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It’s no secret that roof cleaning is not the most glamorous task. Nevertheless, it’s a necessary one. Before you go climbing up on the latter or putting off the task, you should be aware of these roof cleaning myths that may change how you handle things.

Moss is Not Just an Aesthetic Thing

If you see patches of green moss or other vegetation growing on your roof, don’t just brush it off as unsightly. Not only does moss eat away at certain elements on your shingles, making them susceptible to damage, but they breed moisture. The more excess moisture that is on your roof, the more susceptible you are to water damage.

Stains are Only Caused by Air & Dirt

Sure, dirt and grime can grow on your roof due to airborne particles and nearby vegetation, but that’s not the only way stains form. If you have moss or algae on your roof, they can leave ugly streaks on your roof whenever it rains or they get wet.

Moss-Infested Roofs Need to Be Replaced

We have a positive answer to this one. No, they don’t. Unless your roof is all but entirely covered in moss and algae, a good cleaning and protective solution should be enough to get your roof clean and safe.

You Can Power Wash Your Roof

While your roof can take a beating from mother nature, you shouldn’t put the added pressure of power washing to it. Power washing can not only strip away protective elements from the shingles but can also end up removing your shingles entirely.

For all your roofing needs in the Norwalk, CT area, trust the experts at JM Roofing & Siding. With over 15 years of experience under our belts, we have the knowledge and know-how to offer you the best experience possible. Give us a call today at 203-299-0716.

We’ve all been there — you’re running and rush out of the house, only to realize you left your keys on the kitchen counter and are now locked out. Well, if you figure out a few clever hiding spots for your spare key, you won’t be stuck waiting in your car until someone else comes home to let you in. You just want to make sure they’re spots that other people won’t suspect, of course!

Smart Places to Hide Your Spare Key

Under a Fake Sprinkler

This is an especially great hiding spot if you already have a real sprinkler system that a fake spout could blend in with. Place your spare key in an old pill bottle, then glue the lid to the bottom of a sprinkler head before burying it in your lawn.

Under a Knocker

Use a magnet to attach your key to the insider a metal door knocker, then attach the knocker to your front door — just make sure you’re able to get the knocker off so you can access the key.

Under a Rock

First off, you’re going to need to use a real rock that’s placed among others — a fake rock is too obvious for a burglar. Either use hot glue (so the key is removable) to stick your spare key to a rock or bury it in some dirt then cover it with rocks.

In Your Gutters

Glue a small magnet to your key and attach it to the inside of your downspout. This way you’ll have easy access to it and it’s still hidden from anyone besides you and your family.

For more home hacks, keep up with our blog. And for all your roofing needs in the Norwalk, CT area, trust the experts at JM Roofing & Siding. Give us a call today at 203-299-0716.

You’re roof rarely gets a break from Mother Nature. Spring brings heavy showers, summer brings blazing sun, and now winter comes with an entirely new mess of issues. Thing is, if you aren’t careful, the winter weather could do some major damage to your roof.

These are some common winter roof problems you need to be wary of.

Condensation Issues

When ice melts on your roof and that moisture mixes with warm air from your attic, condensation can form and allow for mold growth. In order to prevent condensation from forming, you need to make sure your attic is well-ventilated.

Ice Dams

If your attic isn’t insulated at all, a lack of warmth can allow ice dams to develop on the edge of your roof and in your gutters. The dams can weigh down your fascia and damage your roof’s structure.

Missing Shingles

Those ice dams can also grow and cause ice to push itself under your shingles, causing them to come loose or off your roof entirely. Without shingles to protect it, your roof can suffer from another common winter problem.

Water Damage

All the snow we get with eventually melt and if there aren’t shingles there to block out the excess water, your roof can suffer from water damage. All that extra moisture can lead to both mold growth and structural damage.

For all your roofing needs in the Norwalk, CT area, trust the experts at JM Roofing & Siding. With over 15 years of experience under our belts, we have the knowledge and know-how to offer you the best experience possible. Give us a call today at 203-299-0716.

In this day and age, we all have to do our part to be a friend to the environment. While it’s great to recycle and drink from reusable water bottles, why not step it up a notch and make a few changes to your home to make it more eco-friendly? After all, a few little changes can add up to make a big difference.

Switch to Low-Flow Fixtures

Water is one of the most precious resources we have, so you should do your best to lower your water usage. Switching to low-flow showerheads and faucets can significantly reduce the amount of water you use each time you shower or brush your teeth.

Use Better Bulbs

Traditional halogen light bulbs use a ton of energy and burn out quickly, meaning they constantly have to be replaced. Use LED bulbs instead! These use a fraction of the energy that traditional bulbs do and last much longer.

