Seamless Gutters Add Curb Appeal and Increase Home Value

Seamless Gutters Add Curb Appeal and Increase Home Value

Seamless Gutters are an excellent choice for homeowners who want to improve the performance of their roof drainage systems. They also add more curb appeal to your home and can increase its value.

Seamless Gutters

While seamless gutters do cost more upfront, they will save you money in the long run and are easier to maintain than sectional gutters. Learn more about their benefits and why they’re worth the investment.

Seamless gutters are a popular choice for homeowners looking to maximize their home’s curb appeal. They are typically made from aluminum, copper, or steel and can be painted to match the exterior of your house. Some also come with a baked-on enamel finish that never requires painting.

One of the biggest benefits of seamless gutters is that they are less prone to leaks than traditional sectional gutters. Gutters with a lot of joints are more likely to develop openings that allow rainwater to get through them over time, causing water damage to your home.

Joints can also become warped over time due to temperature changes or because they are hit with a heavy object. This can lead to leaks as well. Fortunately, seamless gutters are designed to fit your home’s dimensions in as few pieces as possible, so they will not have these problems.

Another benefit of seamless gutters is that they are easier to install than sectional systems. Because they are made into one large piece, professionals usually make them onsite with a specialized machine.

These gutters are more aesthetically pleasing than sectional options, which can contribute to positive impressions among neighbors and friends. Additionally, they raise resale value as they create a more stylish appearance for your home.

When compared to sectional gutters, seamless gutters can also be more expensive. However, they are generally much stronger and last longer than their counterparts.

In addition to being less prone to leaks, seamless gutters are also less likely to clog up with debris. This means they will not have to be cleaned as often, which can save you money in the long run.

They are also less likely to rust, which can cause them to deteriorate quickly. In some cases, rust can even eat away at the wood around your home’s foundation and cause other issues.

Seamless gutters are a great option for homeowners who want to keep their home safe from leaks and other potential damage. In fact, a lot of roofing contractors recommend them over their sectional counterparts. They are more durable and aesthetically pleasing, so they will look good for years to come.

Seamless gutters are a great way to help your home stay in pristine condition. Not only do they protect your home from water damage, but they also help add to the curb appeal of your property.

Gutters help keep your home safe from water damage by directing the rain away from the foundation and basement. However, they do require regular maintenance to ensure they function properly and are not leaking or clogging.

Traditional gutters are made up of sections that connect together with brackets, nails, or screws. They can be difficult to maintain and are usually not as durable as seamless gutters.

A seamless gutter is a single piece of material, typically aluminum, that is custom-made to fit the size and shape of your house. There are fewer joints in seamless gutters, which means they can last longer and are much less likely to leak.

They can be customized to match the color of your siding or other exterior features, which helps them blend in better with your home’s architecture and overall aesthetic. They are also less prone to cracks and rust.

Because seamless gutters are a single piece of material, they are easier to clean than sectional gutters. They are also less prone to clogging, so you will need to clean them less often.

Lastly, they will help to prevent the growth of insects or critters that could harm your gutters or roof over time. Pests and critters that are able to enter your gutters through holes or seams can easily spread disease, cause damage to the roof or siding, or even ruin your gutter system altogether.

If you’re ready to get seamless gutters installed on your home, it’s a good idea to choose a company that has a reputation for quality work. It’s also important to compare prices and warranties offered by different contractors before you decide on a company to install the gutters on your home.

Gutter Installation Tips

Gutter Installation Tips

There are many benefits to hiring a professional for your gutter installation. This will help you avoid falling hazards and save you time. Before you call a contractor, make sure you research their skills and experience. It will help you decide whether they’re an appropriate fit for your home. Gutter Installation Contractor can ensure that your home is properly protected from rainwater and other elements.

gutter installation

When you are trying to install gutters in your home, there are many things to consider. First of all, you have to make sure that the measurements are right. The wrong measurements can lead to a poor installation that will cost you money in the long run. Also, you could accidentally damage the roof. If you have never installed gutters before, it is best to leave this to a professional.

Another mistake to avoid is over-stretching the gutters. This is particularly important if the gutters are not properly pitched. When installing a gutter, be sure to set it at a steep enough pitch to allow water to drain properly. If the gutter is too flat, the water will sit in the gutter instead of flowing away. This will allow mosquitoes to breed and will reduce the life of your gutters.

You also need to ensure that your gutters are properly welded together. Faulty seams will cause them to break apart or become brittle. Furthermore, they will not be durable enough. Even if the gutters are properly welded, they may crack or fall apart when it’s exposed to harsh weather.

Another common mistake when doing the gutter installation on your own is choosing the wrong materials. Even though vinyl and other cheaper materials are easy to find, they aren’t very durable for gutters. A better choice would be metal. Copper is the gold standard, but it’s also expensive and requires specialized installation. A more affordable option would be galvalume steel or aluminum.

