A to Z of building your own home... R

RenderCement rendering is the application and use of a premixed layer of sand and cement to brick, cement, stone work. In the past it has been textured, however, now we have different colours and textures. Render is generally used on exterior walls but can be used to feature an interior wall.Cement for rendering has been used for centuries to improve both appearance and the weather resistance of exterior walls. It can be seen in different forms all over southern Europe. Depending on the country that you live in, the colours and textures of render may change throughout.Render finishes can be created by using different tools such as trowels, sponges or brushes. The art in traditional rendering is ( apart from getting the mix right) the appearance of the top coat. Cement render consists of 6 parts clean sharp fine sand, 1 part cement, and 1 part lime. The lime makes the render more workable and reduces the cracking when the render dries. Any general purpose cement can be used normally.Many more architects are using render to finish their external facades. Render can look great providing you know what colours and textures work well together. RoofsA roof is one of the main parts of a building envelope. It is the covering and highest part of a building or shelter which provides protection from the weather, more notably rain and snow but also heat, wind and sunlight.There are many different types of roofs, such as, Gable, Hip, Flat and Butterfly. They all are different, however, the sole purpose of a roof is to protect the internal envelope of the building. A roof has different design elements, such as the material, the construction and the durability.All over the world, the material of a roof may range from banana leaves, wheaten straw to laminated glass, copper or aluminium sheeting. In many parts of the world, ceramic tiled have been predominant roofing materials for centuries. Now the construction of a roof is determined by its method of support and how the underneath space is bridged, but also whether or not the roof is pitched. For those who are not aware of the term pitch, is it the angle at which the roof rises from its lowest to highest point. The durability of a roof is a matter of concern, because the roof is often the least accessible part of a building for general purposes of repair and renewal.Early last year, Tesla who are a transportation and energy company announced that they are close to completing a full solar roof that actually costs less than normal roof would. Elon Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla explained  "Would you like a roof that looks better than a normal roof, lasts twice as long, costs less and it generates your electricity?". This sounds like a great idea, and we cannot wait to see it in action.