​When performing home inspections, we get to see all types of exterior cladding.  An option that is very popular is vinyl siding.  But, does this type of siding work for all homes? What are the pros of using vinyl siding and what are the cons?  Let’s consider:
 
There are many pros to using vinyl siding as long as it is installed correctly.  It is hard waring, will not easily dent and is also resistant to rust and fading.  I’m sure you will agree that these are necessary qualities in an exterior cladding.
 
As for the cons of using vinyl siding, if you are looking for something to provide extra insulation for your home, vinyl siding will not do it, so its not going to provide added energy efficiency necessarily.  Another thing to be aware of is that in the event of a fire, harmful toxins could be released from vinyl siding.
 
While this is the case with many kinds of exterior cladding, vinyl siding could become damaged given certain extremes of weather and temperature.  The siding could begin to distort and warp if the temperatures are too hot, while it could become brittle and crack if temperatures are too cold, so this is something to consider.
 
So, as we can see, there are many benefits to using vinyl siding for the exterior of your home but think about it carefully and make sure it is installed by someone who knows what they are doing.

An at home gym can be the ideal way to stay fit as it eliminates the need to go all the way to a commercial gym, however, while commercial gyms have strict rules in place to keep everyone using their equipment safe, how safe is our at home gym?  Sadly, thousands of exercise equipment related injuries are reported every year with many of these involving children.  So, what are some safety tips to take into consideration?


Keep all barbells out of the reach of children or safely stored out of the way when they are not being used.


Although its more fun to exercise while listening to music or watching tv, you might not be able to hear if someone comes into the room such as a small child.  When installing gym equipment, position it so that you can exercise and at the same time have a clear view of anyone entering the room.


Treadmills have the potential to cause all kinds of injury if not used correctly.  They usually come with safety features such as a safety cord and key designed to turn the machine off when it senses a problem. Make sure whoever uses the treadmill knows how to use these safety features.  It is also very important to keep any safety cords well out of a child’s reach.


Children just love to play with things that they shouldn’t, and exercise equipment is hard to resist.  With this in mind, unplug gym equipment when not in use and keep them in their locked positions.  In this way a child will not be able to turn them on.  Of course, the best option would be to keep the exercise room locked when no one is using it.


Exercising should be beneficial to our health not a hazard, by following these simple safety guidelines, you will help the household stay free of exercise equipment injuries.