Pick Natural Cleaning Products

Store-bought cleaning products are chock-full of chemicals that are both harmful to your health and the environment. Opt for natural cleaning products or ones that you make yourself. You’d be surprised how far a little distilled white vinegar can go when getting your home sparkling clean.

Use Sustainable Building Materials

If you’re planning a remodel, ask your contractor about using sustainable materials. There are plenty of insulation, siding, roofing, and other building materials that are more environmentally-friendly than other ones on the market.

For all your roofing and siding needs in the Norwalk, CT area, trust the experts at JM Roofing & Siding. With over 15 years of experience under our belts, we have the knowledge and know-how to offer you the best experience possible. Give us a call today at 203-299-0716.

Think about how carefully you take care of your phone or car when you first buy it. If you’re like most people, you’re probably overly cautious and protective of it. So why wouldn’t you want to take the same level of precaution when it comes to your new roof?

Once you have a new roof, you’ll want to make sure it stays safe from any and all potential damage — and here’s how you can do that.

Trim Away Nearby Branches

We’re not saying you have to get rid of every nearby tree, but it’s a good idea to trim away any branches that are within 10 feet of your roof and/or home. Nearby branches can knock into your home and damage your shingles or rip them up entirely. Trimming away nearby branches can prevent that from happening.

Insulate Away

Without the proper insulation, heat can escape your home and leave your attic and roof susceptible to freezing temperatures. If they’re too cold, ice dams can form on your roof and not only weigh your roof and fascia down, but, if the ice continues to accumulate, it can make its way under your shingles, leaving you with missing ones and potential water damage.

Waterproof When Possible

Waterproofing your roof can protect it and your home from problems caused by heavy rains and snow. This can be especially protective during winter when melting and freezing snow can get into cracks in your roof and cause water damage.

Schedule Inspections

You won’t always be able to spot any roofing issues with your own eyes — sometimes you need a set of professional ones. Regular roof inspections can help spot any potential problems early on and protect your new roof from further, potentially worse, problems.

To keep your roof safe in the Norwalk, CT area, trust the experts at JM Roofing & Siding. With over 15 years of experience under our belts, we have the knowledge and know-how to offer you the best experience possible. Give us a call today at 203-299-0716.

Whenever you hire someone to do a service for you, you want to make sure you’re getting the best person for the job. One person you want to do extra research on is your roof contractor since your roof plays such an important role in keeping you, your family, and your home safe. In order to get the best contractor, here are a few things you should not do when hiring a roof contractor.

Don’t Choose Amateurs

It’s no secret that hiring a roof contractor isn’t always the cheapest task, but you should never hire amateurs just to save a few dollars. The reason those guys can charge less is that they cut costs and aren’t doing the best work possible.

Save yourself the trouble of fixing mistakes that amateurs will make, and always choose a professional, licensed, and insured roofing contractor.

Don’t Forget Your Due Diligence

You should always do your research about anyone you’re considering hiring. Check a contractor’s reviews, experience, and past projects in order to make sure that they are the best person for you to hire.

You should ask to see their insurance papers and licenses to confirm they will be able to safely handle any mishaps that may happen during a project. You should also ask about any warranties a contractor offers and the specifics of each.

Don’t Breeze Through Paperwork

You want to make sure that you’re paying for exactly what you want, nothing more or less, and that there will be a set way to handle any unexpected costs. Make sure you read your contract carefully to ensure you and your contractor are on the same page.

When you want the best roof contractor in the Norwalk, CT area, trust the experts at JM Roofing & Siding. With over 15 years of experience under our belts, we have the knowledge and know-how to offer you the best experience possible. Give us a call today at 203-299-0716.

When a storm rolls into town and winds batter down against your home, your roof can take quite the beating. And when all is said and done, you could be in need of emergency roof repairs to handle all the damage those heavy winds and rain caused. But how exactly do you handle emergency roof repairs?

What is Considered an Emergency Roof Repair?

Generally, an emergency roof repair is one that is required to fix damage that allows water infiltration. These repairs usually fix missing shingles, holes, or other structural damage that allow leaks into your attic.

Many times, this damage is made by natural causes, such as storms via winds, lighting. If the damage is not made by nature itself, heavy winds can knock over trees that can fall onto your roof and pierce it, if not damage it further. Other times, water damage can allow critters to get into your roof and wreak havoc on your home.

What Steps Do I Take for Emergency Roof Repairs?

If you notice the damage during the storm and call your trusted roofer for repairs, they will likely tell you to hold off until the morning — the damage is done, and there’s no fixing anything while the storm is still going.

During a storm, you’re best off calling your insurance adjuster so they can assess the cost of the damage. Then, once your roofing contractor arrives after the storm, discuss your repair options with them so you can determine the most affordable and best option for your roof repair.