You should also make sure to get enough gutter hangers. If they’re too far apart, they’ll sag. This can cause water to overflow and cause damage to your home’s foundation. In addition, it can lead to a flooded basement.

Before you begin your gutter installation project, you’ll want to determine the materials you’ll need. For example, you’ll need three-inch-wide strips of aluminum. These will form the bottom of the gutter’s downspout. You’ll also need a chisel to trace the gutter’s edge. Then, use a drill or a sabre saw to cut the pieces to the proper length. When you’re done, use a hammer to drive the screws into the gutters, and you’ll need a third screw to attach the downspout outlet.

To complete your gutter installation, you’ll need the following components: inside and outside corner pieces, end caps, downspout elbows, and a quality gutter lap sealer. You’ll also need to purchase screws or nails to join the components together. You may even want to use pop rivets or sheet metal screws to fasten the gutter pieces to the house.

After determining the materials you’ll need, you’ll want to decide on the gutter installation method. You’ll need to start at one end of the roof, and work your way outward, starting with the inside corners. Regardless of which method you choose, make sure to check the safety of your roof and gutters before attempting any type of gutter installation. If you feel unsafe at any time, call a professional gutter company to do the job for you.

Depending on the type of gutter installation you’re doing, you’ll need a ladder and a spotter to keep your ladder steady. A tarp is a good idea to protect your yard from debris. Using a putty knife to smooth the silicone into the joint can be helpful as well.

Before installing gutters, make sure that you prepare them properly. Firstly, mark the center of the downspout outlet. Make sure that it is level and that there is no obstacle in the way. After marking the center of the downspout outlet, place the first section of the downspout over it. Next, use a chisel to cut a notch for the tin snips to go through.

Once you’ve marked where the downspout will go, you can install the gutter sections. Make sure that the sections are connected by straps or holes, and make sure that they fit tightly. You can then use screws or pop rivets to secure them in place. Finally, you can crimp the gutter joints with needle-nose pliers or a specialized crimping tool.

Roofing and Gutter Installation

roofing

Roofing is the process of covering a building with material or construction that provides protection against the elements. The roof is part of the building envelope, and all materials and constructions are considering part of roofing. Roofing materials are made to be durable, and a well-constructed roof can protect a building from the elements.

The most common roofing material is aluminum, which provides a good balance between price and quality. Copper is another popular choice, but it can be very expensive for commercial buildings. Other durable materials include galvanized steel and galvalume metal. These are often used in colder climates. If you want something more sustainable, you can also consider using sod or turf as a roof.

Another important element of roofing is drainage. A properly-designed roof will provide drainage and prevent water from damaging a house’s structure or flooding the foundation. Using gutters is important because they help direct rainwater away from a house and into a drain.

Depending on your needs, a new roof can cost anywhere from $5,610 to $11,820. According to the online home services marketplace HomeAdvisor, the average homeowner spends $8,667 on a new roof. Adding to this price is that the market for roofing materials is already overstretched, due to labor and supply chain problems. Moreover, higher oil prices are further hurting the market for roofing materials.

Another problem with shingles is ice damming. This problem occurs when heat from the house leaks into the attic and melts snow on the roof. This meltwater can then refreeze when it gets cold over the overhang. An ice dam can prevent water from melting the roof and can require a short-term or long-term repair.

There are several ways to protect your roof from ice and snow. Choosing the right roofing materials is essential. Make sure your choice meets the requirements set by the building codes and the ASTM. Besides choosing the best shingles and roof cement, make sure the installation method is safe for the environment. Once you’ve chosen the right roofing material, don’t forget to properly install flashing and underlayment. This way, you can avoid leakages and prevent water from damaging your home.

One of the biggest investments in your home is replacing the roof. According to recent research, a new roof will recoup over 80% of its original cost. In fact, 30% of real estate agents credit a new roof for their quick sales. Re-roofing is the most affordable and effective way to make your roof look as good as new.

While asphalt shingles are easy to replace and offer great affordability, metal roofs require more specialist services and cost more in materials. However, metal roofs offer energy savings and are more durable than asphalt shingles. They will last a long time and can be more durable and withstand wind and falling debris. These benefits should make your choice of roofing material easier.

A full roof overhaul is a great way to give yourself peace of mind. The process includes removing the old roof materials and inspecting it for signs of damage. The roofing contractor will then repair any damages or defects in the roof. This ensures your home will stay safe and dry, regardless of the weather. With this type of roofing, the risk of leaks is incredibly low.

