Month: July 2020

Who doesn’t love a relaxing or fun dip in the pool on a hot summer day? Having a swimming pool may require a good amount of maintenance, but the good times are well worth it. Be sure the enjoyment never has to stop from a dirty, unkept pool with these inground pool cleaning tips: 

Skimming and Brushing

Skimming your pool consists of cleaning all the debris and built-up algae off the top of your pool. To do this, you first want to make sure that you have a telescopic pole with a net attachment. Use the net to scoop out any leaves or debris you notice on the surface. Skim the surface daily to ensure there is no contamination. Make sure you have a brush attachment for your pole to clean the pool’s ladder, steps, and sides at least once every week. Both of these attachments should be regularly rinsed off and cleaned after use.

Vacuuming

The purpose of a pool vacuum is to clean the pool’s floor of any debris that made its way to the bottom. You can use either an automatic or manual vacuum. Manual vacuums are cheaper, but automatic cleaners will save you time since you don’t have to operate them yourself. Like at the surface, a lot of bacteria and debris build up on the bottom, so make sure the pool is vacuumed weekly.

Managing the Chemicals

There are various chemicals in your pool that make it safe and clean for you to swim in. Ensure it stays that way by checking the pool’s pH levels with a tester at least 2 or 3 times a week since weather and contaminants can alter it. The pH levels should be between 7.2 and 7.8 for safe use. Make sure to properly chlorinate your pool to kill any germs and bacteria with items such as sanitizing chlorine tablets or pool shock.

Check The Filter

The filter works to remove debris from your pool as well, so regularly check and empty it to make sure it stays functioning properly.

Exterior Home Care in Norwalk

If you have any further questions or need help maintaining your property, give the experts at Landmark Exteriors a call at (203) 838-3838.

Your home’s roof not only serves a critical purpose but also plays a significant role in your home’s overall aesthetic and appearance. Ensure your home’s exterior is complete by picking the right shingle color for your roof to match the rest of your home!

What to Consider When Choosing Your Roof Color

• Where you live – In northern climates, natural sunlight has a slightly bluish hue, making gray and blue colors a safe option for your home exterior.
• Temperature – Dark colors absorb heat while light colors reflect it.
• Look at your neighbors – Looking at the roof colors of your neighbors can help you see what you like. Still, you may want to also consider how your home harmonizes with the surrounding environment, especially if you plan to sell soon.
• Look at the other exterior elements of your home – Let all the different aspects of your home’s exterior guide you in your decision process. Make sure the color you pick for your roof will match the other elements.
• Architectural style – Think about the architectural style of your home and make sure your roof color compliments that as well. Is your home more modern or traditional? Does it have a colonial, Spanish, or Mediterranean style of architecture?
• Hide or standout – Do you want your roof to stand out from the other exterior elements, or do you want your roof to blend in more?

Matching Your Roof Color To Your Home

Here’s some guidance on what colors look best together based on the color of your house:

1. Red – Dark brown, dark green, gray or black shingles.
2. Blue – Black, gray, or white shingles.
3. Beige/tan – Dark brown, black, dark red, gray, dark green, or dark blue shingles.
4. Gray – Dark gray, black, dark blue, dark green, or white shingles.
5. Brown – Dark gray, black, or dark blue shingles.
6. Wood – Dark brown, black, or gray shingles.
7. White – Just about any color shingles work!

Roofing in Fairfield County

If you are looking to get your roof redone, let the experts at Landmark Exteriors help you bring your vision to life. Give us a call at (203) 838-3838 for more information.

Are you interested in getting new siding for your home? 

We know that you want the exterior of your home to look attractive and leave a good first impression. However, we know you also want to make sure that you consider, like any other exterior home renovation, factors such as cost, installation, and durability. Siding is one of the critical components to your home’s exterior, and one of the first things you’ll need to decide is whether you want vertical or horizontal siding.

Here’s what you need to know when considering whether to get vertical or horizontal siding for your home:

Vertical Siding

• Aesthetics – If you are looking to add uniqueness to your home, vertical siding is the perfect way to do just that. Vertical siding work to elongate your home and will undoubtedly help it to stand out from your neighbors.
• Installation – Since this siding is more uncommon, the process will likely be longer and more difficult. There are also more steps in the process of installing vertical siding.
• Durability – Vertical siding is very durable and less likely to suffer from water damage than horizontal siding.
• Cost – The price for this type of siding will likely be slightly more expensive than with horizontal siding because it has more steps to the process and is much less common.

Horizontal Siding

• Aesthetics – If you want a more traditional, sleek, clean look for your home’s siding, horizontal is the way to go. Most homes have horizontal siding and will probably never go out of style.
• Installation – Since horizontal siding is just much more common, the installation process will most likely be quicker and easier.
• Durability – Horizontal siding is also very durable, but there is the risk of water seeping underneath the siding strips and causing damage to your home.  If the siding is wood, this also opens up the risk of mildew and mold growth and will lead to a need for routine cleanings.
• Cost – The price for this type of siding is often the cheaper option because it is much more common and quicker to install.

Contact us for an estimate on siding today

If you are looking to get new siding for your home, give the siding contractors at Landmark Exteriors a call at (203) 838-3838 and let us help you achieve your perfect home exterior.

New to pressure washing? We’re here to help! Pressure washers can even be fun to use and give you quick and effective results when cleaning the exterior of your home. Pressure washing enables you to remove dirt, grime, and other stains from your patio, deck, fence, or siding to help your home look good as new! 

Make sure you’re getting the most out of your pressure washing with these helpful tips:

Your Pressure Washer Options

The pump to the pressure washer can be powered by either gasoline or electricity. So is a gas or electric-powered power washer better for you?

• Gas – With a gas-powered pressure washer, you can clean more efficiently and faster than with electric because you there are a wide range of PSI (pounds of pressure per square inch) and GPM (gallons of water per minute) levels to use. Gas pressure washers are also cordless, and you don’t need to be near a power outlet. On the other hand, gas power washers require regular maintenance, need the oil changed periodically, are louder, and produce environmentally-harmful emissions.
• Electric – With an electric-powered pressure washer, there are no harmful emissions, and you won’t have to worry about maintenance and oil changes. However, they are less powerful, and you need to be near a power outlet.

Tips for Pressure Wash Effectively

• Preparation – Clear off any debris on the area you plan to pressure wash before starting. Lay tarps over any plants or furniture near you that you don’t want to get damaged.
• Choose the right nozzle – The nozzle you choose will affect the angle and strength of the spray and depend on what material you are pressure washing.
• Safety first – Always wear eye and hearing protection since pressure washers are very loud, and debris can spray back on to your face. Check that all the connections are secure, and your pressure washer has had proper maintenance.
• Grip tightly – Hold the sprayer with two hands when starting to make sure that it doesn’t fly out of your hands.
• Direction – Move the sprayer in an even, continuous motion up and down or side to side.
• Be careful – Avoid windows as they could break, don’t use too much force on your home’s siding to avoid moisture leaking through, and stay focused on the task to prevent damage or injury.

Exterior Home Maintenance in Connecticut

If you need help maintaining, redoing, or refreshing the exterior of your home, let the experts at Landmark Exteriors help you by calling (203) 838-3838.