Scaffolding
This a temporary but strong framework designed to hold up buildings and support structures, as well as builders and equipment, while refurbishment or construction is under way. Although normally constructed from hollow metal tubes, it can be made from other materials. In Britain it can commonly be found in either galvanised steel or aluminium, and the steel can be black occassionally. Boards of seasoned wood are often used to provide platforms and walkways for those working on the scaffolding. Board ends are protected by nail plates, or hoop irons.

The main elements of a scaffold are standards, ledgers and transoms. The standards are the upright part of the scaffolding, and rest on a square base plate to support the weight of the entire structure. The ledgers are the horizontal tubes, and the transoms rest upon the ledgers at right angles, holding standards in place and prociding a resting support for the boards.

Roofing
Roofs are basically in place to prefer precipitation entering a building, and to insulate and protect. A roof can come in the shape of a highly pitched roof (more commonly found on residential homes) or low sloped (found on businesses and warehouse buildings). The most common type of low sloped roof is the built-up-roof, single plies or modified bitumen. Another variation is the metal standing seam roofs.
Recently some areas demand that coral or green roofs are put in place - coral roofs are those having high reflectivity and his emissivity. Green roofs on the other hand actually have soil placed over a waterproof coating, and trees, plants and grass are planted into the soil.
The very top layer of a roof is the weatherproofing layer, designed to keep the elements out. This can be constructed from a variety of materials with a variety of methods.

Shingle and Faux Shingle -- Slate is the material found most commonly in the UK, as it lasts a very long time and is durable, with it's composition effecting low-cost repairs (as only one slate may need to be replaced). It is however one of the more expensive forms of roofing. Ceramic tiles are much the same.
Membrane -- Thermosetting plastic and Thermoplastic rely heavily on the skill of the fitter, and are suitable only for specific conditions. Modified bitumen suits a variety of situations, and Ployurethane Foam is a roofing method that requires less training, involving spraying foam in place and then coating with another hardly material such as gravel.
Metal roofing -- Corrugated metal is a fairly common roofing found on factories and warehouses where heat loss isn't a huge concern, and metal roofs can be found with a vairety of seam-sealing methods.
Fabric -- Dacron and Polyester is sometimes used for roofing, along with Fibreglass with embedded Teflon.
Straw -- Otherwise known as thatch or reed thatch, examples of this insultating roofing can be found in Cornwall and Devon particularly.

Solar roofs are a new form of environmentally friendly roofing, capable of generating energy through solar panels with draw heat from the sun. These solar roofs can be constructed in a variety of fashions, either integrated into a new roof or added over the top of an already installed roofing layer.

RCContracting carry out all kinds of roofing work, from original builds to repairs and adjustments. See our roofing page for information on how we can help you, or contact us for a chat about your individual requirements.