New Year’s Resolutions For Your House

Most often, people’s new year’s resolutions are about self-improvement and building better personal habits. Rarely do people make goals about caring for their home when a few simple tasks could make a big difference in the well-being of your house and your comfort and security while relaxing in your humble abode.

Make this new year the time to prioritize your home’s exterior maintenance with these resolutions:

Have Your Roofing System Inspected

Homeowners should have their roofing system inspected at least once a year to ensure that it is in proper working order and to catch any potential problems before they become bigger. A roofing system inspection can help identify damaged or missing shingles, water damage, and other issues that could lead to more serious problems down the road.

Check Your Attic Ventilation

Your attic is a key part of your home’s ventilation system and keeping your roof protected from the elements; heat being improperly emitted from the attic to the roof can cause ice dam formation and serious damage, as well as cause your heating bills to skyrocket. One easy way to improve your attic’s ventilation is to check your attic ventilators and ensure they are working properly. Attic ventilators help move hot air out of your attic in the summer and cold air out of your attic in the winter, which helps keep your home comfortable year-round. 

Keep Water Out of Your Home

We always want to keep water from getting inside your home. Your roof, gutters, and downspouts do a lot of work to help mitigate water safely away from your house, but they can get overworked, too, especially during a brutal winter with lots of storms. Help and protect your home this winter by shoveling snow away from the foundation, be on the lookout for water stains in your attic, particularly around the rafters, and keep an eye out for leaks throughout your house. 

Get Exterior Damages Fixed

Any damages to your home’s exterior (broken siding panels, potholes in the driveway, rusted gutters, etc.) will only worsen over time until it’s too late and you have a serious and costly problem on your hands. Make this the year you stop putting off those important repairs and schedule an appointment with a professional to examine and fix them. 

Contact Landmark Exteriors for roofing inspections, repairs, and replacements!

The experts at Landmark Exteriors are here to help ensure your home’s roofing system looks great and functions properly for years to come! Give us a call at (203) 838-3838 or visit our website to learn more.

5 Roofing Dangers to Watch Out For This Winter

Winter is a time when homeowners must be extra vigilant about their roofing system. With the snow, ice, and extreme temperatures that come with this season, several potential dangers could cause serious damage to your roof. 

To help you protect your roof and home this winter, the Landmark Exteriors team has put together a list of five roofing dangers to watch out for:

Five Winter Roofing Hazards

Ice Dams

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the edges of roofs in cold climates. They usually form due to heavy snow accumulation combined with heat escaping from inside the house. As heat melts the snow on top of the roof, it runs down towards the edge and refreezes, forming an ice dam. Ice dams can cause water to back up underneath shingles or leak into your home through cracks in walls and windowsills. The best way to prevent ice dams is by removing snow from your roof after a heavy storm and ensuring that proper attic insulation and ventilation are installed in your home.

Flashing Leaks

The flashing on a roof is the flat, thin pieces of metal around the roof’s perimeter that provide waterproof protection and protrusions in the roofing system. Roof flashing is particularly vulnerable to damage in the winter from heavy snow storms and ice build-up. Having your flashing inspected ahead of snowstorms to ensure they are not loose or damaged will help avoid any complications; even just a bit of packed snow can loosen them further to the point of falling off. 

Wind Damage

High winds can damage roofs during any season, but they become especially dangerous during winter as heavy snow accumulations increase wind loads on roofs. Make sure you check for missing or damaged shingles after each storm and have them repaired immediately if necessary. Regularly maintaining trees near your home can also help prevent wind damage, as large branches could fall onto your roof during high winds and cause significant damage if left unchecked. 

Extreme Temperatures

Extremely cold temperatures and rapid temperature shifts can wreak havoc on even the sturdiest of roofs over time by weakening sealants around flashing points or causing expansion/contraction issues in materials like asphalt shingles or metal panels. To protect against extreme temperature damage, make sure you have adequate insulation (including insulation between rafters) in place so that heat doesn’t escape too quickly from inside your home. This will keep temperatures more consistent on both sides of your roof, which will reduce wear and tear over time.  

Shingle Blow Offs

Shingles can blow off when strong winds lift up individual tabs due to improper installation or missing fasteners (e.g., nails). To protect against shingle blow offs, hire a professional contractor specializing in reroofing so they can properly install new shingles with appropriate fasteners that meet local building codes and will last confidently through winter. 

