Roofing Experts

It’s never easy to know who to trust when it comes to your roofing. It’s an important part of the house strucutre and you need the roofing to be right. It you begin to experience problems, you might be busy searching online for roof repairs Bedford. This will bring back lots of results – so who should you choose?

One of the main things to look for is experience. Make sure the people you select are properly experienced and fully qualified to carry out your repair work. They should have accreditations and qualifications listed on their website, so make sure these are something you can check over easily. If you are unsure, then you should ask them about their skills. Look on websites that recommend traders and see whether other people endorsed them as a roofing company.

If you have a flat roof, it can be even harder to fix the problem. These types of roof are notorious for leaking, so if you have an older roof, you may struggle to get the problem fixed properly. Look for companies that offer specific repairs for your type of roofing, for example, Kemper overlay, single ply membrane and fibreglass or GRP roofing. This makes it easier to distinguish which companies will be able to help you, without having to call round and get lots of quotes.

These are some things you can look out for that indicate you will be getting a high quality service:

• A company that uses all its own roofing contractors, rather than sub contractors. If the roofer works directly for the company, then their reputation is at stake. They will want to complete the work to a high standard. They will also be fully accountable for quality.
• Companies that offer quotations first. This is a sign of good customer service and willingness to please customers. Look for companies that offer a no obligation quotation – if they know their service is good, they will have confidence in it and will be happy to offer quotations safe in the knowledge that people will choose to go ahead with roofing repairs.
• A roofing contractor that specialises in flat roofing. If you have a flat roof on your home, garage, outbuilding or conservatory, it might be tricky to fix. Get a company who really knows what they are doing.

You should also spend some time checking reviews. See what previous customers have thought about the service to work out how high quality it is. If people are unhappy, this is a good indication that the roofing service is not right for you.

Make sure you prioritise quality. Ask questions about durability of roofing products, and the warranty that the GDPR comes with. If you invest now, that will be more beneficial for you in the future as it will last much longer. You should have quality roofing for years to come, and it isn’t going to spring a leak. Flat roofing has come a long way, so pay a little more now and save money in the long run.

Smoke vents are fitted into the roof of a building as part of the fire safety system. They are usually used within commercial buildings where there is a large volume of people, thought they are also often used in blocks of flats.They are essentially a rooflight that is fitted into the roof of a building, but that is able to open to become a vent for smoke removal in the case of a fire.

You may also hear smoke vents being called SHEVs. This stands for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation, which refers to the function carried out by a smoke vent.

What do smoke vents actually do? 

Smoke vents and SHEVs are primarily designed to vent out smoke in the case of a fire. This is really important, as smoke is incredibly dangerous. In fact, it is a bigger killer than fire itself and most deaths that result from a fire are actually caused by smoke inhalation.

When a fire is detected, the vent will be opened, either manually or as part of the wider fire safety system. Automatic opening vents, or AOVs, can be wired up to the fire alarm system using control panels, so when the alarm is set off, the system will automatically open up the vent.

Why are smoke vents so beneficial? 

Smoke vents help to clear smoke, which is extremely important in the event of a fire. This helps to reduce the levels of smoke inside a building so that it is safer for the people inside. They will be breathing in less smoke and less toxic air. It also makes it easier for firemen and anyone else present at the scene of the fire, as with a reduced amount of smoke, there will be better visibility. This will help them to assist the people inside the building and to give a clearer escape route.

Smoke vents also have the added bonus of providing ventilation for a building. Vents that can be opened manually can be used to allow better air circulation, improving the quality of air inside the building on a day-to-day basis.

Why should smoke vents be installed? 

Smoke vents installed in any building will improve fire safety measures and will help reduce fatalities and casualties in the event of a fire. However, it may also be required for you to fit a smoke vent in order to comply with buildings regulations. You will be able to find the information you need in Building Regulation Approved Document B, which covers dwellings and non-dwellings and sets out requirements for ventilation systems. If you think you may need some form of ventilation in your property, consult buildings regulations as a first port of call.

AOVs, SHEVs and smoke vents have a very important function. There is lots of research that needs to be carried out for each individual situation, so look into their installation and find out which parts of fire safety legislation apply to you. It’s much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to fire safety.