You clean your gutters, they fill back up with leaves. Clean them again and in no time, they’re clogging and water is flowing over the edges of the gutters. When you’re a homeowner, you’re in a neverending war to keep leaves out of your gutters so stormwater can easily flow away from your home where it can’t do any damage. There is a way to win the war on leaves. So put on your tactical gear and…

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This post first appeared on https://gutterpros.com/

Your home’s gutter needs

There are many gutter guards available for your home. Every home has different gutter challenges due to the type and slope of its roof as well as the environment in which the home resides. Some homes may be in heavily forested areas while others may reside in areas with few trees. Some homes may weather storms for most of the year while others will experience mostly sunny days. Understanding your home and its particular needs will help make the most informed choice when it comes to its gutter needs. 

No matter what your home’s environment or roof style, gutters that are in good working order and are clear of any debris are a necessity at any time of the year. 

It is recommended that you inspect and clean your gutters regularly. 

Some homeowners try to protect their gutters from debris and other elements by installing a gutter guard to cut down on possible clogs and increase the time between cleanings. One of the many gutter guard options available is gutter mesh. Read on to find out what gutter mesh is, how it is different from other forms of gutter guards and whether or not it is right for your home. 

What is gutter mesh?

Gutter guards are designed to help keep debris out of your gutters by preventing the accumulation of debris in your gutters. There are many different kinds of gutter guards, each with its own approach to keeping your drains clog-free. A mesh gutter guard acts as a permeable roof for your gutter and is made up of a plastic, aluminum or stainless steel mesh that can be easily attached to the top of your gutter. These guards cover the whole gutter with a mesh sheet, trapping debris on the top of the mesh while water runs through the small holes. 

Is gutter mesh right for my home? 

Mesh filters can be the easiest of the gutter guard options to install, are often reasonably priced and are compatible with many different roof types. They protect your gutters from birds and rodents building nests in the gutters.  Plastic versions of mesh gutter guards are susceptible to UV damage. High profile gutter mesh styles may be damaged by branches, snow, ice and/or strong winds. Screen or mesh filters do not filter out finer debris so you will still have to continue with regular gutter maintenance cleaning both the gutter as well as clearing the mesh screen.

Remember to clean your gutters, even if you have a guard

If you have had gutter guards installed on your home or have decided to install gutter guards yourself, it may be more difficult to clean your gutters on your own, but remains just as important a task. Gutter guards may help to keep out some large debris and assist with preventing birds or rodents from building nests in your gutters, but they still need regular care and inspection for proper functioning and leaks. And they don’t stop small debris from collecting on your guards which can build up into a cake that totally blocks your gutter system. When this occurs, your gutters won’t channel water away from your home. Trust Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning to provide you with thorough, safe, professional gutter cleaning. 

Call us today and get $25 off your first gutter cleaning.

Get $25 Off Your First Gutter Cleaning!

This post first appeared on https://nedstevens.com

Why is it important to recognize the signs of clogged gutters? 

Clogged gutters can mean a big headache for you and your home. If your gutters are clogged water isn’t being effectively diverted away from your home, instead spilling onto the side of your home. This water damage can lead to foundation damage, structural issues, mold and/or mildew, and possible basement flooding. Often, homeowners don’t know that their gutters are clogged until there a heavy rainfall makes the problem known. These expensive and troublesome issues can be easily avoided by checking your home’s gutters frequently for signs of clogged gutters. Read on to hear about the signs that you have clogged gutters and how unclogging them can save you from thousands of dollars of home repair.

Telltale signs of clogged gutters 

Many of the signs that your drains are clogged are evident only when it rains. One of the most obvious signs, in this regard, is that water is spilling out of the drains before it has a chance to funnel down the drain that leads to your drainage system. This water that is essentially being pushed over the side of your house can cause extensive water damage to both the external and internal frame of your home. 

