Category: Building

Most people experience a natural fear of heights, unfortunately for some this fear is much more extreme and may cause undue stress in their life. Acrophobia, the extreme fear of heights, is a widely disparate phobia that ranges widely in how it exhibits and also how strongly it exhibits. However, regardless of whether you experience panic attacks climbing stairs, on the highest rung of a ladder or only in an aeroplane, there are a variety of methods you can use to help you overcome your fears.

Psychotherapy

One of the most popular options is seeking the help of a therapist from one of the numerous branches of psychotherapy. There are many different schools, each with individual techniques and ideologies, so you may need to research some individually to decide what seems the best suit for your personality. The most popular method of treatment is cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT for short). This involves working with a therapist to help restructure your irrational thoughts concerning heights and learning how to counteract the physical effects of your phobia.

To learn more about CBT visit the NHS’s website. www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cognitive-behavioural-therapy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Medication

In some instances you may be able to use medication to counteract the effects of your phobia and indeed for some it is the only way to combat the negative effects of acrophobia. For certain people their phobia stems from a physiological inability to judge distances correctly, so unlike those whose fear is a psychologically routed problem medication may be the optimal way to treat their phobia. Even if you are a member of the latter category, medication may still be a viable treatment method. For example, if you only experience panic attacks when you fly, then taking medication once or twice a year when you go on holiday may be just as efficient as seeking therapy. You will need to meet with a psychiatrist or doctor to discuss your requirements as the medication will typically require a prescription. Researching the possible medications yourself is a good idea as few doctors are familiar with every available drug. Anti-depressants, benzodiazepines and beta blockers are the types of drugs typically prescribed.

To learn more about possible treatment with medication arrange to talk with your doctor.

Natural Remedies

Many people who overcome their fear of heights cite natural remedies as their saviour. Advocates of natural and holistic treatments claim they can help with both anxiety disorders and phobias. They do this by reliving or eliminating symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress and panic attacks. Proponents of such remedies often claim that as well as treating the symptoms they also combat the underlying issues by improving your holistic health.

As a warning, remember that just because a company claims their product is natural it isn’t always the case, so, just like any other medications, do your homework and research exactly what it is that is in the pills.

To learn more about holistic remedies visit Natural Holistic Health’s website. www.natural-holistic-health.com/tag/fear-of-heights/

Alternative Therapies

Finally, you may want to consider alternative therapies. Hypnotherapy is the best known and most widely used. It aims to recondition automatic responses to phobic stimuli and thereby reduce the negative effects suffered by the patient. You will work with your hypnotherapist, combining both direct and indirect suggestions to achieve your required goals.

To learn more about hypnotherapy, or to find a hypnotherapist near you, visit The Hypnotherapy Association’s website. www.thehypnotherapyassociation.co.uk/

It is a fact that your sweet home is your primary investment, and you have to take every step to protect this investment. One of the most important things is to ensure that rain gutters are functioning properly, as they play a big role in preventing excessive water from spattering wooden garage doors or pooling close to your foundation.

The Need for Cleaning

Although the Roman brought drains to Britain, they have now become an important part of every home (more about this is at http://www.maintainyourbuilding.org.uk/pages/brief_history_of_gutters.html). However, to ensure that they work properly, it is important to pay serious attention to cleaning the guttering and downspouts. Actually, you need such cleaning mainly due to the shedding of leaf debris from stamens, catkins, pistils and anthers that fall during the rain and make a solid mat over the screens of your gutter – the runoff will overflow causing many different problems.

Cleaning Rain Gutters Safely

While it is important to clean your rain gutters regularly, you should take the plunge only when you know how to handle the task efficiently and safely. Always pay attention to the following things before taking on the cleaning project.

Find the Right safety Gear

Make sure to use the safety gear to avoid dealing with any hassle. You should get rubber gloves, as they protect your hands from rotting leaf debris, which might be full of squirrel and bird droppings. Sometimes, an old steel gutter will have torn metal shards, and to avoid cuts, you should wear the right pair of gloves. Moreover, a pair of goggles will protect your eyes, as anything might fly out whilst cleaning your rain gutters.

Getting the Right Pair of Shoes

Always keep in mind that in order to clean your rain gutter properly, you will have to walk on your composition-shingled roof, which will become safe and easy with rubber-soled shoes. Since they provide you with a good grip, you do not have to worry a lot about slipping or falling.

