We're in the business of keeping you covered!
Too much snow and ice can seriously damage your roof, which is why it should be removed before any problems arise.
To help you eliminate the odds of structural damage this winter season, contact the pros at Landmark Exteriors! We can provide you with roof inspection and repair, gutter repair, snow guard installation, ice damming, and more! Contact us today at 203.838.3838.
Ah, slate roofs — they stand the test of time, while adding beauty and value to your home.
With slate roofs lasting over 100 years (if properly installed and maintained, of course), this material can certainly compliment an older home filled with rich history.
If you’re tired of the same old roofing options, then slate will be the perfect choice. Still not sold on the idea? Take a glance at some of the many benefits of this timeless roofing material:
If you want to find out what a slate roof can offer your home, we’re here to help! Give us a call at 203.838.3838. We proudly serve homeowners in Fairfield and Westchester counties, as well as Long Island.
Your roof is there to protect you against the harsh weather of winter, as well as the heat of summer. If your roof is in disrepair, don’t wait until next season to address the problems — now is the time to get those repairs done.
Here are 8 common roof repairs you should make immediately:
When it comes to your roof, preventative maintenance is key! Don’t wait for something to become a major problem before you take action. Addressing issues now can save you headaches later — trust us, even your wallet will thank you!
For any roof inspection, roof repair, or roof replacement needs, contact the pros at Landmark Exteriors today.
The winds of winter are here, bringing cold rain and snow with them. The roof on your home is going to be the first to take the brunt of a Northeastern winter so of course, you’ll want it to be in tip-top shape. That’s why we recommend a proper roof inspection, now!
Do you know what kind of shape your roof is in? Can it handle the season’s harsh weather? Trust us, the last thing you want to discover is a leaky roof in the middle of a storm.
Overlooking roof damage can lead to a whole slew of problems, such as:
Still not convinced you need a roof inspection? Here are a few obvious signs:
If your roof shows any of these signs, give us a call! Our pro roofers here at Landmark Exteriors are here for all of your roof inspection, roof repair, or roof replacement needs.
Is the cedar roof protecting your house grayer than the sky on a rainy day?
If you were to look at a picture of your roof the day it was installed and compare it to what it looks like today, we’re pretty confident you’d be upset at the difference.
We want to explain to you why this happens and then offer you a solution to fix this ugly problem.
When you’re in the sun for too long, your skin will begin to change colors due to the effects of UV light. The same principle applies to wood that’s exposed to the sun. However, instead of the skin pigment changing colors, the cellulose fibers that make up the wood will begin to degrade and deteriorate.
Over time, roofs with wood shingles will begin to turn gray due to the constant exposure to UV light. You cannot prevent your roof from being exposed to UV light, but you can treat the wood shingles to help restore those fibers. This will help keep your roof looking new, instead of a lifeless gray.
When it rains and snows, the moisture can begin to negatively affect wooden roof shingles as time goes on. New roofs with high quality materials (that are properly installed) are unaffected by precipitation. However, as time goes on, constant UV light and fairing against the elements will cause shingles to become weakened.
As wooden shingles weaken over time, they will become susceptible to the growth of mildew and other fungi. This can discolor wood, causing some areas to become darker or lighter than others. In addition to the loss of color from UV light, the growth of mildew will further the discoloration.
You can’t cover your roof to protect it from UV light or moisture, but what you can do is have it treated every few years. Cedar-Life is a treatment you can have applied to your cedar shingles that will preserve the wood and delay the negative effects of the sun and precipitation.
A cedar roof that is left untreated may need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years. Having your cedar roof treated with Cedar-Life every few years can easily increase this lifespan to the range of 35 to 50 years!
Cedar-Life is a proprietary process designed and implemented by the pros here at Landmark Exteriors. So when you want to breathe new life into your roof and up your curb appeal, be sure to give us a call!
When you think of the roof, you probably think about the roofing shingles that cover the top of your house.
While the roofing shingles are a big part of your roof, there are many other parts that make up the entire roofing system.