Other storm-related signs that you might have clogged gutters include soggy floors after a rainstorm, indicating that water may have run down the interior walls of your home and leaked into living spaces. If you have noticed any staining on your siding, it might indicate that you have standing water in your gutter system. This stagnant water can cause significant damage to the boards behind the gutters or to the shingles of your home’s roof.

Other visual marks and signs of clogged gutters

Some of the signs that your drains are clogged can be viewed from the ground below your drains. If your gutters are sagging, collapsing or pulling away from the home, this may be a sign that your gutters are clogged (and are certainly a sign they need some attention!). Gutters aren’t designed to hold standing water or heavy, saturated material like wet leaves and will push the gutters down and possibly even rupture them. 

Water damage from a clogged gutter can cause rust or mildew to appear around the sides or top of your home. Rust and mildew can be unsightly, but worse, they can cause further damage to your gutter system and should be addressed before larger issues arise.

Signs of animal or plant life near your roof can also be a signal that your home’s drains are clogged. Animals from snakes and mice to squirrels and birds will often use clogged gutters as homes and nests. Clogged gutters can accumulate enough dirt to allow weeds and plants to germinate from seeds that have blown by in storms or been deposited by birds. If you see any signs of persistent life such as birds or plants in your gutters, it is time to have your gutters cleaned.

What to do if you suspect clogged gutters

If your gutters exhibit any of these signs of clogging, contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning as your professional gutter cleaning service. Our work is fully guaranteed and we carry full workers’ compensation and liability insurance. You can feel secure that our work will be done right and with the highest of professional standards. 

Call us today and get $25 off your first gutter cleaning!

Get $25 Off Your First Gutter Cleaning!

This post first appeared on https://nedstevens.com

Is a gutter cleaning service plan right for me?

The roof of your home doesn’t just keep warmth in, it also keeps the harsh elements out. 

In order for your roof to work most efficiently, rain, snow, leaves, animals, and any other material that falls on your roof must be collected and carried away. Gutter and downspouts act as the transport system that removes these unwanted elements from the roof of your house. 

When your gutter system is functioning efficiently, any precipitation that falls on the roof will flow through the gutters and into the ground away from the home. 

Unfortunately, as the water takes any organic material with it through the gutter system, that material often gets trapped or stuck, creating clogs in the gutters that can cause them to stop working. If these clogs go unnoticed for too long, your house can suffer damage, even structural damage, as water leaks down the side of the house, possibly entering the house through the walls or pooling at its foundation. 

The importance of keeping your gutters clean and clog-free cannot be overstated in order to prevent this damage from occurring. 

Keeping a maintenance calendar for your gutters

One way to keep your gutter system healthy and functioning at its peak is to keep up with regular gutter maintenance throughout the year. While it is recommended that this is done six times per year, most critically in the autumn after all the leaves have fallen.  Homes with a lot of trees, wildlife activity or any other kind of debris should make sure that their gutters are regularly checked every season. Keeping a calendar to remind you to clear your gutters can be helpful, but life often gets in the way and suddenly a storm hits and your home has incurred damage. Make sure your home is always protected with preemptive care through a service plan with Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning.  

Year-round gutter service

Ned Stevens’ Diamond plan will make sure that a gutter cleaning professional will make a minimum of six (6) yearly visits to your house to ensure that your gutters are in the best possible working shape. 

Our knowledgeable, highly trained team members will keep your gutters clean and free of debris while also checking to make sure there are no leaks and nothing needs to be resealed or repaired. 

March is a great time for checking to make sure that snow and ice haven’t caused any damage and to prepare for the oncoming spring showers. We will schedule a seasonal cleaning sometime during those spring showers to make sure that no debris from budding trees such as seed pods, oak tassels, ragweed or any other debris has settled into your gutters. Summer thunderstorms often bring down large tree branches. Our professional gutter cleaners will schedule an appointment to make sure that gutters are clear of any large debris and that there has been no damage to the gutters themselves. And, of course, during the busiest time of year, autumn, when the leaves fall and block gutters quickly, Ned Stevens will be at your house to clear any clogs or blocks to ready your house for the winter.  