Continuous Gutters Are More Durable and Stylish Than Sectional Gutters

Continuous Gutters Are More Durable and Stylish Than Sectional Gutters

Continuous Gutters are more durable and stylish than traditional sectional gutters. They are also easier to install. And, compared to sectional gutters, continuous gutters tend to be less expensive. Whether you’re looking for gutters to replace your existing ones or are considering a complete overhaul of your home’s exterior, you’ll probably be glad to know that they’re both easy to install and much more cost-effective.

continuous gutters

Steel gutters are very strong and can withstand years of wear and tear. However, they are expensive. You can choose from galvanized or stainless steel gutters. Galvanized steel gutters are coated to prevent rusting. But rusting can ruin the gutter in less than twenty years. Stainless steel gutters won’t rust, so they are a great option if you’re looking for long-lasting protection for your home.

Continuous gutters are more durable than sectional ones for a variety of reasons. Unlike sectional gutters, they are custom-made to fit your home’s specific dimensions. Because they don’t have seams, they’re less likely to leak. The seamless design also prevents water from backing up onto the roof. This can damage landscaping and the soil surrounding your foundation.

Continuous Gutters are more visually appealing than traditional sectional gutters because of their seamless design. These gutters are made from a single sheet of metal and are therefore less likely to feature joints and fasteners. Adding seamless gutters to your home will increase curb appeal and property value, as they will require less maintenance.

The first step to installing continuous gutters is to prepare the site. Start by measuring the width and length of the gutter run. Measurements should be made every 10 feet, and you should mark the run with a chalk line. You should also check the rafter tails to make sure that they aren’t rotten. A rotten rafter can be spotted by the presence of nail heads and other signs of rot.

Another important consideration when installing gutters is the cost. Sectional gutters are more expensive than seamless gutters because they must be assembled on-site, which means a higher labor and material cost. Continuous Gutters, on the other hand, are less expensive because they are made from one piece.

One of the biggest differences between continuous gutters and sectional gutters is style. Whether you want to go with a classic look or go for a more contemporary one, both styles can look great in your home. The K-style is a popular choice for modern homes and is often referred to as “crown molding” gutters. It has a curved front and back, which makes it more decorative than a sectional gutter, and can carry more water than a half-round gutter. They also have a flat back panel, which makes them easier to install.

Traditional gutters come in 10 and 20-foot sections, which you can combine to form one long gutter run. They can be installed by either an experienced construction worker or a handyman. These styles are easy to purchase at a home improvement store, but they require a certain amount of experience to install properly. It can also be challenging to create a good seal at each joint. However, there are many videos available to help you through the process.

If you’re looking for a gutter system that suits your home perfectly and costs less than sectional gutters, you may want to consider seamless gutters. Seamless gutters have fewer joints than sectional gutters and can be installed by a professional gutter company. These gutters are typically installed by a professional gutter company using special machinery that creates a seamless gutter that wraps around your roof.

While continuous gutters are less expensive than sectional gutter systems, you will have to pay more to install them. They will require more manpower and can be difficult to install yourself, which is why they are best left to professionals.

Installing continuous gutters in your home will ensure that you won’t have to worry about spring leaks in the future. These systems prevent water from collecting at the base of your home, which can lead to expensive foundation repairs. They also keep water from collecting around the foundation, which can cause erosion and foundation damage.

Cleaning gutters regularly is essential to prevent water from collecting. In addition, it helps keep your roof dry and prevents leaks. Adding a drain sprout can also help move water away from your home. By taking care of your gutters and downspouts, you will be able to avoid spring leaks.

Have Issues With Home Improvement? Get Help Here

There are many reasons to justify home improvement. However, it can be a bit daunting. Whether you want to increase your property’s value or even if you just desire to improve your home, the tips in this article will be helpful to you.

Many tenants who are renting an apartment or home are in a pickle when landlords don’t allow tenants to paint the walls in a different color or take off the wallpaper that doesn’t suit their tastes. A great way to get around this is by purchasing flat bed sheets (the unfitted kind) and tacking them in a pleasing design on the wall. This will not harm the underlying wallpaper or paint and can add a touch of personality that won’t displease the landlord.

Consider replacing your roof with shingles that are lighter in color or even using white tiles. Having a lighter-colored roof will reduce the amount of heat absorbed by your attic and upper floors, making your house more comfortable and reducing the energy needed to cool it during those hot summer months.

When it comes to home improvement, small things such as replacing your central air blower’s air filters are essential. This is important both to the efficiency of the blower, as well as being a necessary maintenance procedure. If you allow dust and dirt to gather and even bypass the filter, it will gather within the moving parts of the blower and eventually cause it to fail.

Heated tiles are a great way to boost your home’s value. These tiles are very attractive and produce heat with your electricity. There are luckily some easy ways to do it yourself. You can add onto this project by doing it yourself or hiring a contractor. These tiles will make a real difference in your bathroom and will help you save on heating.

Performing home improvement projects on your home does not necessarily have to prove overwhelming. Whether you are doing things alone or hiring a professional, with these tips you’re going to be ready to complete your home projects in no time.

