Entries Tagged 'Gutters' ↓

One chore that most men are asked to do that they hate is to clean out the roof gutters. Each and every man you ask will have his own method of cleaning out these annoying yet helpful gutters. It is recommended that you clean the gutters out in the spring or beginning of summer and after the fall. Winter and fall seem to be times when the gutters get clogged the most.

Here are 10 easy ways to clean out the gutters.

1: There are some men that will grab a ladder and hook up the house and kind of wash out the gutters. They don’t really dig too deeply into the drains or the underside of the gutter. Just whatever floats out they clean out.

2: If you want to get a good cleaning of your gutters then you should rent a power washer. Not only will the power washer wash out the gutter but if there are any obstructions then the power washer will knock them loose.

3: To avoid more clean up you can try installing gutter guards. These guards are great for keeping out birds nests and some leaves but you still have to take out the gutters and clean any debris that may have fallen there.

4: There are some people that believe it or not don’t clean them out for months. Then they wonder why the drains are backing up and their roof starts to leak.

5: If is a good idea not to clean your gutters after a rain, the reason being that wet leaves will get stuck to the bottom and the sides of the gutters and when they dry they will still be a problem.

6: Some people take the easy way out and simply get a ladder and scoop and grab the leaves and debris with their hands. It is easy and very cheap. It may prove to be very ineffective but it is indeed easy.

7: Always use a ladder. Believe it or not everyone uses a ladder. They may get a hose and simply spray the gutters until debris and leaves start to fall out of them but by using a ladder you get to see what you are doing.

8: Another easy method is by using an air compressor, an air compressor will blow out leaves, sticks and obstructions in the gutter and in the drains. If you don’t own a compressor then simply rent one for the day.

9: It is very important when using any method we have listed above for cleaning that you check for any damage from the debris that has been in the gutters for months. Check for holes, leaks, loose or pitch problems.

10: Make sure that you keep a schedule of the last time that you performed this task and then if you do it on a regular basis then you won’t have so much work to do the next time.

Gutter Guards

When you own a home you will be taking on the task of having to clean out your gutters. Yes, this happened a few times a year. Before the winter, after the winter, before summer and before fall; especially when the leave start falling.

The reason why you have gutters is to deflect rain water into the gutter and pass through the gutter drain. The problems most home owners have is this; their gutters are catching leaves, sticks, twigs, birds building nests in the guards. No matter how many times you clean them out there is always something. Even the best gutter guards will not keep out everything.

Gutter guards are good at keeping out the large pieces of debris, like sticks and leaves and birds from making nests. There are different types of gutter guards there are guards made from mesh, wire, vinyl and aluminum. There are guards that fit over the gutter and the mesh ones fit in the gutter. What happens when your gutters are clean and it rains you will see a stream of water come down the drainpipe. When the gutter are clogged or there is an obstruction then the guards need to be cleaned and this can happen even though you have guards. Continue reading →

A properly installed gutter protection system can protect your home from serious damage year-round. Every serious home owner should know that old, damaged or defective gutters have the potential to cause damage to your home.

When gutters clog and the water is not diverted properly, it will overflow into either the house or the foundation. This can cause wood rot, foundation problems, ice damming, and landscaping erosion. Damages associated with clogged gutters are many, however, this fall you can avoid a great deal of expenses and unwanted hassles by installing a gutter protection system.

Gutter protection systems help keep basements and crawlspaces dry, protect siding and windows from harmful backsplash, and prevent staining and rotting the walls of your house. In addition to causing damage to your home, gutters clogged with soggy leaves and debris are also the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, as well as mosquitoes and other pests who are known disease carriers.

So while they may not be flashy, gutters are an important feature of the home, which require a balance of practicality and aesthetics.

Styles of Gutters

Gutters come in various materials, sizes and colors, here is a rundown of each material option for different home owners and situations.

• Wood is the least popular because of its high maintenance and price.
• Vinyl is great for do-it-yourselfers and can be found at home-improvement centers.
• Aluminum gutters are the most common. Primary aluminum is the thickest and most consistent kind.
• Avoid secondary aluminum, a recycled product that’s often plagued by inconsistent thickness.
• Metal gutters are made in sheet metal shops and require gutter specialists to install them.

Continue reading →

Gutter Guards help to prevent the clogging of gutters by stopping twigs, leaves and other objects from being washed off of your home’s roof and into the rain gutters, where they become trapped.

Not only can Gutter Guards help home owners by not having to get up on ladders and clean out gutters once a year, but by keeping gutters clean and unclogged, Gutter Guards can also prevent the spread of the West Nile Virus from mosquitos as clogged gutters are a breeding ground for the insects. Continue reading →

Every autumn the leaves change color, then fall from the trees, fertilizing the yard and filling up your rain gutters. All of us who have gutters on our houses have cleaned out the gutters atleast once in our lives, and the story usually works like this.

Find the old rusty ladder in the garage, risk your life climbing it up to the second story, slip on the shingles just enough to see your life flash before your eyes, get close enough to the edge of the roof to scoop some leaves, branches, and God knows what out of the gutter system. Continue for the entire circumference of the house. Risk your life again trying to get back down the ladder, pull your back out, rip your shirt, and then swear that you’ll never clean a gutter for the rest of your life. Sound familiar? Reaching the age where climbing the roof like Indiana Jones isn’t on your job description anymore?

Well, instead of paying someone hundreds of dollars to come and clean your gutters once a year, you may want to invest in Gutter Guards.

Call them Gutter Covers, Gutter Guards, Gutter Caps or Covers, they all work the same by letting the rain water fall into your gutter while keeping leaves, twigs, rats, birds and snakes out of your gutter system… leaving it hands free and clean for the existence of your home.