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As autumn begins to turn into winter, we start thinking about spending more time indoors away from the elements. Before the snow and ice set in, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your roof makes it through the coldest season without problems.

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Clear the gutters

If you have a tree on your property, you’re probably used to clearing your gutters out regularly. When they get blocked with fallen leaves or other debris, water can’t flow easily from the roof and down to the drains. That can lead to noisy overflows, icicles, and water falling in the wrong place, which can cause damp patches.

Even if you don’t have a tree, it’s well worth making it an annual job to clear your gutters. Birds love to feed off the moss that grows on rooves, but they often only dislodge it to fall into the gutters where it either dies or grows.

Clean the roof

If you have a pitched roof, this isn’t such a problem, but flat roofs can be a haven for leaf material, moss or other debris. If this gets damp and breaks down, it can damage the roof covering and lead to problems in the long run.

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If you’re not able to get onto the roof yourself, ask friends to recommend a local company, or look for local groups on social media who can recommend experts in flat roofing in Evesham, such as www.lwroofing.co.uk.

Check for damage

Make a visual inspection of your roof spaces from the outside and in. This does involve using ladders, which are a leading cause of accidents, so this may be best left to experts if you are not confident doing it yourself.

Pay special attention to areas around skylights and dormer windows, which can be a trouble spot.

Airflow

Go into the loft and make sure that you have a good airflow through this space. You want moisture to be able to escape, otherwise you will end up with condensation and eventually mould or damp. Go up on a bright day and make sure that you can see daylight through all the vents and channels.

With those steps taken care of, you shouldn’t have any problems with your roof this winter, whether it’s rain, snow or hail!

Most people are more or less aware of what’s expected when it comes to appropriate attire for attending a wedding. But there is a wide range of options included in the formal wear category, so you might be a little sketchy on the finer points of selecting an outfit to wear to the wedding of a friend or family member. However, if you follow a few simple guidelines you should be able to dress up without making a spectacle of yourself. Here are some dos and don’ts you might want to keep in mind when choosing your attire.

DO:
1. Dress formally. Unless the wedding is specifically listed as black tie, you don’t necessarily have to go for tuxes and full-length gowns. But you also shouldn’t show up in jeans and a tee shirt. A wedding is a special event, and a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for most couples. So you need to be respectful and dress appropriately. At the very least, consider that your family member or friend who is getting married will have to look at the photos for years to come, and you don’t want to be the jerk that ruins their pictures.

2. Dress for the setting. Weddings are held at a variety of locations that may determine the appropriate level of attire. For example, a daytime wedding almost certainly allows for short or tea-length dresses, while floor-length gowns should be reserved for evening affairs. On the other hand, a beach wedding calls for a slightly more casual approach to dressing, and depending on the couple, shorts may even be acceptable.

3. Ask when in doubt. If you’re not sure what attire is appropriate for the event you’re attending, don’t hesitate to contact the bride or groom for clarification. They will let you know exactly how you’re expected to appear at their event.

DON’T:

1. Wear white. Although social mores are shifting on this subject, it’s better not to chance raising the ire of the bride or getting an earful from other guests that are insulted on her behalf. The best rule of thumb, even if the bride is not particular on the subject, is never to wear white, or even off-white to a wedding. This color is reserved for the bride, whether she chooses to wear it or not.

2. Skimp out. Sure, weddings are a great place to meet eligible singles. But this doesn’t mean you should dress like you’re going out clubbing for the night. Showing a little skin is okay, but try to keep it tasteful. As a rule of thumb, if your mother wouldn’t approve of your outfit, it’s probably not appropriate for attending a wedding.

3. Go overboard. When it comes to attention-grabbing ensembles, you never want to outshine the bride. So while you can certainly shop at stores like Allure Bridals or high-end department stores, try not to select a dress that’s going to turn every head in the place and overshadow the happy couple. Even if you have a flamboyant personality and a style aesthetic to match, it’s best to tone it down and cede the spotlight to the bride and groom on their special day.

