Connecticut is a place that, despite being close to the busy East Coast, is quite tranquil and peaceful. If you just moved to Connecticut, you’re probably surprised at the quaint, relaxing countryside scenery and many green areas. Without a doubt, this state is one of the best places in the US to live in, and making your home look great here is quite literally like a walk in the park.

Most places in Connecticut have houses that mirror or blend in well with nature. Trees, flowers, rocks and rivers are some of the main inspirations that local homeowners have when renovating their homes, along with the classical architecture that has made its mark on the entire region.

When it comes to roofing, Connecticut is ripe with houses that have roofs that blend in well with the scenery including the commercial roofing CT business owners have installed, as well as with the bright colors, intricate finishes and straight lines of the exterior. Wood is not uncommon, and slate is also a favorite among locals, since one of the main aims is to have a roof that blends durability with fashionable aesthetics and a classical appearance.

For the same reason, metal and concrete roofing are also quite popular here, and classical styles and trends will never go out of fashion when considering the main roofing designs that Connecticut homeowners opt for.

Brick homes might seem old-school to some people, but they’ve definitely been making a comeback in recent years. Brick exteriors and brick walls function differently than conventional insulation, and can actually offer surprisingly good temperature control. Moreover, the style itself is considered to be quite appealing, especially with the new designs that contractors are able to provide these days.

Brick can increase your home value to a great extent. If you install a brick exterior, people will love the solid looking exterior, but more so, they will enjoy the fact that brick homes look almost brand new after 25 years and require very little maintenance or the need for masonry restoration experts. Very little maintenance is required, and you don’t have to worry about painting, decay or termites.

Another great advantage of having a brick home is that you can actually improve its appearance by painting it. Although brick and paint didn’t used to mix too well, things have changed, and these days it’s all about achieving that unique, permanent look. Since brick is almost impossible to revert to its previous look, once you painted it, that’s it! So be sure you get a color that you can really feel comfortable with.

Brick is a great choice for a traditional exterior design, but with new trends cropping up all over the place, it’s not a surprise to see modern homes adopting a brick exterior. Considering its practical benefits, it’s not even a surprise at all that such trends are more and more popular among homeowners.

Tiles are the most popular and commonly used roofing material and they fulfill all the conditions required by a solid, durable and aesthetically pleasing roof.

Since the roof is one of those things that you cannot change or replace very often, you have to maintain it permanently. Here are some ways to take care of a tile roof.

1. Remove any loose objects and make sure the roof accessories are properly fastened

Theoretically, if you have roofing tiles made of a very resistant material such as metal, you must not worry too much about its maintenance. However, various objects can occasionally land on the roof, some of them brought by the wind, and they can damage the tiles. They must be removed quickly, and lose accessories must be fastened.

2. Invest in preventative measures

One of the necessary preventative measures is installing insulation and high quality gutters, to prevent moisture and water infiltration.

3. Clean the roof

Most of the time, rainwater is sufficient to clean the tiles, but sometimes mold and vegetation may need to be removed manually, using special cleaning solutions and detergents.

4. Replacing damaged tiles

Man, weather phenomena, or the action of time can damage roof tiles. Periodic inspections must identify these issues, followed by replacing the tiles.  You can find good roofing companies at places like http://www.nemasonry.com/new-england-roofing.

With the arrival of summer, some changes in the house are more than welcome. As the weather gets hotter, you can improve the comfort in your home with a few smart investments toward building restoration.

Buy an air conditioner

The heat is one of the biggest problems of the summer, because it may cause major thermal discomfort, especially for people living in coastal Connecticut. Thermal discomfort during the hot summer days doesn`t go away by simply opening a window. An air conditioner will help you not just with lowering the temperature in your home, but also with decreasing the humidity level in the air.

You can start renovating the house

If your home needs a refresh of its look, you can take advantage of the warm months to start renovating. The renovation project doesn`t need to be extensive or involve too much effort on your part. For example, you can add a fresh layer of paint on the walls, purchase some new furniture or replace the flooring. Just a few details can radically change the appearance of the house.

Redecorate!

Purchasing new decorations for the interior and the exterior of the house has a great impact on its overall aspect and it is not such a huge investment. For example, you can buy a set of curtains or new blinds that keep the sun away from your rooms, or a set of cotton bed linen to sleep comfortably during the warm summer nights.

A building whose masonry is not waterproof may generate enormous heat losses; even a light wind can pull out the heat, even require the attention of masonry restoration Connecticut companies provide.

When we talk about energy efficiency, we mean obtaining a controlled environment, with no airflow. The lack of waterproofing measures negatively influences the indoor comfort, building durability and energy efficiency.

However, although waterproofing masonry is the right thing to do, there are many misconceptions about it, which makes it controversial and a subject highly debated. People`s concerns related to waterproofing masonry are the lack of air in the building and the fact that walls are not allowed to “breathe” properly. These concerns could be legit if we do not take into account proper house ventilation and adequate materials for waterproofing masonry.

But what you need to know is that vapor permeability of a material and waterproofing do not need to exclude each other. A good quality waterproof material is permeable to vapors, so it will cause no moisture issues.

Unfortunately, many people still refuse to take into account waterproofing masonry, considering it an obstacle to proper ventilation. What they do not know is that those air movements due to lack of waterproofing measures can have serious repercussions on various construction elements. Practically, when two air streams with different temperatures and levels of humidity meet, create a proper environment for condensation that destroys the insulation and even the building`s structure, over time.