Roof Inspection

Inspecting your roofing is vital to ensuring your home stays safe for numerous years to come. Proper roofing and protection can help stop moisture, animals, and more from entering your home. To avoid these possibilities have a look at some key areas to check below.

• Check for damaged, loose, or missing shingles.
• Inspect flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vents.
• Clean out any debris that may have accumulated.

Siding and Exterior Walls

Similar to roofing, healthy siding creates a perfect seal that doesn’t allow the harsh elements of the outdoors to enter your home. Siding and roofing are essential to helping your home last for numerous years.

• Inspect siding for cracks, rot, or other damage.
• Clean siding to remove dirt, mold, and mildew.
• Seal any gaps around windows and doors to prevent drafts.

Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are perfect to check when looking at siding, they both help to keep your home insulated whilst also helping you save money on your heating bill throughout the colder months.

• Check to weatherstrip and replace if worn.
• Ensure caulking around windows and doors is intact.
• Clean windows to allow more sunlight in during winter.

Gutters and Downspouts

Without proper gutters or downspouts, water will begin to flood the side of your home and cause a tremendous amount of damage over time. Water may seem harmless but can deteriorate all kinds of materials extremely fast, making it essential to control your home’s water displacement.

• Clear leaves and debris from gutters to prevent clogging.
• Ensure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
• Consider adding gutter guards to minimize future maintenance.

Decks, Patios, and Porches

If you want your deck, porch, or patio to last throughout the winter then it’s important to check all the listed aspects below to ensure no damage is caused to your home.

• Inspect for loose boards, nails, or railings.
• Clean and seal wood decks to protect against moisture damage.
• Remove any leaves or debris that can cause slipping hazards.

Call an Exterior Professional

If you’re still unsure about what areas of your home exterior to check this fall then call a professional exterior team like E.M. Snow! They’ll make sure you’re on the right track and supply you with the best course of action. contact their talented team today!

We discussed our roofing options with the owners, and after a bit of deliberation, we agreed that GAF Pewter Gray shingles would be a fantastic solution for their roofing needs! Our team got right to work on the roof replacement. We first needed to strip away the old shingle system, assessing the roof deck for damage and ensuring that the property was primed for a new roof installation. Once we had determined that the roof deck was in good repair, it was time to begin the roof replacement.

We made quick work of the install, including the buildings new gutter systems. The new roof looks fantastic, as the Pewter Gray shingles form a beautiful contrast with the brick exterior of the building, as well as the white gutter system! The owners were thrilled with the finished product, and we’re so happy we could assist them with their roofing needs! Take a look below to see a couple of photos of the finished project!

Product Options

Roofing Manufacturer: GAF Shingles in Pewter Gray

Check out our gallery below to see more photos from the project!

Contact Us Today

If you’re ready to replace the roof & gutters on your Arlington, MA home this year, our team at E.M. Snow Inc. is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today to get started by calling our team at (781) 893-4546 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to assisting with your home remodeling needs!

Clean Your Gutters & Downspouts

First off, one of the most important pieces of spring maintenance for your home is cleaning your gutters & downspouts. Your gutter system serves a very important purpose, particularly in the springtime, by routing water away from your home’s foundation & siding, keeping it protected from water damage. This means that keeping the system free of debris & flowing freely is essential to the health of your home. If your gutter system is clogged, water will back up over the sides of the system, spilling onto the home & ground beneath the system where it can end up causing significant damage to your home or foliage. Be sure to check your gutter system each spring and ensure that there are no clogs in the system.

Inspect Your Roof

Another good piece of home maintenance advice is to check your roof for damage. Once the snow has melted, you may be able to spot damage on your roofing system. Perhaps your flashing has rusted from the moisture. Or your shingle system may have been damaged in the fall or winter by branches. Springtime will provide you with an opportunity to examine the system and ensure that your roof is in good repair for the spring & summer showers!

Check Windows & Doors for Drafts & Rot

Finally, it is a good idea to check the frames of your windows & threshold of your door for signs of rot, or drafts. The constant moisture that sits on your sills and threshold each winter can often cause moisture damage, particularly as it thaws and refreezes continuously. This means that come spring, it is a good idea to take a look around your home for signs of rot in the system, ensuring that everything is well maintained for the warmer months!

Contact Us Today

For homeowners who need to replace their roof, siding, or windows this spring, our team at E.M. Snow is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (781) 893-4546 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your exterior remodeling needs!

Shovel Excess Snow

One of the most important things you can do to help keep your home’s roof in good repair is to shovel excess snow from the roof. You could choose to hire a professional to get on our roof and removed it, or alternatively, you can use a roof rake to grab snow and remove it from your roof; just be careful not to drop it all on your head!

The reason removing snow from your roof is so important is because it can cause a couple of significant issues. The first issue that often occurs with excess snow is that it can damage your roof by being too heavy and potentially causing damage to your roof deck.

The other issues that often occurs is that snow ends up melting down your shingles, and refreezing in your gutters, where it causes ice dams. Let’s discuss how to address & prevent ice dams below!

