2010 March | Guttering Blog

March 25, 2010

Re-Use Plastic Sheets

Plastic sheets have a great many all-round general uses, whether you are a builder, gardener, decorator or even a homeowner.

Here are some facts about plastic sheets that you might not have known. They will help you choose the right plastic sheets for the job you have in mind, but they might also give you some ideas for using your plastic sheets that you hadn’t considered before.

1.   Plastic sheets come in different thicknesses. The thinnest sheet is usually around 1mil and the thickest 4mils. For jobs around the house you only usually need a thickness of around 1mil.
2.   Using plastic and PVC sheets as a roof for a greenhouse in the garden helps keep warmth and moisture in. You can increase the heat with every additionally layer of plastic sheeting, and while this can add up in cost, it is still cheaper than heating the greenhouse in other ways.
3.   Most plastic sheets are clear or white, but you can also by them in red, blue or green.
4.   Leaving your car in outside storage? A tarpaulin or a PVC sheet wrapped all the way around it and tied at the wheels will help protect it from the weather, in summer and winter.
5.   Looking for a cheaper solution to getting your windows double-glazed? Plastic sheets cut to size and attached to your window in the manner of another ‘double’ window will help reduce noise by a large percentage. If you use clear plastic sheets no one will even notice.

These are just a few of the many uses of plastic sheets. Store some in the shed at home, some in the car, and take them to the beach! You never know when you might need them.

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March 24, 2010

The Many Uses Of Plastic And PVC Sheets

Filed under: plastic sheets — Tags: buy plastic sheets online, plastic sheets, PVC sheets, uses for plastic sheets — admin @ 2:27 pm

Plastic sheets are the unsung hero of the DIY world. They have a multitude of uses at home, in the garden, while decorating or building. Here are some of the most common uses of plastic sheets.

1.   Use plastic sheets to protect furniture when redecorating. If you are painting anywhere in your house, even if it is only one wall, you need to cover your furniture and your floor with PVC sheets. You’ll be amazed at how paint manages to get on everything, and by the time you realise it will be too late. (Unless of course you don’t like any of your furniture, in which case this is your perfect chance to ruin it and then get rid of it.)
2.   Use plastic sheets to cover windows. If you are having new windows put in or double-glazed, plastic sheets can provide a temporary alternative.
3.   Use plastic sheets when the builders come over. It doesn’t matter how big or small the job is, cover everything in sight because you know they will make a mess. Dust has an amazing ability to get everywhere especially when sanding or filing or grinding is taking place.
4.   Plastic sheets are a gardener’s best friend. Use it in your vegetable patch to protect delicate lettuces, or lay some clear plastic sheets over soil in the spring to regenerate the soil and destroy weeds and insect larvae.

Plastic and PVC sheets have so many uses that there really is no excuse to have some around the house just in case. They come in several different thicknesses, and at a cost-effective price, Bliby Plastics’ supply is undoubtedly the one to consider.

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March 23, 2010

Materials: Choosing The Best Fascias

Filed under: fascias — Tags: aluminium fascias, buy fascias online, fascias, plastic fascias, wooden fascias — admin @ 2:23 pm

Fascias are a bit like the finishing touch to the exterior of your house. Taking care of them means that your house looks the best it can, but it also means that your roof and walls are protected from leaks and damage caused by dampness. Unfortunately, over time, fascias can become worn and mouldy, rendering them ineffective and ugly.

If you have decided to replace your fascias you might be confused about what materials to go for, thanks to the wide range of options available to you.

We’ve put together some of the basic differences between the different types of materials available for fascia boards, in order that you can choose the most appropriate one for yourself and your home.

1.   Wood: this is a lovely traditional material and is often found in character homes or homes of a certain period. Wood requires regular maintenance – cleaning and painting – or the wood can dry out, split, warp and rot.
2.   Aluminium: most often found in fascias of houses built in the mid-1900s. The benefits of aluminium are that it does not rust and is easily moulded to fit any shape – be it an eve or a window frame. Does not require painting and easy to replace.
3.   Plastic: growing in popularity thanks to its durability and price. Plastic is very cost-effective and easy to manipulate, so perfect for DIYers who are worried about making expensive mistakes. The other benefits of plastic fascias are that they are easily cleaned with soap and water, unlike wood, which requires lengthy maintenance. Like aluminium, plastic fascias never need to be painted.

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March 18, 2010

Renovating With New Fascias

Filed under: fascias — Tags: buy fascias online, fascias, home renovation with fascias, UPVC fascia boards — admin @ 2:17 pm

Fascia is a broad term which covers all and any horizontal surfaces that span across the top of a wall or columns. When it is used with the latter we get a clue of the origins of the word. Fascia comes from the Latin word meaning doorframe, and it was commonly used in classical architecture to describe the wide band which sat directly above a column.

In modern day building terms, the image of a fascia is less romantic but just as vital. The fascia refers to the UPVC board nailed to the ends of a roof rafter, frequently supporting guttering in steep-slope roofing. In lower slope roofing, fascia refers to the horizontal trim located at the perimeter of a building. Fascias provide the finishing touches to the exterior of your house in much the same way that window frames do. Taking care of them keeps your house looking good – and protects it, too.