Clean the Gutters Properly

Once you have taken certain precautionary measures, you should proceed with the task. To clean it properly, you need to rake all debris from your roof before you proceed with the cleaning of your rain gutters – it will ensure that the next rain does not wash the dirt down into your clean gutter.

After this, you can opt for different methods for cleaning gutters. Scooping out leaf debris is usually the easiest way to get the job done. For this, you can opt for a specific tool called “Gutter Getter” scoop – you can get it in hardware stores or visit http://www.amazon.com/Gutter-Getter-00652-Care-Cleaning/dp/B000Z8TBXO to buy it online. This tool is effective because it has a thin front scooping edge, which will help you get rid of all types of debris. For a further reach, try attaching your scoop to some kind of an extension pole.

Here, you may also want to take advantage of a garden hose for cleaning. Make sure it has a nozzle with pistol grip – it is easy to adjust this one without having to move a lot. Just keep in mind that you should use spray only if you have already removed most of the debris from the gutter.

Overall, you should understand that it is possible to clean your rain gutters on your own, but you should learn to be safe. However, if you do not wish to climb a ladder, drag a hose up, and waste a lot of your time, you may want to consider hiring a professional to handle things for you.

The equipment required for rope access usually depends on your area of work. The following is a list of some of the most necessary equipment you should always include in your rope access kit.

1. Climbing Helmet

A climbing helmet is one of the most necessary items that should not miss in your rope access kit. Its main role is to protect your head and brain from injury. As rope access is an engaging industrial application, you have to deal with falling objects and debris while on duty. A minor or serious head injury can make you paralysed, unable to see, hear, or talk properly for the rest of your life. If not properly treated, brain damage can lead to your premature death.

Your brain is what controls everything in your body and when it gets injured or damaged, you can be affected in many bad ways. That is the main reason as to why you should always protect your head with a helmet while performing your duties. In addition, a climbing helmet is also designed to protect you against thermal shocks as you will be working at different atmospheric conditions.

2. Harness

A harness is not only meant to suspend you securely, but also to prevent you from falling while working in high places. While choosing a sit harness, you should be very careful to avoid buying fake or weak ones. Make sure you go for a harness made of strong and comfortable materials. It should also be well-fitting.

3. Ascenders and Descenders

Ascenders and descenders are useful mechanical devices meant to offer you comfort and safety while moving up or down the rope. They offer similar functionality to friction knots, but are highly advanced and easier to use.

4. Fall Arrestor

Falls are the kneading cause of workplace accidents and deaths in many construction sites worldwide. A fall arrestor is designed to stop you from sliding or falling while working. The system comprises of a full body harness, connectors, and an anchorage for maximum safety. Some fall arrestors may come with rope grabs, lanyards, and lifelines.

Every company designs its fall arrestors in a slightly different way from the other. Therefore, before you choose your fall arrest system, you have to make sure you know more about the company and understand how the equipment works before using it. Before climbing the rope or any other structure, see to it that the fall arrest system is in a perfect condition and that all its components are attached properly to your body. If you notice any signs of wear and tear, damage,or weakness, it is very advisable for you to replace the system immediately to avoid any form of accident while working at the elevated heights.

5. Foot Stirrups

Foot stirrups are to help you to balance and position yourself while climbing up or down the rope without tripping. Good stirrups are not only made of long lasting materials, but also fit and grip the feet perfectly well. If you do not know how to make the right choice, you can ask for help from your experienced friends or workmates.

6. Carabiners/ Connectors

Carabiners or connectors are unique metal loops designed with a sprung gate. They are used to connect devices such as bars, large diameter cables, and other necessary devices to the harness. If you have the carabiners, you do not have to use your hands to carry any devices while climbing up or down the rope, making your work easier and enjoyable.