If you’ve decided to have a real Christmas tree this year, then you might be grateful of some tips on how to look after it. Taking good care of your tree will mean it looks great for longer and you can enjoy the pleasant aroma and full branches right through the festive period.

Things you might need:

A carefully chosen, beautiful real tree

A bucket

A small saw to trim the trunk

A watering can

A sturdy out or tree stand that will hold water without leaking

Where to find the best trees:

The best way to guarantee a top-quality tree is to cut your own or have one cut for you from a local farm. Buying locally also guarantees its freshness and sustainability as farms replant for future harvests. It’s a greener option as you’ll be cutting your carbon footprint and helping to support local business. If you buy a pre-cut tree, find out when they were harvested. Feeling the needles is a good indicator. Needles should feel bendy and flexible, not brittle and dried out. For Wellingborough Real Christmas Trees, visit Welford Christmas Trees

Tips for getting your tree ready:

Take your tree out of its protective netting as soon as possible. If you leave it standing for too long you run the risk of mould forming on the damp branches. You’ll want to air it as soon as possible.

Give it a little water straight away to keep it hydrated.

Using a saw, cut approximately 25mm off the base of the trunk. This is done to ensure the base of the tree is fresh and it will absorb more water this way. If you don’t intend to put it up immediately then stand it outside in a sheltered spot and sitting in a bucket of water.

When it’s ready for being positioned, shake it gently to loosen any foliage and get rid of insects. Banging the trunk of tree on the ground will also help dislodge any loose needles.

Position your tree in a pot or tree stand. You may need to trim some more from the base of the trunk to ensure it fits properly. Don’t pot in soil or sand as this will prevent the water intake it needs to stay healthy. Position your tree away from any direct sources of heat such as fires or radiators or you risk drying out the branches and causing increased needle drop.

When your tree is in position:

Be sure to water your tree every day as a dehydrated tree will begin to wilt quickly. A medium-sized tree will drink at least 500ml of water per day and a larger tree can consume between 1 and 2 litres a day. The warmer your home, the more water it will need to remain green and full.

To stay safe this Christmas, be sure to check that any Christmas lights are in good working order with none broken or missing. A good option is to purchase LED decorating lights which are cheap to run and they stay cooler than traditional Christmas lights.

Aussie Speed Humps are a reputable manufacturer and supplier of high quality vehicle management products and have filled a void in a market that is sometimes to susceptible for poorly manufactured car park control products that do not guarantee the required standards are met.

Wheel stops are a financially viable and effective solution to car parking control issues and the benefits include demarcating parking spaces and loading bays, stopping vehicles hitting car park walls and encroaching pedestrian walkways. They can be particularly useful in any place where parking control is required, such as multi-storey car parks, home garages, factories and outdoor car parks.

Types of wheel chocks

Wheel stops are usually made of concrete, plastic or rubber, but they do not always withstand certain conditions so the type of preventative product you choose depends on the environment in which you intend to use them. Also, depending on your individual requirements, wheel chocks are an effective device worthy of consideration for preventing cars rolling down a steep incline.

Ideally your choice of wheel chock should be made of sturdy material which is able to withstand the type of vehicle you are using it for. Plastic wheel chocks cannot support an articulated lorry, for example.

You may also require a device which can be moved and used wherever required so need something light enough to carry between locations, but strong enough to support a wide variety of vehicles. Wheel chocks can be used with cars, trucks, trailers, caravans, motorcycles and even aeroplanes. They must be matched to the size of the vehicle and be used on a firm surface. When choosing your product a moulded rubber material is advisable as this is a strong material which is also environmentally friendly as it can be recycled.

As the colder weather descends and winter fast approaches, we should be thinking about checking the exterior of our properties to ensure everything is as it should be. Damage done in winter from bad weather can wreak havoc on roofs in particular so make sure you have no existing problems that might get worse. Here are some interesting and unexpected ways the weather can damage your roof:

• Debris

Falling debris that can damage roof tops mostly comes from tree branches. While leaves and twigs won’t cause much harm, if you have trees close to your property then high winds could cause a full branch or tree limb to hit your roof. This would cause significant damage. Algae and moss can also cause damage and will grow in the damp conditions of overhanging foliage. Moisture collection is a problem caused by moss and algae which will leave dark spots on your roof, potentially rotting the shingles. Flying debris during stormy weather can also cause guttering to become blocked.