Drebner Law Firm, Thunder Bolt Fire, Silver Jewellery Collection, Epstage, The Offgrid Solar House, Continuous Gutter Pros, Madison Fund, Pvyfca, Sun Tecktt Snyc, West Branch TWP, East Central Floridana, Go 2 Work Tampa Bay, Blue Grass Board Sports, Cobalt Haven, Aibot Sasa Service Cogx Avatars, Valley Of The Moon Rotary, Elisabeth Fuchsia, Comfort Computer,Cox Business VA, Fish Cross Fit, Gilmer Arts Playhouse , Race Tech Europe ,  Iwalpha Lab , Vermont Reading Partners , BGC Middle Bury, New Hope Historical Society ,Electricien Anglaisen France ,Tomboy-Design , Artaia Value Yourself , Gold Spoon Charters , Alexandra Reinhardt , Plan West Side , Beyond Ocean , Culture Village , Kayleigh Almara Art,  The Kawaii Kitchen , Tax Advisor America, Sub Fertile Frugalista, Modern Primal Soapco,

Regional Home Styles – Do all homes need gutters?

Regional Home Styles – Do all homes need gutters?

Home styles vary greatly by region. Some of this variety is due to differences in climate, but historical influences and regional traditions can be just as significant. That being said, there is still a fair amount of overlap in the popularity of these styles throughout the US. 

The most popular styles include Ranch, Country style, Cottage style, Traditional style, Southern-style, European style, Craftsman style, Modern style, and Mediterranean style. With so many styles of homes available, finding the ideal gutter solution that not only performs well but matches your home’s aesthetic, is definitely not a one-size-fits-all proposition.

Northeast:

Northeast Homes - Regional Home Styles - Do all homes need gutters?

Ranch Style

Ranch-style homes are the most popular style in America. They gained widespread popularity in the 1930s and were influenced by Western ranches.  They are most often simple one-story homes with varied floor plans. The roofs often have long straight runs. Ranch-style homes also include Split-level homes that are especially popular in the Northeast.

Cottage Style

Cottage-style homes are quaint and charming. They are usually one-story or 1 ½ story structures with rooms that are cozy and comfortable. These homes are very functional with lots of character.  Cottage-style homes often have small porches, steep gable roofs, and bay windows. This category also includes the very popular Cape Cod homes. Cape Cod homes were inspired by early cottages in Great Britain.

Country Style

Country-style homes with wrap-around porches are distinctly American and are popular in rural communities.  They are sometimes referred to as farmhouses because they evolved from farm homes in the Mid-West. They remain popular in rural neighborhoods throughout the country including the Northeast. They can be one or two stories with gable roofs and dormers.   

 

Southern US:

Southern US 2 - Regional Home Styles - Do all homes need gutters?

Southern Style

Plantation-style homes had a large influence on southern architecture. With extremely large parcels of land, these homes were often large, spacious structures. They have large front porches that were often built with columns and high ceilings with large open areas to facilitate airflow. Today this style ranges from grandiose homes to residential size clones.  

Traditional Style

The traditional style home is typically a simple rectangular shaped two-story home with symmetrically spaced windows and a blend of traditional elements. It is popular throughout the country. In the south, it is traditional to add a wide porch to this design which provides cool air and an inviting aesthetic.

European Style

European style homes range from Victorian to Colonial home styles. They are typically large homes featuring gables and steep roofs. Design features may include English, French, and Tuscan styles. European styles include English cottages, Swiss Chalets, and French Tudor homes.

 

Midwest US:

Midwest homes - Regional Home Styles - Do all homes need gutters?

Craftsman Style

The Craftsman style originated in the 19th century. Traditionally, these homes feature street-facing gables with low-pitched shingled roofs and overhanging eaves.  They usually feature hand-crafted stone or woodwork and are generally longer than they are wide with a covered porch or stoop supported by tapered or paired posts.

Farmhouse Style

The Midwest is the breadbasket of our country, so it’s no surprise that the farmhouse/country-style home is such a popular home style in the Midwest.  These houses are often multilevel with large porches and large family rooms. 

Modern Style

Modern-style homes have a minimalistic aesthetic often void of decorative moldings and trims.  Modern homes gained popularity in the 1960s.  The distinctive asymmetrical designs have continued to evolve with new materials. Re-claimed wood and stainless steel are often part of the aesthetic as are large expanses of glass. To emphasize straight clean horizontal lines, the roofs are often low and flat.  

 

Western US:

Western Homes - Regional Home Styles - Do all homes need gutters?

Mediterranean Style

Mediterranean-style homes are inspired by Spanish and Italian architecture, often characterized by distinctive plaster or stucco exteriors with red barrel-tile roofs. Tile roofs often require larger gutters to prevent water from traveling the tile edge and overshooting smaller gutters.