If you are in need of emergency roof repairs, contact JM Roofing & Siding. We will help you with a wide variety of residential roofing services, including new roof installation, roof replacement, roof repair, and general roofing services.

Contact JM Roofing & Siding today for a FREE roof installation estimate

How often do you go into your attic, especially during the summer, and immediately think, “It’s hotter than Hades in here?” If you’re like most people, it’s pretty much every time. That ’s because your attic has little to no ventilation.

While you may think of home ventilation only in regards to your bathroom or kitchen, it’s very important to have a well-ventilated attic too! Here’s why:

Heat and Moisture

One of the biggest issues poor attic ventilation can cause is extreme heat and moisture build up. Besides causing you to feel all but suffocated when you try to go into your attic, all that heat and moisture can affect specific areas of your attic, such as trusses and rafters, and cause them to become warped.

If that happens, your roof can become damaged to the point that it collapses. Not good!

Damage to Insulation

Your attic insulation is responsible for keeping your home toasty in the winter and cool in the summer — but a lack of proper ventilation can ruin your insulation. If all that heat and moisture has no way to exit your attic, it can get absorbed into your insulation and ruin its integrity.

Mold

If there is any moisture buildup anywhere in your home, you’re at risk for mold growth. While common spots for mold include your basement and bathroom, your attic is also particularly susceptible to mold. What’s worse is that, since you’re not in your attic all that much, you probably wouldn’t notice the mold until it was too late and you needed major repairs.

If you are in the market to update your roof, contact JM Roofing & Siding. We will help you with a wide variety of residential roofing services, including new roof installation, roof replacement, roof repair, and general roofing services.

Contact JM Roofing & Siding today for a FREE roof installation estimate!

 

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense when it comes to protecting you and your family from the elements. Well, it doesn’t do it on its own — it has a bit of help. If your roof is your main protector, your gutters are its sidekick. They work together with your roof to get rain and snow away from your home — and since they work together, that means your gutters affect your roof in a few major ways.

How Your Gutters Affect Your Roof

If there are any problems with your gutters, your roof will likely be affected. Some of those problems include:

Sagging

If your gutters become loose from your fascia and start sagging in a certain area, water will pool there and continue to pull the gutter further down from your roof. Not only will that result in water running off your roof and straight down the side of your home, but the more they pull, the more those gutters can damage your fascia.

Size

When you first have your gutters installed, you should make sure they are properly sized to accommodate the water that will be running off your roof. The size of your roof has an effect on not only the size of your gutters but also the material they are made of. The wrong gutters can make for improper draining and future roof damage.

Clogs

If you don’t clean your gutters regularly enough, they can become clogged, and the water that flows into them will have nowhere else to go but back onto your roof. If too much water sits on your roof, it can seep under the shingles and cause water damage. What’s worse is that, if the pooling water becomes too heavy for your roof to support, holes can develop or your roof can cave in entirely!

 

If gutter problems cause damage to your Norwalk roof, call the experts at JM Roofing and Siding for help. We can handle any issues that may arise with your roof at an affordable cost.

When you think of all the things to keep clean and tidy in your home, we’re betting your roof isn’t at the top of the list. Nevertheless, you should take a day once in a while and get all the dirt, moss, and stray frisbees off your roof to protect its integrity.

When cleaning your roof, you have to make sure that you keep yourself safe from falling or other injuries. And here’s how you do just that:

Use a Sturdy Ladder

You should always use a sturdy, metal ladder that’s in good shape. If the ladder has any loose stepping rungs or is, at all, shaky, you shouldn’t be using it. You should also be sure to place your ladder on firm, solid ground so it doesn’t tip or slide while you’re on it. (It’s best to have someone hold the ladder steady while you’re on it as well.)

Wear the Right Clothing

Don’t just climb onto your ladder wearing any old outfit. You should always wear shoes with non-skid bottoms and gloves with gripping palms so you don’t slip while on your ladder. You should also wear a long-sleeved shirt to protect your skin and safety goggles from any debris you find on your roof.

Use a Hook for Your Supplies

You shouldn’t try to balance on your ladder and hold all of your roof cleaning supplies. Attach a ledge or hook so you can place or hang a bucket with your cleaning supplies for easy and safe access.

Watch Your Footing

If you end up standing on your roof, watch where you step. If your roof is slimy from moss or has missing or loose shingles, you could easily slip or lose your footing and go tumbling. It’s very important to step only on dry areas of your roof so you stay safe.

 

As your local roofing company, we provide the services you need to keep a highly functioning roof over your head. Call us today and we can take care of your home’s roofing needs.