Knowing each part of the roofing system will help you understand how the roof is supposed to work and what parts need the most maintenance.
Knowing what each part of your roofing system is and does is something every homeowner should know.
If any part of your roof is damaged and needs repair, or is missing and needs replacement, know that Landmark Exteriors is only a small call away!
Picture This: You’ve been looking to purchase a new home for the last few months (or even years) and nothing has allowed you to say “this is the one.” Then out of nowhere, you find the house you’ve been looking for! Everything seems perfect until you take a tour of it and find out that the roof is in terrible condition…
Should you still consider this house even with the roof damage?
Well, let’s talk about the types of damage it may have:
The first thing you’ll look at is the condition of the roofing shingles. Each material will have its own telltale signs that they’re old and need to be replaced. Asphalt shingles can crack and curl, cedar shingles can split and turn grey, slate shingles can split and break off, etc.
Whichever material this roof utilizes, give the roof a visual inspection to assess the current condition of the shingles. You should also ask the realtor or owner of the house how old the current roof is.
When the condition of the roofing shingles or flashing are not in good condition (or are not installed properly), roof leaks are almost always a result. These leaks can cause mold growth, wood rot, and weaken the overall structure of the roof underneath the shingles.
A way to inspect a home for roof leaks is to enter the attic space and look for wet spots, warped wood, mold growth, and light that peers in during the daytime.
Roof leaks can be fixed if they’re newer and smaller, but if they’re larger or have been around for a while — the damage could have already taken its toll in shortening the roof’s lifespan.
When old age, roof leaks, or too many layers of roofing shingles exists with a roof, the structure of the roof can become damaged and weakened. A roof with a weakened structure will need to be fully replaced — wood, shingles, flashing, etc.
Failing to replace a roof with a weakened structure can put the roof at risk of sagging and eventually collapsing. This not only fails to protect your home from the outside elements but also becomes a hazard to you and your family.
When the house you want to buy has a bad roof, you have to take into account the severity of the issues. If there are a few missing shingles and small roof leaks that seem to be relatively new, it can be worth it to make the repairs in order to have the home of your dreams.
However, if the roof is well past its lifespan or there are multiple roof leaks that have caused some damage — the repair and replacement costs are only going to be worth it if you believe this is the ONLY house you want to live in. (Also, remember that while the upfront costs might seem expensive, you’re also reinvesting into the home and increasing its overall value.)
If the roof has severe structural damage, the house may not be worth your time, money, and energy.
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Finding the perfect house is a moment of bliss — that can easily be ruined by a bad roof.
When you’re in need of a roof inspection, repair, or replacement, our roofers will be there for you with a competitive estimate sure to follow!
When you think of roof damage, you usually think of leaks caused by heavy rainfall or debris that collides with the roof via highspeed winds.
While storms can cause serious damage to your roof, you should also be worried about your neighbors…
No, not Jim next door. The wild animals that live right outside your home!
When you live in suburban neighborhoods (such as the many across Connecticut), running into wild animals can be a regular occurrence. You might be thinking to yourself:
“I’ve never seen a wild animal on my roof before though.”
However, certain wild animals are sneaky enough where they will explore your roof without you knowing — until you see the damage they leave behind.
Common wild animals that can be found on your roof include raccoons, squirrels, opossums, chipmunks, birds, bats, and a whole slew of insects.
The roof of your home is meant to protect your home from Mother Nature’s harsh weather conditions. Roofs aren’t meant to handle constant contact with animals (or humans) or their methods of trying to get inside of the roof to the attic space.
Wild animals like squirrels, raccoons, and opossums will use their paws and teeth to create openings in the roof. Whether the animals get inside of your home or not, the damage will then be susceptible to roof leaks which will lead to wood rot, mold, and a shortened lifespan of your roof.
Birds and bats can also cause damage to your roof simply by nesting in troublesome areas — like in roof vents. Nests (and the actual animals nesting) can block the flow of air in and out of the attic space. A lack of proper airflow can damage the structure of the roof during periods of extreme temperatures.