Depending on what material your fascias are made of, you may find that they need maintenance. You may even find that they need replacing altogether. If you decide that your fascias need replacing, ensure that you have the right skills, tools and experience to take on the job, otherwise you may be better off enlisting the services of a professional.

If you are replacing the fascias yourself, take care not to damage the guttering if it is in good condition because it can be reused. Clear and remove any damaged or rotting wood before attaching the new fascias with screws or nails.

Give the new fascias a new coat of paint if any damage done to them is minimal, but if it is more long-lasting, it can be much more productive to replace them by sourcing new UPVC fascia boards at Bliby Plastics.

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March 16, 2010

Plastic Guttering: Durable, Hygienic And Aesthetic

Filed under: Guttering — Tags: buy guttering online, cast iron guttering, Guttering, plastic guttering — admin @ 2:05 pm

While guttering may not rank highly on the list of most exciting or interesting things to buy or maintain for your home, it’s easily one of the most essential. Without guttering, the rain that falls on the roof of your home has nowhere to go, and you are in danger of leaks, floods and damage to your roof, walls and paintwork.

There are a lot of choices for guttering on the market today. Plastic guttering is one of the most widely available and popular, but you can also get copper, cast iron guttering and even aluminium. Each of these has its relative benefits and drawbacks which are individual to the material in question.

However, plastic guttering is so popular for a few reasons, and of all the reasons that homeowners choose plastic guttering, price is one of the most persuasive.

Unlike other materials used for guttering, plastic is lightweight (making it easier to work with), yet structurally strong and extremely durable. Hardly any maintenance at all is required to keep plastic guttering in good condition, other than a twice yearly clean to remove any debris. (This is recommended for all gutters, no matter what materials they are made from.)

Plastic guttering is available in a choice of colours (black, white, brown, grey and sand), and also different profiles to suit your home. For example, you can buy plastic guttering in half round, square, deep-flow and ogee profiles. The type of profile that you buy should depend on the size of your roof, the flow that is required, and whether you would like a decorative edge to it or not.

For guttering solutions already designed to meet an array of specifications, contact the friendly team at Bliby Plastics today, or browse the vast selection available on their website.

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March 11, 2010

Gain The Benefits Of Hygienic Cladding

Filed under: Plastic Cladding — Tags: hygienic wall cladding, Plastic Cladding, plastic wall cladding, types of cladding — admin @ 2:00 pm

Wall cladding is used in building construction to refer to the layering of one material over another. This is done to protect against the elements (to prevent water or moisture penetrating), or to provide a decorative finish.

While cladding is often used for walls, it can often be found all around the house – plastic cladding is ideal in bathrooms due to its waterproof nature – and around windows too.

Materials traditionally used in the interior of homes, such as wood and brick, have aesthetic benefits over practical ones. Plastic cladding is easy to clean and hygienic, while wood becomes damp when cleaning and brick is difficult to clean. Wood and brick absorb dampness and moisture in a way that plastic does not.

This in-built protection against moisture and natural durability, combined with its easy to clean nature and hygienic elements makes plastic cladding the ideal material for use in many parts of the home (kitchens and bathrooms particularly), as well as hospitals and catering establishments.

Aesthetics do not need to be sacrificed in order to benefit from the practical aspects of plastic cladding. Wall cladding now comes in many designs and colours, meaning you can create an attractive and pleasant environment in your home, which is also easy to clean and care for.

Other benefits of using plastic cladding are cost (it is cheaper than other materials), and while it cannot be recycled, plastic wall cladding does not release toxins in the way that paint does, and requires less energy to process than other materials.

For aesthetic and high quality, hygienic plastic cladding at affordable prices, contact the professionals at Bliby Plastics.

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March 10, 2010

Keeping Your Guttering In Good Condition

Filed under: Guttering — Tags: buy guttering online, cast iron guttering, Guttering, guttering tips, plastic guttering — admin @ 1:53 pm

Clearing clogged guttering is essential for several reasons. Firstly, guttering which has been blocked with debris will no longer be able to flush rainwater through the troughs, down the drainpipe and away from the house. This means that you are more likely to suffer from overflows, leaks, damage to paintwork and damp.

Care should be taken when clearing guttering, so follow these tips for some help:
-   Get your tools together: you need a tall secure ladder, some thick gloves and safety glasses (remember you will be handling sharp branches), a rubbish bag for debris, a garden hose for rinsing and cleaning and a garden trowel for dislodging anything that is stuck.
-   Get someone to help you: another person is handy to have on board. They can keep the ladder steady and help pass you things when you need them, so the job is done with more efficiency.
-   How to clean guttering: remove the debris which is clogging the gutter. Wash guttering out using the hose and remember to wash down through the drainpipes.
-   What to do if you find a dead bird or animal: you will need to take precautions if you have a rain water tank that collects water for domestic use – drain the water in the tank and clean guttering with a household disinfectant.
-   Clean guttering twice a year: the best times to clean gutters are spring and autumn, or when you think there might be something clogging them up.
-   Consider getting a professional to help: if you aren’t comfortable on ladders or you live in a house that is a couple of floors high or more then get a professional in to help.

