Above and beyond

When it comes to fixing your home, it’s easy to head down to the hardware store to get the tools to do it yourself. But some jobs are better to be left to the experts and Wise Roof solutions director Scott Cresswell says roofing is one of them. As well as being costly, working at height is dangerous if you don’t have the right tools and expertise for the job. “The thing is that roofers climb on roofs most days so they’re a lot more confident in it, whereas if it’s not something that you’re used too then don’t do it.

“Weigh up whether it’s worth living the rest of your life with a broken back or paying someone a couple of hundred dollars to do the job.” Scott also recommends bringing in a professional before doing it yourself to avoid a hefty bill if something goes wrong. “If you have to phone a professional to come and fix your attempt it’s probably going to cost you more.” When it comes to any concerns around your roof, Scott says there are five things to look out for: • Nails that have come loose • Moss and mould growing on the roof • Gaps between the sheets of roofing iron or between the tiles • Bare patches of metal where the paint system has failed • Areas of the roof that are still wet after it has rained and the roof has dried off. “If it is wet around the nail or the joints in the concrete tile then that can be an area of concern.”

He recommends getting onto any maintenance quickly to avoid a long waiting time to get someone out to fix it. “You don’t want to be the person that has a roof leak and you need your roof replaced and every roofing contractor in a 100-mile radius has a six-month lead time.”

So how can you maintain your roof to avoid future problems?

Autumn and winter are the two seasons where it’s important to consistently clean out gutters, especially if the house is surrounded by trees that lose their leaves easily.

“If you’ve got an internal gutter system it will leak inside so you just want to be getting that water away from your house.”

Scott recommends a wet and dry vacuum cleaner as the best tool for the job. “$100 bucks from one of the big stores and you just suck that crap straight out with the vacuum cleaner, it’s fast and you don’t cut your hands to pieces.”

Waitaki Flooring First

Waitaki Flooring First is the ONLY 100% truly local flooring store in Oamaru, based from 18 Itchen St at the start of the historic area.

We have a large selection of samples for carpet, carpet tiles, vinyl, vinyl planks, outdoor & garage carpets and speciality wall linings from some of NZ’s major suppliers. Our product ranges cover residential and commercial products. Our friendly and helpful team can look after all your flooring needs, from product selection and advice and free no-obligation measure and quotes, right through to final install ready for you to live on your new floor. A comment we hear a lot is that new flooring does not cost as much as people think, so come and see us and look at the variety of products available and we can discuss what will best suit your needs.

If thinking about new flooring, consider these important points:

What are my priorities? E.g., budget, comfort or feel, colour, are there pets in the house, is it a town house or a farm house? These points can help us find the best product to give you the best value.

If comparing prices make sure you are actually comparing the same products – just because they look similar does not mean they are. Also, an important part is allowing time, to make colour decisions as they will look different under the lights in the shops, so you do need to take samples home and allow time for products to be delivered.

But, most importantly is to allow ALL your trades time to complete their jobs without being rushed.