Snow Removal Services for Winter

Keep your home’s roof safe this winter. With winter rapidly approaching, many people feel as if they are not prepared for the snow and ice that will blanket their homes.

The most common services that can assist these homeowners in making the winter more bearable are:

  • Roof snow removal
  • Snow Guard Installation

Having snow removed from a home’s roof can prevent ice damming from occurring. Ice dams typically form from snow accumulation in dirty gutters and can back up water on a roof, forcing it into the home. This can cause damage to the home’s roof, ceilings, wiring, walls, and floors. Snow guards are also used to prevent snow and ice from suddenly breaking free from the roof and causing damage to structures below. These products can hold the snow in place until it can be removed by a professional.

Shoveling Snow

Some homes may require maintenance to be performed on them due to damage incurred in past winters. It is important to have these problems fixed as soon as possible so that a small problem does not turn into a huge expense. Areas most commonly in need of repair due to inclement conditions are:

  • Roofs
  • Siding
  • Gutters
  • Decks 

What causes damage to roofs?

Snow dams and ice-laden branches can damage a roof. If the roof is not properly repaired, water and ice can find their way into the interior of the home. This will damage drywall, rot wooden support beams and even affect the foundation. Water that has found its way into a crack in a house’s siding can quickly turn to ice in the winter. As water freezes, it expands and this expansion can crack or pop loose siding, leaving a bigger exposed area for more water to get into.

Also, snow and ice can bend or dislodge a gutter due to the weight of large icicles and heavy snow. Once a gutter is removed in this fashion, it creates a place for water and ice to seep in, which will further damage the home. Lastly, large chunks of ice or fallen gutters can break boards in decking and knock loose deck railings. This can present a safety hazard for those living in the house and can cause mold to form in the spring. Wood rot can also occur.

What are Ice Dams and how do I prevent or treat them?

Typically, an ice dam will simply start as snow laying on a roof. Wind and frozen rain may allow the ice to slide down the pitch of the roof and rest in the gutter. If the gutter is not cleaned, then the water and ice mixture will have nowhere to drain off of the roof. This causes the water to remain in the gutter and freeze.

ice damn in the gutter After time, more ice and water will accumulate and work its way up the roof. As the water and ice accumulates, the stress of the weight on the roof and gutter increases. When the weight becomes too heavy for the support structure of the gutter it can no longer be held in place and the gutter will come crashing down onto the ground or any structure below. The remaining weight that is on the roof from the backed up ice can also cause roof trusses to warp and splinter.

We want you to know that this can cost the homeowner many thousands of dollars in the initial repair of your roof and gutter system. If left unchecked, water can enter into the home and ruin drywall, paint, wood floors, and even concrete. Not only this, but when spring comes those areas will be at an added risk of mold which can cause respiratory problems.

The first line of defense that we recommend in preventing an ice dam is to make sure that your gutters are cleaned and that your downspouts are clear of obstruction. This will allow the water to flow off of the roof which will decrease the likelihood that it will build up and cause an ice dam. However, sometimes ice dams will still form in stubborn areas.

There are heated wires that can be placed in these areas to melt the ice dam by running electricity through the wires. This is an effective means to get to a specific trouble spot. Bear in mind that it is going to increase your electric bill since the system converts electricity into heat.

Calcium chloride, which comes in many sidewalk and driveway ice melting products, can be sprinkled on the area to melt the ice dam. It is important to prepare the area by removing a strip of snow parallel, but above, to the direction of the ice dam so that the product will not melt the snow which will dilute it and may cause it to run off the roof before working on the ice dam.

Contact us today if you have any concerns or need someone to inspect your gutters for possible ice dams or ice dam prevention. Visit https://www.landmarkexteriors.com/ or give us a call at  (203) 838-3838.

 

Holiday Events in the Norwalk, CT Area

If you are in the Norwalk, Connecticut area, there are plenty of ways that you can celebrate the holiday season. Here is a look at some of the special events happening around the city. party event

1. Menorah Lighting Celebration

Stew Leonard’s Norwalk is having its annual Menorah Lighting Celebration to help celebrate Hanukkah. The festivities begin with the Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht lighting a large menorah. There will be an evening long celebration of singing and dancing. Kosher refreshments will be served, along with chocolate gelt and dreidels. Officials from Norwalk will attend to partake in this large menorah lighting celebration.

2. The Magic of Christmas

The Magic of Christmas at the Spinning Wheel combines food with fellowship. Those who attend will enjoy a three course dinner, along with a holiday themed show featuring music and comedy that the whole family will be able to enjoy. Among the dishes being served are; Chef’s Seasonal Soup, Roast Prime Rib, Bourbon Salmon, Chicken Chardonnay, and warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.

3. Norwalk’s Saltwater Sweater Party

The Saltwater restaurant and bar is hosting a sweater party. Try to find a unique creative sweater, as there will be prizes given out to those who wear sweaters that stand out. A fraction of the proceeds will go to the Love ALL Project. The Love ALL Project strives to end the damaging impact of hate by bringing together the entire community to help develop understanding while building relationships.

4. The Nutcracker Dream

Come out and enjoy a musical adaptation of the classic Nutcracker, where Marie heads to The Land of Sweets while dreaming. Directed by Carole Alexis, the performance will be a showcase for students from the Ballet des Ameriques School. Come out and enjoy this spectacular display of ballet.

If you are having any issues with your roofing, Landmark Exteriors will take care of your roofing needs and ensure that you have the opportunity to enjoy the holidays. Landmark Exteriors wishes you and your family a happy holiday season.

Why Preparing Your Roof For Winter Is Crucial

Every homeowner that lives in a region where it snows a lot knows that every season they need to prepare their home for winter. They need to make sure their heating system works, their insulation is correct, and to ensure that their home can take a big snow storm and still heat the home. One thing many homeowners do not think about when they think about winter and their home is roofing.

snow on roof

The roof of your home is crucial when it comes to big snowstorms because it has the insulation and it is what keeps snow from falling on your head when you are in your home. Every snow season you should inspect your roof to make sure that it is not damaged, and if there are damages / leaks, that you repair those damages so that snow does not get into our house. You really do not want to discover that your roof has any leaks and would allow water or debris into your attics, insulation, or crawlspaces before a snow storm arrives. Let Landmark Exteriors look at your roof.

Common problems with roofing are that the gutter is clogged up so that excess rain and snow cannot escape the roof, or that the roof is physically damaged. Both of these are quick and easy fixes but are not always cheap fixes. You should hire a person that is knowledgeable in offering to come to your home and inspect the roof to ensure that it is safe for the winter and if there are updates that are needed that they can be quickly put onto the roof.

Many homeowners do not focus on their roof because they believe that it is an expensive part of the home to fix, but not always. Very old homes should be candidates for a whole new roof because it might not be able to withstand the force of many pounds of snow. A lot of snow on a roof can cause the roof to actually collapse which is a very expensive and really dangerous situation.

This winter, make sure that your home is up to the challenge of winter weather. Make sure that your home can properly heat and that the roof can handle pounds of snow on top of it. Getting in front of your repairs ahead of time can save you a world of headcase and costs. Make sure that your roof is ready for the winter season. Contact us today, Landmark Exteriors is here to help.