• Wind

High winds can blow tiles completely off the roof. Once the storm has passed, be sure to inspect your roof for any missing tiles to see if repairs or replacements are needed. Missing tiles cause your roof to be more exposed to the weather, which could cause damp and further damage.

• Hail

Hail can occur at any time, even in spring and summer and can be quite damaging if it’s large. As with any sudden extreme weather conditions, be sure to check your roof for any repairs or problems. If you do want to replace important roof parts before the winter sets in, think about using UPVC Fascias and Soffits from absolute building plastics

• Heat

You don’t need to worry about this too much during a UK winter, but you might be surprised to learn that heat can damage a roof too. Heat can cause materials to age much quicker than normal and has an effect on both the inside and out. If you have shingles, excessive heat can cause them to tear or crack which will affect the ventilation and temperature inside your home.

• Rain

This is something we get a lot of here in the UK and if it’s allowed to pool over time, then water could be infiltrating your home causing horrible problems like damp and mould. If your roof has visible dents or uneven surfaces, then keep an eye on them from the inside too to check that even the smallest of cracks isn’t storing up a big problem for you further down the line.

People have become increasingly skittish about cybersecurity in recent months. High profile hacking cases such as Target and GoDaddy prove that even market leaders can be victims of hackers. Most people feel that the solution is to use more advanced security tool and carefully monitor their applications for problems such as the Heartbleed Bug. However, few people realize the dangers posed by many social engineering scams. GoDaddy recently admitted that hackers used social engineering to trick one of their employees to gain access to a number of accounts.

Social Engineering Led to GoDaddy Breach

Earlier this year, TechCrunch reported that a hacker called up GoDaddy and Paypal to get information that allowed them to hack Naoki Hiroshima’s account. GoDaddy confirmed that the attack used a clever strategy to gain access to his information. The hackers convinced the people at the account to reset the account settings. This allowed the hackers to create their own permissions and take over.

It is very concerning that employees at GoDaddy weren’t more vigilant about protecting customer security. Unfortunately, these problems seem to be much more common than we would like to think. It is very important to understand the role that social engineering plays in cybercrime so that we can guard against it. You may want to read about some new social engineering scams to learn more.

Understanding the Psychological Elements at Work

Many people think that hackers are a bunch of socially inept crooks with Asperger’s Syndrome that rely solely on their tech skills to exploit their victims. This stereotype has often caused people to let down their guard when talking to one on the phone. Many hackers are clever psychopaths have studied the intricacies of human behavior. Here are some of the tactics that they use:

Absolving of Responsibility

Most employees are on their guard when they are asked to provide sensitive information. They realize that giving confidential information to the wrong person could cost them their job or possibly lead to legal charges.

Hackers try to set people at ease by giving them an out. They may impersonate a police officer, security professional or someone else that has a legitimate reason to request the information. The employee is subconsciously realizing that they have an excuse if they face blame, which makes them feel more comfortable turning the information over.

Skilled Impersonators

As shown above, impersonation is a key way that hackers try to solicit information. For a group that works on computers, they have developed surprisingly sophisticated ways to go about it. A. Bernz is a well-known hacker that has written extensively on social engineering tactics criminals employ. He has said that many of them study voice patterns and use recordings to make their statements sound more believable.

Play to Target’s Motives

Clever hackers will also learn as much as possible about the employees that they intend to speak with. Here are some of the things that they may want to learn about the person:

• Tensions with specific coworkers
• Aspirations for advancement
• Bitterness towards employer
• Romantic interest in coworker

They can play to these desires and encourage employees to share information that may help them achieve their goals. For example, a hacker may pretend to be a law enforcement official looking for dirt on a professional enemy or someone competing for the same promotion. The employee may overlook their better judgment and share that information if it helps them get rid of the competitor or embarrass the despised coworker.