References

http://www.safetyaccessrescue.com.au/faqs/253-rope-access-gear
http://www.penoguard.com.au/fall-arrest-system.php
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_it_so_important_to_wear_helmets

Scaffolding is intrusive, unattractive and costly. It has a place in the modern construction/ renovation industry simply because people believe there aren’t other options.
Rigg access is that other option. It involves the knowledge based in rock climbing but applied to construction; whereby the worker abseils down the side of the structure, and performs the neccessary work in a harness.
Learn more about rigg access at http://www.irata.org/what_is_rope_access.php
Rigg access has many benefits over traditional scaffolding; these are just a few:

Cost

The cost of scaffolding on mid to large-scale projects can be prohibitive. Even on a small scale project such as painting a semi-detached house, the price can go into the thousands. Scaffold hire, assembly and disassembly each comes with its own costs and the sum total is often a lot higher than people expect. In comparison, rigg access can be assembled and disassembled in a day, there’s no rent cost and no time-consuming construction. Also, an unexpected but almost certain side effect of scaffolding is the cost to receive a permit from the council. Rigg access rarely needs a permit and is easily the more cost-effective option.

Accessibility

On larger-scale projects, every floor of scaffolding higher costs more, takes longer to set up and generates more stress. With rigg access, the accessibility question is solved with ease. The harness is simply set up at the top of the structure and the technician is lowered to the desired point. This makes the most difficult places to access easily accessible and negates the need for expensive, multi-leveled scaffolding.
Another point here is that scaffolding costs are cumulative. The higher up the scaffolding goes, the more it costs. Rigg access is generally a flat rate and far below that of a high-level scaffolding operation.

Time

On any project, time can be one of the most stressful and expensive factors involved. To set up scaffolding, the scaffolding must be erected, rented for the period of use and then taken down. The bigger the project, the longer these three processes take. In any project that involves customers or visitors coming to a structure, the scaffolding acts as a double time-loss initiative. The time costs of the scaffolding are matched by the loss of visitation due to the unsightly nature of scaffolding, the blocked access points and the heavy transport of scaffolding materials. These costs continue for the duration of the scaffolding project.
The benefit of rigg access is clear here. It takes a small percentage of the time a scaffolding project takes, the work is assembled on roof level, not ground level and apart from the immediate-area cordons, if visitors didn’t look up, they wouldn’t know work was being done.

Safety

The very nature of rigg access work makes it safer. On any industry project, time can be measured in man-at-risk hours. These are the combined hours that every member of the workforce spends working onsite, under typical industry-risk conditions. With the reduced manpower of rigg access, the man-at-risk hours are reduced also. This makes for a quantitatively safer method. With the harness system, safety gear, primary safety device and backup safety device, rigg access is often said to be one of the most safety-regulated practices in modern industry.
Download the IRATA rigg access safety report at http://www.irata.org/safety_records.php

Rigg access has many benefits as a more cost effective, accessible, fast and equally safe if not safer practice than traditional scaffolding. Less cost allows more care to be taken with better materials. Better accessibility allows difficult operations to be undertaken with ease. Faster work saves money. Most important of all, safety practices ensure work can be done without fear of danger. Rigg access is the future of work positioning.

For more information, visit http://www.hsimagazine.com/article.php?article_id=621

Timely concrete repairs not only help in preventing extensive damage and water intrusion, but also in improving the appearance of the floors or surfaces. Before you start repairing a damaged or cracked concrete, you must make sure you have all the necessary requirements for the job including:

• A spray bottle
• Concrete Patch
• Stone chisel
• A wire brush
• Concrete bonding adhesive
• A mason’s hammer
• A steel trowel
• A hose pipe

• A vacuum cleaner
• Pressure Washer

Once you have collected all the necessary items, you can start repairing the cracked concrete by using the following vital steps:

Step 1: Clean the Surface

Whether you are repairing a walkway, kitchen floor, driveway, or patio, break off all lose pieces of concrete using a stone chisel or screwdriver. After removing all the cracked concrete, use a strong wire brush to scrub away the dust and debris.

Step 2: Dampen the Surface

This step allows the damaged area to be clean so that it can be ready to bond properly and perfectly with the repair materials. Using a spray bottle or a hose pipe, spread water all over the surface. Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes for the water to be absorbed fully by the concrete. After that, wipe off any standing water from the surface using a clean dry cloth.

With the crack fully prepared for repair, use the following smart steps depending on whether the size of the crack is small or large. Before using any tool, material, or product, make sure you go through the provided manufacture’s manual so as to avoid doing shoddy work or causing unnecessary accidents.

Fixing a Small Crack

Step 3: Fill the Crack

The best way to fill in the crack is by using pourable grout, concrete sealer, or textured caulk. If you choose to use pourable grout or concrete sealer, make sure you do the application while the surface is still wet. Textured caulk works well on dry surfaces. So, if you intend to use it, wait until the wet surface becomes completely dry.