Ranch Style

Ranch-styled homes are synonymous with the American West. These classic designs are typically one story with long low roof lines that are close to the ground.  New variations of the ranch-style house have evolved, including split-level ranches.

Modern Style

The minimalist designs of Modern style homes often use traditional materials, built with clean lines.  Materials local to the region are frequently used, giving the modern style home a style that blends with its natural surroundings —creating modern designs that are distinct to the area. 

 

Your Style 

These are just some of the home styles that our Solutionists and Installers encounter every day as we help our clients find the ideal gutter system to match their homes. Every home is truly unique…

Protect Your home - Regional Home Styles - Do all homes need gutters?

The post Regional Home Styles – Do all homes need gutters? appeared first on The Brothers that just do Gutters.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://continuousgutterpros.com/?p=300

Gutter Cleaning In Winter

Gutter Cleaning In Winter

Most of the time when we hear the word winter, we think frigid temperatures, wintry mix and snow. And that is true for our locations in the northern zones. However, for our locations in the southern zone, winter isn’t so cold or extreme. Since gutter cleaning can only be done when temperatures are above freezing, we typically suggest that cleanings take place during the spring and fall. In regions where freezing does not occur, cleaning gutters in winter is not typically an issue. In addition to temperature, environmental changes during those seasons have a greater effect on the collection of debris in the gutter, leading to a greater demand for cleanings.

If you missed cleaning gutters in the fall, you may have issue going into winter. These issues are not always evident in the winter because your gutter is frozen, but during the first thaw they’ll show. The excess debris in your gutters that was not cleaned prior to winter will result in a sort of debris popsicle within your gutter system.

Cleaning Gutters & Products

During an unusual period of winter thaw, you may be able to use gutter cleaning tools to remove blockages from the gutters and downspout areas. However, it is recommended that you let the pros take care of your concerns. Keep in mind that winter services will vary in the winter months in northern regions.

Common Gutter Concerns During Winter

Snow sitting on top of your roofWeight of ice in/on your guttersIce dammingDamages due to added weight from snow and iceWinter storm damage

Ice Damming
Ice Dam Prevention and cleaning gutters

Ice damming is not a situation a homeowner wants to deal with. Despite popular belief, gutters do not cause ice damming. Ice damming begins with your insulation. It occurs when the warm air is escaping from the attic causing the snow on the roof to melt. When the melted water reaches the surface of your cold gutter, it will refreeze on and over your gutters.

Heat Cables
cleaning gutters and heat tape

Your first step to avoiding ice damming is proper insulation. But, you can also take the proactive approach to preventing ice damming by using a roof rake to clear a few feet above the edge of the roof. It can help to eliminate the buildup of ice dams. Adding heat cable to your gutter system is also another preventative measure with little to no maintenance. It will keep your gutters at an above freezing temperature and will slowly melt snow and ice buildup on your system to manage ice damming.

As mentioned above, winter services vary for our northern hemispheres. Here is a list of what can and cannot be done in the colder temperatures to better clarify (weather permitting of course):

What Can Be Done In Freezing Temperatures?

Gutter and downspout installationsGutter & guard installations (must install both for it to be doable in winter)Heated gutter & guard installations (must install both for it to be doable in winter)Snow guards for metal roofsFascia & fascia wrap (if getting full gutter install)

What Cannot Be Done In Freezing Temperatures?

Cleaning gutters (due to freezing, it’s too cold to clean gutters)Gutter guards on existing gutters (due to freezing, it’s too cold to clean gutters, which we do before installing guards)Repairing or resealing existing gutters

While our services may be impacted in some regions during the winter months, we are still open for business. Our warmer locations are typically “business as usual” in winter. And cleanings are generally not impacted much.

How Often Should I Clean My Gutters?

At least twice a year – typically once in spring and once in fall when leaves have all fallen

How Do Gutter Guards Work?

Guards act as a filtration system to keep debris out of your gutters (i.e. leaves, shingle grit, small animals and pests)They prevent the possibility of interior clogs from happening in your gutters and downspoutsThey add strength to the whole system during winterGuards reduce the risk of the system breaking or detaching due to the weight of the snow or branches laying on them.

Do I Need To Clean My Gutters With Guards?

Quality gutter guards work to eliminate the need for interior gutter cleaningsNo products are “maintenance-free” and may require occasional brushing off on top of the guard system

While some of our locations gutters are in the deep freeze of winter’s wrath, not all of them are. We are all open during the winter season, but some of us are impacted more by the cold than others. Your best bet is to contact The Brothers that just do Gutters to discuss your circumstances and get a free estimate.

The post Gutter Cleaning In Winter appeared first on The Brothers that just do Gutters.

