Month: January 2017

Are you interested in upgrading your home and increasing its value? Consider a metal roof – it’s one of the fastest growing segments of home improvement! Find out why this material is surpassing other roofing options on a number of different counts:

Benefits of Metal Roofs
Lightweight. Metal is one of the lightest materials you can install on your roof. Although the weight can vary based on the different types of metal options, overall, metal roofs can be around 50 to 100 pounds lighter than other roofing materials.

Longevity. Metal offers high weather resistance and has a longer lifespan than shingles and asphalt. With proper care, you can expect a metal roof to last around 60 years.

Environmentally friendly. Metal is one of the most energy-efficient roofing materials. It reflects heat and helps keep homes cooler in the summer. Plus, it also contains a high amount of recycled content.

Excellent weather performance. Metal is exceptional at preventing leaks while also providing wind and fire resistance. According to Metal Roofing Alliance, some insurance companies offer home buyers up to 30 percent reduction in premiums for weather-resistant metal roofs.

Additional Facts
– Metal roofs don’t solely lower heating bills. There are many other factors that contribute to your homes low energy usage – adequate insulation, fixed air leaks, and energy efficient windows.
– Metal roofs are not loud. Typically, metal roofs are even quieter than an asphalt shingle roof. They are installed with a solid sheathing attached to help reduce the noise.
– Metal roofs do not attract lightning. Even if lightening did strike, the energy would be dispersed throughout the structure.

No matter which roofing material you have installed on your house, Landmark Exteriors is happy to help you with any and all of your roofing needs, from installation to repairs and maintenance! To speak with on one of our professional staff members, give us a call at 203.838.3838.

Every home is different and the way you choose to display yours is up to you. However, cedar-siding is becoming one of the most popular building materials and for good reason. With it’s unique grain patterns, rich colors, and wide range of benefits, it’s a smart choice for both new homes and fixer-uppers. Here are four reasons why you should kick vinyl-siding to the curb and choose cedar instead.

1. They’re Beautiful
With its unique tones and patterns, cedar siding means no two homes look exactly alike. Its classic design goes well with all different types of houses and homeowners can treat the siding with stains, finishes, or oils to create their own unique look.

2. Superior Insulator
Cedar siding is an excellent insulator. By preventing the loss of warm air in the winter and keeping in the cool air during the summer, cedar siding helps you save energy throughout the year. It also helps protects the structure of your home from excessive weather conditions.

3. Safe
Vinyl siding is very popular, however there is one major drawback – in the case of a fire, it can release very harmful fumes. Cedar siding exceeds most building code requirements with its flame-spread and smoke development classifications.

4. Environmentally Friendly
Cedar trees are good for the environment because they absorb greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming. Another benefit? Once it completes its lifetime of use, it is completely biodegradable.

If you’re looking to preserve the health and beauty of your homes cedar, call Cedar-Life, a division of Landmark Exteriors. We clean and preserve cedar, delaying the harmful effects of sun, rain, and snow. If your cedar has already been damaged, we can help restore and rejuvenate it’s natural beauty. We leave our customers 100% satisfied, without exception. To speak with on one of our professional staff members more about Cedar Life, give us a call at 203.838.3838.

Don’t let the icicles dangling from your home fool you into thinking they are a delightful winter season add-on to your home’s aesthetic. Icicles can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and worst of all, cause ice dams. Learn more about ice dams below so you can enjoy a winter free of roofing problems.

What Is An Ice Dam?
Ice dams are chunks of ice that form at the edge of a roof, which can prevent melting snow from properly draining. The water that backs up behind the ice dam can end up reaching underneath your shingles and make its way into your home.

Quick Facts
– It doesn’t take much moisture to form an ice dam. Although thick snow accumulation creates ice dams more quickly, they can occur with very little snow on your roof.
– When it comes to insulation, more is not always better. Improperly insulated homes are just as bad as under insulated ones.
– You can’t always see ice dams from the ground. Sometimes, ice dams grow up valleys and on top of dormers making it almost impossible to identify from a ground-eye view.