Whether you are using pourable grout, concrete sealer, or textured caulk, fill the crack completely and then wait for about 4 to 5 minutes before using a point trowel to push the adhesive deeper into the crack. Wait for a few more minutes for the adhesive to dry and then provide an extra overfill to cater for the shrinkage.

Fixing a Large Crack

Step 4: Widen the Crack

If the crack is wider than 13 mm, use a mason’s hammer and chisel to widen the crack’s hairline. While widening the crack, make sure the base or inside is wider than the surface. This process is known as undercutting. Undercutting plays a major role in preventing the patching material or compound from being forced out of the cracked or damaged area due to temperature changes. After widening the crack, clean the entire surface using a pressure washer and then using an air compressor or a shop vacuum, clear out as much dust from within the cracked areas as possible.

Step 5: Spread Concrete Patch

After mixing vinyl concrete patch with water according to manufacturer’s instruction, trowel the compound deep into the crack in different layers, each layer measuring about 6 mm. After applying a layer, give it time to dry completely before applying the next.

Step 6: Seal the Patch and Concrete

After you are through with patching the concrete, it is very advisable to seal it. Sealing prevents the concrete from absorbing stains. The best concrete sealing product to use is the water-based polyurethane. If the surface is smooth, apply the polyurethane with a roller. With a rough surface, use a brush or broom. For the best results, apply about three or four coats of the polyurethane.

Roofs made of clay or concrete tiles are very strong and durable as compared to other types of roofing materials. However, if subjected to extreme weather conditions, falling objects, or constant movements, they can be exposed to premature wear and tear or breakage. Replacing or fixing damaged tiles on your roof can be fairly simple as long as you understand the basic rules and take the necessary safety precautions while working on high places.

Before you begin doing any repairs on your tile roof, you will require the following vital tools and materials:

• A crow bar
• A ladder
• Replacement tiles
• Copper nails
• A Hammer
• RT-600 tile roof sealer

Once you have all the above necessary requirements at hand, you can use the following smart step by step guide to repair your damaged or broken tile roof:

Step 1: Determine the Extent of Damage

This is the most important step you should take into consideration while trying to repair your tile roof. Look at the damaged tile or tiles carefully to determine whether they need to be fixed or to be replaced. If there is only a small crack or chip on the tile, then you will only need to do minor repairs rather than replacing the entire tile. To fix a small crack effectively, use a caulk gun to apply the RT-600 sealer inside the crack and give it some time to dry. Once the seal dries and hardens, the crack will be sealed as per your expectation.

The best way to get to the top of the roof to check on the tiles is by using a folding ladder. A folding ladder prevents you from walking on the roofing tiles because your weigh can easily crack or break more of them, a risk you would not like to take. The main advantage of the folding ladder is that you can bend it in different ways to climb different areas of the roof.

Step 2: Replace the Badly Damaged Tiles

Badly damaged tiles are very hard to repair. They usually need total replacement. Carefully slide your crow bar under the tile that requires replacement. Apply a gentle downward pressure on the end of the crow bar to lift the tile out of place. If you experience problems lifting the tile, you can use a hammer to break it further into pieces for easy removal. While using the hammer, make sure you use gentle force in order to avoid breaking the other surrounding tiles. After you succeed in removing the broken pieces, keep them inside a trash bag or bin to avoid causing unnecessary accidents.

Step 3: Replace the Damaged Tiles

After you are through with getting rid of the damaged tile, get your new tiles ready and start the replacement process. To make sure your tiles match, the replacements should be of the same colours, sizes, shapes, and weight. This will also help in improving the beauty of your roof. If your tile roof is 50years and above, chances are that it is mortared and not nailed. In such a case, you will only have to slide the new tile inside the empty space and then seal it by spreading mortar underneath and all around it.

If your modern tile roof has nails, you will have to nail your new tiles carefully for them to be intact like the rest. For added security from unnecessary leaks, make sure you apply mortar on all edges of the new tile to form a water tight seal. Apart from using mortar, you can also use RT-600 tile roof sealer for the same purpose.

References

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-repair-tile-roof-3917296.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4597456_repair-concrete-roof-tile.html
http://www.practicalpressure.com/How_to_Repair_a_Tile_Roof.htm