Do Gutter Guards Work? Let’s Get Real

Do Gutter Guards Work? Let’s Get Real

It’s one of the most common asked questions when homeowners are considering installing gutter guards; Do Gutter Guards Work? If “work” to you means significantly decreasing the amount of maintenance needed to keep you gutters clean and eliminating the need for interior gutter cleanings; then the answer is yes. If your idea of guards working is a 100% maintenance free solution, then we can’t answer that with yes. When we hear clients express dissatisfaction with how a guard product works, we’ve found that it is generally because they were promised unrealistic outcomes.

re Gutter Guards Worth It?

Have you heard “never clean your gutters again” “100% maintenance free gutters” or anything along those lines? If you have, chances are that needing to do any sort of gutter maintenance after hearing these claims is quite honestly maddening. Since these unrealistic expectations were not met, it’s easy to assume things like “my gutter guards failed”. Because the truth of the matter actually is that your gutter guards haven’t failed you, your salesperson did!

do gutter guards work
There are many companies and products claiming to free you from ever worrying or needing to maintain your gutters again. But, this promise is just not something we as a gutter installers can guarantee, as no product is truly 100% maintenance free.

The idea with gutter guards is to significantly decrease the amount of maintenance needed, and to eliminate the need for 1-3 (or more) interior gutter cleanings a year. While, we have many clients who have not needed any maintenance after guard installs for over 10 years, we cannot promise that this will be the case for every situation. A common maintenance practice that may need to occur after installing guards is a quick brush off of the top of the gutter covers.

Our Solutionist- Danny

This idea of a sales person failing rather than your gutter guards, was brought to our attention by one of our Solutionists who hears these sort of statements in reference to gutter guards failing on a regular basis. The reason why a “failed guard” falls more heavily on the sales tactics, is because unattainable expectations are often set. This is ultimately leading to disappointing results – giving gutter guards a bad reputation.

If you’re like most consumers in this day and age, when you consider a medium to large project for your home you typically research online reviews. When searching, do gutter guards work, or best gutter guards, or even gutter guard reviews, things can quickly spiral out of control with an overwhelming amount of information on both sides of the spectrum. You’ll see anything from “this is the best investment I have ever made” to “a total waste of money, did not function as advertised”. So, who do you believe and what is the answer to this burning question of do gutter guards work and/or why are my gutter guards failing?

Gutter Guard Choices

In the world of gutter guards, there are many different product choices to choose from as well as installers. This is great, because there are many different circumstances they will be needed for. The unique qualities of a home can dictate the best type of guard to solve your issues. One of the most common concerns Danny hears from clients inquiring about gutter guards is “I have read a lot of negative reviews”. When sourcing your negative reviews, it is important to really breakdown the substance of it. Do the reviews say “these are not maintenance free” or “these did not work as promised and required more maintenance than I had hoped”? Because if that is the case, these reviews aren’t inherently bad. It goes back to the above statement referring to what was promised at sale.

do gutter guards work
If a 100% maintenance free experience was promised, then it would be easy to assume that these reviews make sense based on their expectations. A promise to “never have to clean your gutters again” should be a red flag. Sometimes, when something sounds too good to be true, it is. Sort of like a wrinkle-free shirt. While it will have  less wrinkles than a cotton shirt, there is still likely to be a wrinkle or two. This especially depends on the activities performed while in the shirt. No product is perfect. Therefore, it’s not fair or truthful to make promises guaranteeing that your situation will never require attention again.

Your Sales Experience Here At Brother Gutters

During a gutter guard sale, we make sure to take a look at what issues the homeowner is facing. Specifically in terms of the types of trees and debris causing the issue. Is it only large leaves, or small pine needles? Or is there a pest or bird’s nest issue? Depending on the answers to these questions, not only will the product recommended vary, but so too will your results. If your home is surrounded by an extremely dense tree population that excessively sheds pine needles year-round, you are likely to fall in the category of clients that need to occasionally have guard maintenance done.

At The Brothers Gutters, we strive to set each customer up with the ideal guard. For we address each situation they are confronted with, while providing them with realistic expectations. This is the reason we offer more than one guard option. Taking the time to provide an honest evaluation with each client allows us to realistically explain how gutter guards work. We can explain what to expect, and offer the best solution for each unique home. We want you to understand your option, but also why that option is the right choice for your system.

Do Gutter Guards Work?

So, the answer to the burning question of do gutter guards work, is yes. The answer to are gutter guards maintenance free is possibly. This separation of these two questions makes all the difference. In determining if you feel that your gutter guards failed you, or if indeed you feel satisfied with the results.

Gutter Screens Are Worth the Investment

A gutter guard installation is a great investment. They significantly decrease the amount of maintenance your gutter system needs each year. As well as prevent potentially damaging interior clogs. If you think your home could benefit from installing gutter guards, contact us today for your free estimate. We will help to determine the best solution for your unique home. We will also provide you with a realistic understanding of what to expect for your guard system.