Ice Dams

One of the most important issues to keep an eye on in the wintertime is ice dams. Ice dams occur when excess snow from your roof melts and runs down to your gutters. When its no longer being heated by the warmth escaping from your attic, it refreezes in your gutter system where it it causes water to back up and seep into your shingle system. This means that keeping your gutters clear of ice dams is important for maintaining the health of your roof! To help reduce ice dams, it’s best practice to both ventilate your attic properly, also use ice melt when significant dams form.

Contact Us Today

If you need to replace your home’s roof this winter, our team at E.M. Snow Inc. is ready to assist! Give our team a call today at (781) 893-4546 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your remodeling needs!

How Do Ice Dams Form

Before we discuss preventing & removing them, let’s first discuss how ice dams form! Ice dams are created from snow that melts off of your roof and refreezes in your gutters. Throughout the winter, snow will accumulate on your roof, building up with each snowfall. Heat will be continually escaping through your attic, warming your shingle system. This causes the snow to gradually melt, and run down your shingles. When it reaches your gutters, and is no longer being heated by your shingles & attic, the water will refreeze as ice in the gutter system. This process will repeat over and over throughout the winter, gradually building up. Eventually, if the ice dam gets large enough, it will begin to hold liquid water onto your roof, which can begin to seep under your shingles if it’s held on your roof. Eventually, ice dams can cause significant amounts of water damage to your roof deck & shingles, which means it is important to prevent ice dams whenever possible. If you’re interested in learning how to prevent ice dams, keep reading below!

How To Prevent Ice Dams

If you’re interested in preventing ice dams from occurring this winter, there are a few methods you can employ. The first thing you should do is assess your attic’s ventilation. Since ice dams are formed from heating escaping through your attic and heating your shingles, if you can mitigate the amount of heat that accumulates in the attic during the winter, you can prevent the snow from melting. You will first want to ensure that your attic is properly insulated. After adding as much insulation as you can, if your attic is still too warm, ensure that it has the proper ventilation. By ventilating your attic, you can bring cold air into the space, which will keep your shingles cool, and prevent the snow from melting!

If ventilation isn’t going to reduce your ice dams enough to alleviate the issue, you can also consider installing zinc strips to melt the ice, but this tends to be a last resort method for homeowners. Generally, ensuring that your attic has the proper ventilation will help keep snow frozen on your roof, rather than melting down it!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in replacing your home’s roof this fall, our team at E.M. Snow Inc. is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (781) 893-4546 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

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We discussed our available siding options with the homeowners and they decided on new CertainTeed Monogram vinyl siding in a beautiful, but unfortunately discontinued, Glacier Blende. The homeowners were thrilled with the new siding, and it looks fantastic on the home.

In addition to the siding replacement, we also assisted the homeowners with new aluminum trim around their windows, as well as beautiful new red shutters, which help the windows to pop from the home’s exterior. Lastly, our team also replaced the gutters, completing the exterior remodel.

The homeowners were very satisified with the completed project, and we’re happy that they found they were pleased with the work![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Product Options

Siding Manufacturer: CertainTeed Monogram Siding in Glacier Blende.

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Gallery

Take a look below to see a before & after gallery of the home’s exterior!

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Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in replacing your home’s siding this summer, our team at E.M. Snow Inc. is ready to assist with your exterior remodeling needs! Reach out to our team today for more information about our installation services. We look forward to assisting with your exterior remodeling needs![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Prevent Interior Flooding

Gutters send water away from your home. If they can’t do their jobs properly, this can lead to costly repairs such as interior flooding or damage to your foundation. 

Protect Against Roof Rot 

When gutters don’t drain properly, this can lead to a buildup of water back onto your roof. This water can create puddles, which can lead to mold and decay on your roof. The worst part is this back-up can actually start breaking down your roof in a matter of hours – so if you don’t notice the water back-up right away, you could have major damage in a short amount of time. 

Avoid Driveway Damage

Standing water on your concrete, such as your driveway or walkway, will start to break it down. If your gutters aren’t properly working, additional water may be landing on these areas and causing damage. 

Damaged gutters or water drainage systems are a very common reason for bowing driveways and cracked walkways. 

Slow Landscaping Erosion

Landscaping is an investment – regardless of whether you hire a professional or do it yourself. Clogged or damaged gutters may cause water to flood or rush onto your landscaping. This can wash away mulch or pebbles you’ve placed, knock over flowers or shrubs, and cause soil erosion and dips in your yard. While all of these things can happen in a particularly heavy onslaught of rain, they are more likely to happen due to poor gutters. 

Eliminates Pests

If your gutters aren’t working properly, there is a good chance that water will collect either on your roof or in your lawn. This creates an ideal place for mosquitos or other pests to live. Not only can this make it harder for you to enjoy the outdoors around your home, but it can also be a health hazard for you and your family. 

Saves Your Time

New gutter systems often come with guards already attached or for not much additional cost. This can save you a lot of time when it comes to cleaning off your gutters and performing other maintenance. 

Contact Us Today

If you are experiencing any problems like landscaping erosion or driveway damage, it may be time to replace your gutters, unless there is another issue. If you want to prevent any problems or save time on your home care chores, you should definitely consider gutter replacement.

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s roofing services, reach out to us today to get started! We can be contacted over the phone by calling us at (781) 893-4546 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roofing needs!