Contact Landmark Exteriors for roofing inspections, repairs, and replacements!

The experts at Landmark Exteriors are here to help ensure your home’s roofing system looks great and functions properly for years to come. If you need assistance preparing for winter weather conditions or would like a professional inspection of your roof before winter sets in, contact us today! Give us a call at (203) 838-3838 or visit our website to learn more.

Reasons to Get a Roof Inspection Before Winter

Is Your Roof Ready For Winter? Get a Professional Roof Inspection Today!

As winter is quickly approaching, it’s important to ensure that your roof is ready for the cold and icy weather. The last thing you want is for your roof to spring a leak in the middle of a snowstorm — so getting a professional roof inspection before the temperature drops is an essential part of home maintenance.

Why You Should Get a Roof Inspection Ahead of Winter

From the roofing experts at Landmark Exteriors, here are some of the reasons why getting a roof inspection before winter should be on your to-do list: 

Peace Of Mind 

A professional roof inspection will bring peace of mind knowing that your roof is ready for whatever winter throws its way. A good inspector can spot potential problems and advise you on fixing them before they become catastrophic. That way, you can rest easy knowing that your home’s roof will keep you safe and dry all year round. 

Identifying Problem Areas 

A qualified inspector knows exactly what to look for when inspecting a roof and can identify potential problem areas in no time. They will check things like the flashing around chimneys, plumbing vents, skylights, and other fixtures, along with the shingles’ condition, any signs of curling or deterioration due to age, and any other factors that may affect the integrity of your roof. This allows them to catch any issues before they snowball into major and costly problems during the winter months.

Save Money In The Long Run 

Getting an inspection now can potentially save you money down the line by preventing costly repairs or replacements come springtime. Small issues like missing shingles or gaps in flashing may not seem like big deals now, but they can lead to major headaches (and expenses) later if left unchecked by a professional roofing inspector capable of making recommendations on how best to address them now rather than later when costs could be much higher.   

Don’t wait until it’s too late – get your roof inspected today! 

Contact Landmark Exteriors for roofing inspections, repairs, and replacements!

The experts at Landmark Exteriors are here to help ensure your home’s roofing system looks great and functions properly for years to come! Give us a call at (203) 838-3838 or visit our website to learn more.

Tips For Safely Hanging Your Christmas Lights

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about decorating your home with festive Christmas lights; decorating it with festive lights is a great way to get into the holiday spirit! Hanging your lights can be tricky, but if you follow a few simple tips, you can ensure that everything is done properly and safely.

How to Hang Your Christmas Lights Safely

Safety First 

The most important thing to remember when hanging Christmas lights is safety. Be sure you are using approved outdoor lighting fixtures and cords rated for outdoor use. It’s also important to check the electrical rating on any extension cords you may need to use, as they must also be rated for outdoor use. If you plan on getting on a ladder, always make sure it’s sturdy and not damaged in any way. As well, enlist the help of someone you trust to hold the ladder and help you hang your lights. 

Start With the Outline 

When hanging your Christmas lights, it’s best to start with a plan by outlining the structure of your house or yard before filling it in with strands of light bulbs. This will give you an idea of how much space you have available for decorations and will also make it easier to plan out exactly which type of lighting fixtures and cords will be needed. Consider using timers or motion sensors if you want your displays to turn on automatically at night or when someone passes by them. 

Hang On Tightly!     

Once you’ve outlined where everything will go and have all the supplies ready, it’s time to start attaching your lights. Make sure that all your lights are carefully secured to your house, and each bulb is securely attached so there won’t be any gaps in your display — this is especially important if you’re using strings of mini-lights instead of larger bulbs like C7s or C9s. Also, try not to twist or tangle up strands too much, as this can cause them to short out over time. Finally, don’t forget ladders or other tools, such as roof hooks, that may be necessary for reaching higher spots on your house or yard! 

Contact The Professionals

The safest and easiest way to decorate your home’s exterior with holiday lights is to enlist help from professionals. Your local roofing company in Fairfield County, CT, can assist you with getting the job done to ensure your house looks bright and beautiful all holiday season long. 

Contact Landmark Exteriors for roofing inspections, repairs, replacements and assistance decorating your roof for the holidays!

The experts at Landmark Exteriors are here to help ensure your home’s roofing system looks great and functions properly for years to come! Give us a call at (203) 838-3838 or visit our website to learn more.