Contact us today for your free gutter guard estimate.

The post Do Gutter Guards Work? Let’s Get Real appeared first on The Brothers that just do Gutters.

How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Langley’s Colder Winter Months

How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Langley’s Colder Winter Months

Prevention is the key to the problem of frozen gutters. It is much harder to thaw them out than it is to just keep everything flowing all along. If you are a Langley resident, you know how rainy and colder months in British Columbia can affect your rain gutters. In order to avoid having to repair or install a new gutter system, here are some expert tips to keep your gutters from freezing during Langley’s coldest months:

Check Your Rain Gutter Slope

When properly installed, gutters have a slight slope leading to the downspout. This ensures that water quickly moves out of the system. However, you shouldn’t assume that your gutters have the right slope, even if they did when they were first put on the house. They can settle with age, be knocked to the wrong angle by storms, or even suffer from improper installation. If the result of any of these things has caused your gutters to become flat, water will be able to pool within them and freeze.

The easiest way to find out if your gutters have the right slope is to have them inspected by a professional help for gutter repair and maintenance. If you already know that the slope is wrong, you can skip the inspection step and proceed directly to getting gutter repair in Langley. The repair crew will refasten the gutters so that they have the proper angle for good drainage.

Keep the Gutters Clean

gutter-cleaning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaves, twigs, and other debris will eventually form dams if allowed to remain in the gutters. This allows water to pool and freeze. Have your gutters cleaned out every fall to prevent this problem.

Check our previous blog post and learn how to unclog a clogged gutter.

Take the Snow off of Your Roof

An abundance of snow on the roof, especially after a blizzard, can overwhelm your anti-freezing measures. In blizzard conditions, the gutters themselves can be filled with snow long before any salt could melt it. Then, you need to manually remove the snow before it partially melts and refreezes into ice. A roof rake makes it possible to do this job from the side of the house, instead of walking around on the roof. Other tools work well for clearing the gutters.

dd Insulation to the Roof

Insufficient roof insulation allows heat to leave the house and melt the snow that’s on top of it. This allows liquid water to flow into the gutters even on freezing cold days. Since the gutters aren’t exposed to the house’s heat like the rest of the roof, the water then freezes.

If you add enough insulation to stop the snow on the roof from melting on cold days, you will end the biggest winter source of liquid water. A bit may still melt and get into the gutter system, but it won’t be nearly as much as comes from a poorly-insulated roof. Then, most of the water will enter the system on days where the overall weather is above freezing. This ensures that it will remain liquid as it traverses the gutters.

Use a Heated Gutter Cable

The direct application of heat is a time-honored way of preventing and getting rid of ice, but you’ll need a special system to do it in your gutters. Gutter cables are meant to handle exposure to water, cold, and sunlight. If you don’t want to have to go up to your gutters after every snowstorm, or to keep putting rock salt in them, give these cables a try.

Like any other product, some cables are better than others. Be sure to read the reviews on big online retailers before choosing a brand. Even if you buy from some other site or a physical store, a good set of reviews can point you in the right direction. You can also find out prices this way, so you can better decide whether or not you want to pursue this option.

Does Rock Salt help?

Salt is quite corrosive to certain metals, especially steel. Make sure that your gutters will not have an overly-negative reaction to either salt or salt water before using this method. The same kind of salt that prevents and removes ice from your driveway can work in gutters, but it can also damage your gutters, corrode concrete and impact your landscape. We would recommend using other solutions.

Why Bother to Prevent Gutter Freezing?

prevent gutter from freezing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When gutters freeze up, they can cause many problems. The biggest danger is to your roof. Frozen gutters do not allow water to easily leave the edge of the roof, and this causes it to pool and freeze right there. That, in turn, creates ice dams. The water trying to come down the roof behind an ice dam cannot get to the ground, and instead backs up under the shingles. Eventually, this results in roof leaks.

The weight of frozen water in the gutter system can also be a problem. It can cause the gutters to pull away from the house, damaging the connecting points on both the gutters and the house itself.

Make sure you add gutters to your home maintenance and winter plumbing checklist to avoid gutter issues during the colder months in Langley.

Contact Professional Help

If you need professional help to get your gutters at the proper slope, have heated cables installed, or to take any other anti-freezing measures, contact our gutter company located in Langley for assistance. Here at Weatherguard Gutters, we are standing ready to help you do everything possible to protect your gutter system.

Weatherguard Gutters provides gutter repair service, new gutter installation, and maintenance services. Our crews use safe practices, including the use of manlifts, so you don’t have to worry about our people slipping off of ladders or having other accidents. We also offer the best warranty on parts and labor in the area, deliver fair pricing, and promise quick turnaround on your job.

