency.

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, leave the dwelling immediately and call 911. Seek medical evaluation and let the fire department examine the property for a leak. Do not return to the house until the source has been identified and repaired.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

When pet owners put their homes up for sale, it’s best to make those beloved animals disappear without a trace or at least a low profile. The dog beds, the cat crates, the hair, the chew marks and the smell all need to be removed before the first showing. Here’s a step-by-step guide on selling your home with pets.

Priority one: odor and stain removal. Even a pet-loving buyer will be turned off if the house smells. Pet and smoking odors rate as top turnoffs. You may have become “nose blind” to your pets’ smells, so have a friend do a sniff check.

• Have your carpets professionally cleaned with enzyme solutions that remove organic smells and stains.
• Keep pet bedding clean and ready to stash in your car when notified of a showing. The same goes for food and water bowls.
• Bath dogs weekly. Unbathed dogs smell and the odor can work into carpet, cloth upholstery and drapery. Inside cats rarely need bathing, but if they do, a rubdown with a wet towel is a good option.

Hair removal. While on the market, vacuum and sweep daily to remove pet hair. Chase down dust and hair bunnies under furniture. Wipe down cabinets and shelves. Brush your pet two or three times per week to limit shedding.

Repair damage. If the dog has chewed the woodwork or walls, make all repairs before showing the house. If your hardwood floors are noticeably scratched, refinish them or risk buyers walking away. Any signs of pet damage may cause buyers to pass on your house, questioning what other issues may be lurking.

Clean up your yard.  Remove dog waste daily. If your animals have torn up the lawn, it’s best to reseed or lay sod.

Vacate the premises. Your pets — and all their belongings — should be removed from the house during showings. Besides being a turn off, you don’t want to risk a pet biting or scratching prospective buyers or their children. You also don’t want them to be a distraction to buyers. Ask that your home be shown by appointment only and then be prepared to load up your pets and all their gear when you get the call. If that’s not possible, make arrangements with a friend, relative or neighbor to keep your pets during showings. If indoor cats or crated dogs needs to stay home, let all showing appointments know ahead of time. 

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Article was revised from HOUSEOPEDIA'S original article.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.