How To Stop Ice Dams
A key step in preventing ice dams is by simply keeping your attic and roof cold – if your roof is warm, it will melt the snow which can then freeze to ice, which leads to ice dams.
1. Close up your attic bypass – About one-third of your home’s heat loss is through the ceiling into the attic. Experts will fix any air leaks caused by unblocked walls, gaps in drywall, and cracks around light fixtures. By stopping this air leakage, you’ll also end up saving energy which will reduce both your heating and air conditioning bills.
2. Measure your attic insulation level – Building codes require about 12 to 14 inches of insulation. If you have less than eight inches, we highly suggest adding more.
3. Add roof and soffit vents – This task draws in cold outdoor air and flushes out warmer attic air, cooling the attic as well as the roof.

Preventing damage from an ice dam is all about being proactive, so when you think you may have a problem, call Landmark Exteriors, we can help you address any roofing issue. Some of our services include roof inspection and repair, ice damming, snow guard installation, roof snow removal, and more. Visit our website to learn more about our services and our preventative maintenance plans, or give us a call at 203.838.3838!

The winter is in full swing and the chance of roof damage has hit its peak due to heavy snowfall and ice accumulation. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to think the removal process is as easy as shoveling their driveway, but if not properly cared for, you can end up doing more harm than good. Leave this dangerous work to the professionals who have the proper experience and equipment.

• Water leaks from ice and snow. Water trapped on your roof is caused by interior heat from your home, creating an ice dam on your roof, gutters, and downspouts. The water then ends up inside your home, creating interior and exterior water damage. Keep in mind, melting ice and snow yourself with rock salt or calcium chloride may seem like a good idea, but it is not recommended – you’ll end up damaging your shingles.

• Clogged gutters and downspouts. Once the water stuck in your gutter freezes, the ice expands, causing a blockage. If you notice your gutters or downspouts are filled with ice, call a professional to repair the issue and be sure to set up a regular cleaning to reduce the risk of them getting clogged with ice again in the future.

• Structural damage to your roof. Roofs are built to withstand a certain amount of weight, but the accumulation of snow can take its toll on this sturdy structure. Avoid a collapsing roof and find out how much snow your home can handle.

Removing snow and ice from your roof may seem like an easy task, but it’s a job made for the experts. To help you eliminate the odds of leaks and structural damage this winter, turn to Landmark Exteriors for our Home Care services. We can provide you with roof inspection and repair, gutter repair, snow guard installation, ice damming, and more! Keep your roof in excellent condition and give us a call at 203.838.3838.

January is a month of reflection and change. While the bleak colder months result in us slowing down, take advantage of the momentum of the new year by creating a checklist of things to accomplish for your home. There are a wide array of homeowner tasks throughout the year, but here are a few of the most common in the first month of the new year.

1. Post Holiday Cleanup
Say goodbye to the happy holiday season by carefully packing up all your holiday decorations. Gather your wrapping material – wrapping paper, ribbon, cardboard boxes – and recycle them for the new year. Clean your floors of any pine needles and confetti pieces and find places to store your gifts. This will help give your home a refreshed feel.

2. Organize Your Space
Make a fresh start for the new year by clearing away the clutter in your home. Divide, conquer, and label everything. Clean your space of unwanted items and organize the leftover household items in a free corner, drawer, or shelf.

3. Create Home Goals
The new year marks a time of re-evaluating, planning, and updating. Focus on what home goals you would like to achieve this year. Whether you’re thinking of updating an old roof or simply picking a new paint color for a room, your home can always benefit from a little change.

4. Set Up A Maintenance Plan
Keep home problems under control by creating a regular check-up. Include a preventative maintenance plan on your homes exterior as well! You can avoid future damage and expensive repairs down the line. It’s beneficial to hire a professional for this process because they can provide you with expert opinions and solutions.

Keep up with your winter checklist by hiring Landmark Exteriors for your home’s services and repairs. Landmark Exteriors provides preventative maintenance plans to help keep your home in great shape. To learn more about our services, check out our website or speak with one of our professionals at 203.838.3838.