Contact Us

Call us today at 1-800-866-1499 for a free estimate and consultation on your next roofing, siding, window, or other exterior remodeling project.

Contact Information:

Marshall Building & Remodeling Company
152 Forbes St - Riverside, RI 02915

Telephone: 401-438-1499
Dartmouth Office: 508-979-8984
Fax: 401-433-5585

Email: info@marshallbuildingandremodeling.com
Website: marshallbuildingandremodeling.com

Maintaining a Solid Foundation

A solid foundation keeps everything in balance.

It's Valentine's Day and no card or flowers can fix a rocky relationship, unless the foundation is strong. It's the same with your house. Even the most beautiful home can be ruined if it's foundation is weak.

To ensure a solid foundation on your home (or relationship, for that matter) be sure to check for signs of cracking or breakage and be diligent about upkeep. Here are some basics:

1. Remove all debris, leaves, dirt, etc. away from the foundation base.

2. Cut back plants that abut the house. These can contribute to moisture problems, by stifling air flow and retaining rainwater.

3. Check for rain puddles and water collecting near the foundation.

4. If water is pooling around foundation, fill in the area with dirt, and be sure the ground slopes away from the foundation overall.

5. In keeping your foundation dry, it's imperative to clean your gutters. When debris collects in your gutters, it can cause a waterfall-like situation that dumps rain near your foundation. So make sure they're clean (usually once or twice per year) and that they are pitched correctly.

6. While you don't want too much moisture around your foundation, it's critical to water your foundation during dry spells in summer, to prevent soil shrinkage. Expansive soils act like a sponge. As they absorb water, they swell and as they lose water they shrink. Soils tend to dry out (and shrink) during the summer and to absorb water (and swell) during the winter and spring. Too much of either can cause the foundation to move and weaken.

Fiber Cement Siding

A beautiful home with fiber cement siding.

As This Old House dot com says, "Picking the right siding for your house is a delicate balancing act between good looks, durability, maintenance, and affordability. With wood, vinyl, stone, brick, or stucco, you might get only two or three of these. But with fiber cement, a resilient mix of wood pulp and Portland cement, you get all four. It's the only siding that combines the performance of masonry—minimal upkeep; rot-, fire-, and termite-proof; unaffected by wind or cold—with the look of painted wood clapboards, shingles, even stone or brick. Yet fiber cement goes for just a fraction of the cost of these other materials. No wonder nearly 15 percent of new homes—and many This Old House TV projects—are clad with the stuff.?

... All this has happened in just 25 years, since fiber cement was first introduced. Now architects regularly specify the siding because it holds down costs without compromising aesthetics. It's even accepted for use in some historic districts."

The site goes on to detail everything you wanted to know about fiber cement siding, including the following vitals:

"DIY or hire a pro?
Because of its weight—about 2½ pounds per square foot—its tendency to crack if mishandled, and the specialized tools needed to cut and nail it, fiber-cement installation is best left to pros.
How long does it last?
Warranties against defects range from 25 years to limited lifetime. Factory finishes carry a 15-year warranty against flaking and fading.
How much care?
As with wood siding, spray it with a garden hose every 6 to 12 months; inspect caulked joints every few years, and be sure to keep foundation plants pruned back so that siding can dry out."

Here at Marshall Building, we've resided many homes with fiber cement products. Our favorite is CertainTeed Weatherboards. In fact, one of our projects was an award-winner. So, if you're curious about fiber cement cost and options, call us today.

About Us...

The Marshall family. From left to right: Tom Marshall, Anne Marshall,
Dave Marshall, Judy Marshall-Bettencourt, and Andrew Marshall

Marshall Building & Remodeling is an exterior remodeling company specializing in roofing, siding, windows, and decks in RI and southeastern MA.

Family-owned and operated, we put our customers first. It may sound like a line, but it’s true! Customer service is in our DNA. Thirty years ago, owners Tom and Dave Marshall founded this company with a commitment to keeping their promises. And over the years their work ethic has paid off, with a great reputation and loyal customers.

Today, over 75% of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals because we are still putting our customers first. Marshall Building & Remodeling has grown into a prestigious company, receiving top awards for home improvement excellence, but has remained family-owned and operated.

Why Choose Marshall Building?

• We offer free estimates and consultations.
• We employ a full-time service department.
• We give guarantees on both workmanship and materials.
• We have financing available.
• Payment is due upon completion.
• Lifetime warranties are available.

Major Distinctions & Awards

• Alcoa Master Contractor
• CertainTeed Outstanding Achievement Award
• Alcoa's Golden Hammer Award
• Wolverine Award of Excellence
• Harvey Building Products' Commitment to Excellence

Free Estimate

For more information, visit our website.

Tax time... Let's Save Some $$$

Homeownership comes with its share of headaches, but it is overwhelmingly advantageous. One benefits often overlooked are the tax breaks homeowners qualify for. Below are nine documents to help you reap real estate tax breaks.

1. Mortgage Interest Statement - IRS Form 1098
2. Property Tax Statements
3. Uniform Settlement Statement (HUD-1)
4. Moving Expense Receipts
5. Cancellation of Debt Statement - IRS Form 1099
6. Utility statements for home office
7. Income and Expense statements from rental properties.
8. Contractor receipts from energy efficient home improvements
9. Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

Thanks to Trulia for this list. You can read the full article, here.

Welcomed Winter Weather?

Today is the first day of February and with temperatures reaching 60 degrees, many of us are celebrating. In the industry of residential remodeling, the more fair weather days we see, the better. I can't help but wonder, though, if winter is just getting pushed back a smidgen. Perhaps we'll see those dreadful low temps coming later than usual. Either way, I don't think we've managed to dodge winter, so if you haven't already done so, now's the time to invest in your home's energy efficiency.

US News' online publication, Money, lists window and door replacement among its ten energy efficient home improvements.

Windows and doors are inherently deficient in their R-values. A single pane of glass has an R-value of 1, wood doors have an R-value of 2.5, and insulated metal doors have R-values that range from 6-10. The real trouble with windows and doors is not the material they are made of, but how carelessly they were installed in the framed rough opening. The gaps that are left around windows and doors at installation and never properly air sealed, then covered with trim molding are the real culprits for your windows feeling "drafty."

If you're still dealing with drafty windows and doors, do yourself a favor and call us today for a free estimate. Our windows and doors have superior R-values and our installers are the best in the business. You owe it to yourself to find out what you can save by making the switch to energy-efficiency windows and doors today.