Month: February 2019

From a missing chimney cap to flashing problems, chimney leaks are a common issue homeowners deal with — and certainly not one to be ignored. Be sure to give your local roofing company  — like our team here at Landmark Exteriors — a call at the first sign of a leak.

Here are some of the reasons why a chimney can leak in the first place!

Reason 1: Missing Mortar Between the Bricks or Stone

If you have a beautiful brick or stone chimney, then these items will have hardened mortar between the items. However, this mortar will degrade eventually due to freezing or expansion along with other problems caused by natural wear and tear. If the mortar is missing, when it rains or snow moisture will enter the interior of the chimney, running down into your home and causing additional damage.

Reason 2: A Damaged or Missing Chimney Cap

Today, many homeowners have a chimney cap to reduce moisture damage along with preventing birds, insects and animals from entering the chimney’s shaft. However, sometimes, a chimney cap was not installed when the chimney was originally built. Without this, your fireplace and flue are exposed to the elements!

Reason 3: Flashing Problems

If flashing wasn’t installed correctly, it can lead to serious structural damage — especially during the winter months or during rainstorms. Moisture can enter through the flashing, into the roof and attic, causing rot and damage. These leaks may not be as evident right away! Inspect your attic and look for signs of trouble, it’s possible your flashing may need to be resealed or replaced.

Call Us Today When You Notice a Chimney Leak

At Landmarks Exteriors, our professionals are here for all your roofing needs! Large or small, we take care of everything from routine maintenance items like gutter cleaning to emergency roof inspection and repairs. If you suspect a chimney leak, contact us today to schedule a roof inspection: 203-838-3838.

Now that you’ve found your forever home, next up is the home inspection. 

Home inspections are an important part of the home buying process — they help home buyers understand the true condition of the home and can identify if major repairs are needed. 

Here are some things to watch out for!

Siding Problems

An inspector will look at your home’s siding to ensure there are no issues with it. Over time, if the siding was not installed correctly, moisture can get behind the siding and cause damage. Moisture that is trapped in the walls can cause mold as well as damage to the wall, so it will be imperative to get this taken care of.

Roofing Issues

Over time roofing materials age, and if it’s installed poorly from the start, it can age prematurely. As this happens, it may lend itself to water leaks and other issues — which can result in expensive repairs or full replacements. It’s also not uncommon to see missing or poorly installed flashing in certain areas. 

Poor Electrical Wiring 

Faulty wiring has been a common cause of house fires, so any issues will require immediate attention. In older homes in particular, sometimes the home is not wired well and the previous home owner relied on extension cords (which can place a burden on the whole electrical system). Other times, wires are exposed and suffer from physical damage. Any electrical issues should not be ignored.

If any of these issues are found in your home, you will want to get them repaired as soon as possible. Luckily, where your siding, gutter, or roofing needs are concerned, Landmark Exteriors is just a call away! 

Contact us today at 203.838.3838 or fill out our online form here»

Although spring is a month away, the winter weather doesn’t seem to be leaving us just yet — how’s your home holding up? 

According to Houselogic, if a house isn’t properly maintained it could lose 10 percent of its appraised value! Translation: tens of thousands of dollars out the window. 

Make sure your home is in tip-top shape with this mid-winter home maintenance checklist:

• Check your plumbing for leaks or damage — and get them repaired!
• Wrap and insulate any exposed piping to prevent damage due to frozen or burst pipes.
• Ensure your electrical outlets are not overloaded.
• Prevent air leaks/heat loss by sealing windows and doors.
• Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
• Flush your hot water heater to remove sediment build-up — doing so helps improve efficiency!
• Make sure your attic is properly ventilated — especially important for preventing ice dams and mold!
• Change out your air filter in your HVAC and clean dryer filters to extend your unit’s life expectancy (and also prevent fires).
• Make sure gutters and downspouts are free of debris and not damaged from prior storms.
• Inspect roofing for leaks, damage, etc. and repair as needed.