For a broad selection of high quality cast iron guttering for all requirements, contact Bliby Plastics for solutions today.

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March 9, 2010

The Importance Of High Quality Guttering

Filed under: Guttering — Tags: cast iron guttering, Guttering, plastic guttering, quality guttering, types of guttering — admin @ 1:47 pm

In the run-up to, and during the process of buying your own home, everyone sympathises with you about the stress and work involved with dealing with lawyers, the other party, all the paperwork.

This work, stress and sympathy usually continues while you then move in and decorate, but what no one tells you is that having your own home continues to be hard work once you’ve bought it and moved in.

Some jobs around the house can be done easily enough with barely any equipment – cleaning windows, for example, or touching up paintwork – while others are more time consuming, like clearing out your rain gutters.

Clearing out your rain guttering is an essential job because gutters collect water and drain it away from the building, thus protecting it and preventing damage. While they usually work well enough, it may happen that leaves, tree branches and perhaps – unfortunately – a dead bird or mouse gets trapped in the guttering and clogs it up preventing the free-flow of water.

Clogged and poorly manufactured guttering is not only unhygienic but can lead to water overflows, which could damage your home. They also make perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes – this may not be a problem where you live, but if they are, then you should seriously consider the threat of West Nile virus. Clogged guttering can also lead to the growth of grasses and weeds, which makes clearing them out at a later date much harder.

For new guttering at fantastic prices and in a variety of materials, from plastic to cast iron guttering, pay us at Bliby Plastics a visit today.

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March 4, 2010

DIY Or Professional Guttering?

Filed under: Guttering — Tags: buy guttering online, cast iron guttering, Guttering, plastic guttering — admin @ 1:41 pm

Success in DIY depends on the job that has been taken on, the experience of the individual doing the work, and their natural aptitude for DIY plus how much common sense they have. Some DIY jobs are easier than others: anyone armed with a few basic instructions could paint a wall for example, while grouting a new bathroom – while it looks easy enough – requires more patience and attention to detail than first meets the eye.

Replacing or installing guttering is one of those jobs that should probably be left to an expert, unless you happen to be an expert yourself. One of the main reasons for this is because it involves climbing up onto tall ladders to reach the roof and other high areas of your house, and this is something you don’t want to get wrong.

But what is guttering and what is it used for?

Shaped as a narrow channel or trough, the role of guttering is to collect rainwater and divert it away from the roof. It is designed and installed in one of three ways:
1.   Integral to the roof and running along the lower edge of the roof slope. Made from roof covering
2.   Made of metal and suspended beyond and below the roof edge
3.   Built under the roof edge and into the wall and constructed of masonry.

By diverting water away from the roof in the first instance via a downspout, guttering helps protect a building’s foundation. Keeping water and dampness away from the building’s structure has many benefits. Guttering helps reduce erosion, prevents leaks, protects painted surfaces and serves as a way to collect water for domestic use.

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March 2, 2010

Opt For Plastic Cladding Over Brick And Wood

Filed under: Plastic Cladding — Tags: Plastic Cladding, plastic wall cladding, types of cladding, wall cladding — admin @ 1:32 pm

Traditional building materials such as wood and brick have lots of nostalgia value, but their practical benefits are limited – especially in a damp climate where it rains more often than not.

In damp weather, wood absorbs moisture; and a lot of the time you can’t even tell it’s happening until the wood is rotting before your very eyes. Brick is incredibly hard to clean, if not impossible, and does not always keep weather out the way you would like – absorbing moisture like wood.

Plastic wall cladding, layer upon layer of it, provides perfect protection against all types of extreme weather (hot and cold), moisture and dampness. This is so important in all houses, but particularly those which are detached, as they are not benefited from the warmth and protection provided by having another structure right next door. Country cottages are a perfect example of the kind of building that would benefit from plastic wall cladding: remote, detached and have little protection from the elements.

Plastic cladding used in bathrooms and kitchens is particularly effective. Not only are they the rooms in the house which receive the most wear and tear, but these are also the two places where an easy to clean, durable and waterproof surface is most appreciated.

Its cost-effectiveness compared to wood, aluminium and brick also gives plastic cladding the competitive edge over other materials. Installation is cleaner, quicker and easier, and what this means for a homeowner is less mess, stress and tidying up when the builders come out.

There is a time and place to utilise the charm of traditional materials, but plastic cladding beats them hands down when it comes to practicality.

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Guttering Blog

March 25, 2010

Re-Use Plastic Sheets

March 24, 2010

The Many Uses Of Plastic And PVC Sheets

March 23, 2010

Materials: Choosing The Best Fascias

March 18, 2010

Renovating With New Fascias

March 16, 2010

Plastic Guttering: Durable, Hygienic And Aesthetic

March 11, 2010

Gain The Benefits Of Hygienic Cladding

March 10, 2010

Keeping Your Guttering In Good Condition

March 9, 2010

The Importance Of High Quality Guttering

March 4, 2010

DIY Or Professional Guttering?

March 2, 2010

Opt For Plastic Cladding Over Brick And Wood