If you’re in Langley, or anywhere in the metro Vancouver area, contact us at Weatherguard Gutters today. We’ll make sure that your gutters stay free of ice this year and in the years to come.

The post How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Langley’s Colder Winter Months appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.

How do Gutters Work and Why are They Necessary?

How do Gutters Work and Why are They Necessary?

The vast majority of houses have rain gutters, but many people don’t think too much about them. Because of this lack of attention, it’s easy to mistakenly ignore them if they become clogged or damaged. Some even think it’s a fine idea to just pull them down and be done with them. Is this really a good way to deal with gutters? Read on to learn how rain gutters work and why they are necessary.

Why Are Rain Gutters Necessary?

When it rains, every 100 square feet of your roof accumulates and drains 60 gallons of water per inch of precipitation. Many roofs are about 2,300 square feet. That means they will be shunting off 1,380 gallons of water for every inch that falls on them.

Without gutters, those 1,380 gallons of water drop straight off of the leading edges of the roof and go into the ground at or very close to your house’s foundation. This interferes with the ground’s ability to support the foundation, and in turn, that can lead to shifting, cracking of the foundation, and foundation undermining. It can also cause cracks in basement walls and damage to your house.

Foundation damage is extremely expensive to repair. It typically requires lifting the house on jacks, doing the work necessary to fix the problem, and then carefully setting the house back down. This lifting can cause other latent structural problems to appear, especially in the walls of the house. Unfortunately, ignoring foundation damage only lets it get worse, so if the house is to be kept indefinitely, repair must be done when damage occurs.

Damage to basement walls not only weakens the structure of the house, but allows leaks. When a basement leaks, mold soon finds the wet materials perfect for incubation. Then, you end up with a mold problem as well as a water issue. Even worse, water that leaks in typically does not go away nearly as fast as it came. This allows the mold to keep growing even when it is dry outside.

How do Gutters Work?

Gutters are placed at the leading edges of the roof. There, they collect the torrents of water that come from the roof during rainstorms, and direct them to a safe area for discharge via downspouts. In many cases, this area is simply far enough away from the house to avoid foundation damage. However, many people now have their downspouts aimed into rain barrels or into hoses for distribution to their gardens. Rain barrels allow the water to be saved for drier days.

As you can see, how gutters work is simple. Even so, they are very important for protecting your house from damage.

The Importance of Maintaining Your Rain Gutter

Maintaining your rain gutter is essential for preventing a wide variety of problems, not all of which are at ground level. A cracked or rusted rain gutter will drip down from any gaps, and if it is close enough to your wall, this will leave ugly stains all down the side of the house. If its fasteners are in a similar state, it can fall down suddenly as well, potentially injuring anyone or anything that is beneath it.

Clogged gutters pose even more problems. The rainwater can’t get out properly, so these gutters fill up with water. Some will spill over the side, but there’ll still be a full gutter below the water line. That puts weight into the system that the gutter’s fasteners were never meant to hold, so they may fail and let the gutter fall down without warning. Alternatively, one or two fasteners will fail, leaving the damaged gutter hanging askew.

If gutters are left clogged long enough, the fallen leaves causing the blockage will rot and turn to humus. This doesn’t clear the clog, but it does provide the perfect environment to germinate the seeds and fern spores that have landed in there. Wild plants growing from the gutters may not look all that bad, but they gain a huge amount of weight as they grow. A full-grown tree weighs many tons, so you can see that a sapling will quickly end up weighing enough to tear a gutter off of a house. If there are multiple plants growing up there, it will take even less time for their growth to add up to a catastrophic amount of weight.

The Right Time to Get a New Gutter System

Like any man-made thing that is constantly exposed to the weather, gutters eventually wear out to the point that replacement is in order. Look for large numbers of leaks, widespread corrosion (including in the fasteners), and similar problems. Also check to be sure that your downspouts go at least 10 feet from your house.

If your gutters are in an overall poor condition due these problems, it’s time to go ahead and replace your gutter system. The exception is the downspouts, which can be replaced separately from the rest of the system.

When Are Gutters Not Necessary?

While some say that every house needs gutters, there is one situation where many say that they’re not absolutely necessary. That is when the house is built on piers. A “pier foundation,” as it is sometimes called, elevates the house off of the ground and uses relatively thin, deep posts to give it stability. This foundation system is often found in mobile and manufactured homes as well as old site-built ones. Houses in flood zones may also use piers, regardless of whether they are manufactured or site-built.

Even with a pier foundation, you may find that it’s a good idea to have gutters. This is because some soils are prone to shifting if they get too wet, and this can cause the piers to move. If you have this type of soil, the answer to “are gutters necessary” is yes.

To get an estimate for gutter maintenance, repair, or replacement, contact us here at Weatherguard Gutters. We’ll be glad to help you keep your house safe.

The post How do Gutters Work and Why are They Necessary? appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.