In the event your roof or gutters fall damage to a leak, ice dam, or another problem, just know the professionals at Landmark Exteriors are just a call away. We’re here to help ensure your home not only makes it through the winter season but doesn’t lose its value in the process!

Contact us today at 203.838.3838 or fill out our online form here»

Your home is always there for you, shelters you, provides you with warmth and security.

So with love in the air, why not give your home a little TLC this season?

1. Consider an upgrade.

Whether it’s that new kitchen you’ve always wanted or a more structural need — like a hand-nailed cedar roof — show your home some love with an upgrade! Improving different areas of your home can not only improve resale value but can also make rooms much more energy efficient, saving you money on your monthly utility bills.

2. Enhance your curb appeal.

Speaking of improving resale value, consider giving the outside of your home a facelift. First impressions are key — the better your home looks from the outside, the more people will want to see the inside! Repaint your front door, replace old hardware (light fixtures, mailbox, etc.), install outdoor lighting, replace gutters and downspouts, build a walkway — the list goes on!

3. Improve lighting.

Winter weather can make your home feel a tad dreary. If that’s the case, spread some sunshine throughout your living space with smart light management — but what does that entail? Simple: keep your curtains open to let as much natural light in as possible, or opt to use some creative mirror placement to help reflect light toward dim areas in your home.

4. Don’t forget the essentials.

Sure, the fun stuff is well, fun, it’s also important to remember to check on check any pertinent detail in your home, such as thermostat and air filters, to name a few. Just like your car needs ongoing maintenance, so does your home! By ensuring your HVAC system is up to par, all leaks are fixed, your smoke detectors have fresh batteries, and there’s no debris in your gutters, you can count on a healthy and happy home.

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From roof repair to gutter installation, we’re just a call away! We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your vision for your home and how our experience can benefit your project. Contact us today!

If you happen to live in a cold, snowy climate, you know that if you don’t eventually remove the snow from your roof, you might not see the shingles until spring. You’re probably also aware that the snow on your roof can get very heavy over time, causing strain to your roof’s structural integrity if it’s not cleared. But how do you know when it’s time to clear your roof? Let us explain:

Inch by Inch

Indeed, there’s no magic number for clearing the snow off your roof — but if it helps to have a ballpark figure, experts recommend clearing off the snow at a height of approximately 18 inches. This is especially true for homes with a low-pitched roof.

As a rule of thumb, roofs that are steep and pitched tend to hold snow less than roofs that are flat.

Weighing the Factors

Weight is a factor in determining a roof’s snow capacity, too. Light, fluffy, dry snow weighs considerably less than wet, heavy snow. In terms of weight, six inches of wet snow equates to a yard of dry snow.

While factors like your roof’s age and building materials affect its ability to support extra weight, most roofs can hold up to 20 pounds of snow per square foot. For an approximation, 10 inches of snow equals about five pounds of snow. So a new, sturdy roof can hold roughly four feet of snow!

Safety First

There are several hazards associated with removing snow from your roof. The first is your own safety. Climbing up on your roof is hazardous by nature — add in a steep slope plus slippery snow or ice, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Accidents and mishaps from rooftop snow removal are so common that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warns that quite often, attempting to remove snow from a roof causes more harm than good.

What Lies Beneath?

In addition to just posing a slip-and-fall risk, your roof can be dangerous if there is underlying structural damage that you can’t see. Before going out to the roof to clear it off, you can check inside for signs of damage. Go up to the attic and check to see if the rafters are bent or swayed. If you notice any leaks, there may be a crack in the roof, and it will be unsafe to climb up.

Finally, everyone worries about how much snow their roof can sustain after a storm. If the roof is in good condition, it can hold a surprisingly high volume of snow. Remember that wet, heavy snow weighs much more than lighter snow. Therefore, you should clear off accumulating wet snow to prevent roof damage. When in doubt, always call a roofing company to help out!

Are you looking for a helping hand to safely remove that snow? The professionals at Landmark Exteriors are just a call away! Contact us at 203-838-3838 and we can help take care of the problem with ease!