You can’t just put a sign on your roof that says “No Entry.” Therefore, you have to follow some preventative measures:
For those experiencing roofing problems because of wild animals, make sure you contact your local pest management specialists to explore the best prevention methods.
In addition to pest control, contact your local roofer to have them perform an inspection of your roof and repair any damage these wild animals may have caused.
Pests don’t just infest the inside of your home looking for spilled drinks and leftover crumbs like a mouse or an ant would.
There are some pests that will do damage to your home from the comfort of the outside.
For those with cedar or wood siding, make sure you know a little bit about these specific pests, as they have been known to do some damage to people’s homes.
You’ll know you have a woodpecker problem the moment one lands on your home. These birds will drill into your home in search of food or to build their new “home.” They’ll also drum, which is simply them drilling holes as a way of marking their territory.
Homeowners with cedar shakes may see woodpecker activity if they live in an area the birds inhabit. To keep woodpeckers from drilling or drumming into your cedar siding, place shiny objects around your home’s siding, as woodpeckers view this as unattractive in terms of where they want to drill. Also, look into woodpecker feeders and place them on the edge of your property away from your home.
One of the most costly pest infestations you can have is a termite infestation. The reason termite infestations are so dreaded is that you never really know you have one until it’s too late.
And guess what? They LOVE wood…
Termites eat wood from the inside out, so you’ll never see a group of them walking around your home like ants would. The warning signs you have to look for are discarded wings (from swarmers that search for new places to colonize in spring), mud tubes on nearby wood, and hollow-sounding wood when you give it a knock.
It’s important that you have a termite prevention plan in place with your local pest management professionals. They can supply your home (and its siding) with the systems and defense it needs to keep termites away from your home.
There are many different species of bees and wasps, however, the carpenter bee is the one you have to worry about most when it comes to the health of your home — and it’s siding.
Carpenter bees will create tunnels inside of the wood in your home and use this as their nest. Therefore, your cedar siding could be at risk.
Luckily, carpenter bees are decently easy to get rid of. All you have to do is use the right insecticide when dealing with their tunnels, and then plug them up with the proper caulking and sealant.
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To learn more about cedar siding or if you’re interested in siding repair, don’t hesitate to give our siding pros here at Landmark Exteriors a call!
When you look at some of the most beautiful buildings (whether they’re houses, museums, or grand cathedrals), many of them have slate roofs.
Why?
Because slate is one of the BEST roofing materials you can use! And here are a few reasons to back up that sentiment.
The average roof (depending on the material) will last roughly 20 to 30 years if you provide it with the proper maintenance and repairs. This is good, but not the best out there…
On the other hand, slate roofs can last over 100 years if the slate is properly installed and maintained! There are slate roofs that were installed toward the end of the 1800s that are still in use (with repairs and maintenance made throughout the years) that are still holding up incredibly well.
In addition to lasting a very long time, slate roofs are also resistant to fires. This can help prevent your home from catching fire if there’s a house fire next door.
The reason many folks don’t always go with slate as their roofing material of choice is because of the price. Yes, it is the most expensive roofing material available.
However, with slate roofs being able to last roughly a century, you (or the future owners of your home) won’t have to replace the roof every 20 to 30 years as a normal homeowner would. By cutting down on anywhere from three to five new roof installations, this exponentially cuts down on the amount you’ll spend on your roof over a lifetime.
Therefore, if you’re planning on staying in your home for an extended period of time (or are looking to up the resale value of your home), slate makes perfect sense.
There’s a reason that some of the most beautiful buildings across the world are all built with slate roofs covering them. Yes, they are reliable, but they are also a thing of beauty with a timeless look.
Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world include Oxford University, Rockefeller Mansion, Walt Disney Residence, and a LONG list of famous cathedrals — all of which have slate roofs.
When choosing slate for your roof, you can choose the size, thickness, and color of the tiles you want. This will allow you to match it to your desired color of siding, the size of the house, and the overall look you’re going for.
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Choosing slate for your home’s roof might be one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make.
When it’s time for your roof to be replaced or repaired, feel free to give us a call and we’ll gladly provide you with a fair estimate!