Trust Ned Stevens

Ned Stevens has over 50 years of gutter cleaning experience and our courteous and professional team has seen every possible complication and knows when the best times are for your home’s particular roof style and environmental circumstances. Call today and get $50 off your first time Diamond Service Plan!

Get $50 Off Your First Diamond Plan!

This post first appeared on https://nedstevens.com

Tips for cleaning out your gutters without a ladder

Proper gutter maintenance is one of the most important things you can invest in for your home. Conscientious homeowners know that keeping gutters clear of debris allows precipitation runoff to drain properly, preventing water from running down the sides of the house, damaging the walls and foundation of the home.

Gutter maintenance is, however, difficult and possibly even dangerous work if you clean your gutters using the traditional method of gutter cleaning which calls from climbing a ladder to clear out the gutter detritus. Luckily, there are other ways to clean your gutters without the need for the use of a ladder.

What to consider before choosing a gutter cleaning tool

There are several different alternatives to climbing a ladder to help clear out your obstructed gutters. Prior to embarking on your gutter clearing adventure, there are a few things you may need to consider in order to pick the best ladder-free gutter cleaning method for your home. First, you need to figure out the height of your roof and gutters to make sure your chosen tool will reach all your gutters. Next, you need to determine if the detritus in your gutters is made up primarily of dry or wet debris or you might end up choosing a method that does not successfully clear your gutters. You will also need to consider what lies beneath the gutters and if it will be disturbed by your gutter clearing activities, including whether or not debris might land in areas that you can’t access to clear away. Whatever method you choose, make sure to wear garden gloves and protective eyewear. The best way to ensure your gutters are clean is to hire a gutter cleaning professional and forgo the gadgets.

Ladder-free gutter cleaning alternatives

Perhaps the easiest way of cleaning out your gutters is by using a hose and spigot which uses a controlled stream of water to wash away small debris from your gutters. You can easily find hose attachments that are essentially telescoping poles that allow you to focus the spray where needed to clear out your gutters. This method has the drawback of possibly getting you wet and dirty in the process and will certainly spray debris around your house which then needs to be cleaned up afterwards.

Another ladder-free way to clean gutters involves using a gutter vacuum. Gutter vacuums clean the length of your home while staying on the ground through the use of a shop vac or a leaf blower with a reverse function. Here you will either need to purchase an attachment that connects to the apparatus, or you can make one yourself with aluminum duct elbows and a hose or extension tubing. From here, you can suck dry leaves through the extension or tubing and clear your gutters with ease. However, it is never easy to anticipate the weight of the debris you encounter, which means this method comes with safety risks.

When you are aware that the material in your gutters may be too wet or heavy for the above cleaning methods, you might use gutter cleaning tongs. In theory, gutter cleaning tongs allow you to simply grab the debris and lift it directly out of the gutters. These tongs are typically maneuvered through the use of a rope attached to a metal pole which can be extended to your gutters’ height specificities. Other tools similarly use brush or rake attachments to manually churn out or release wet, heavy, caked material from your gutters.

Contact a gutter cleaning specialist

Ultimately, none of the options above are 100% safe as removing heavy debris always carries the risk of personal injury. If your gutters are clogged you may already be considering your options, searching online for “gutter cleaning near me.” If this is you, call Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning to help. Our team of highly trained professionals can easily clear your gutters relieving you from the arduous task of cleaning them yourself. Get $25 off your first gutter cleaning when you call today!

Get $25 Off Your First Gutter Cleaning!

This post first appeared on https://nedstevens.com

How to inspect your gutters

Gutters are installed along a roof’s edge to capture and direct runoff from rainfall and other inclement conditions. A clogged or damaged gutter system will fail to channel this drainage away from the home efficiently and can lead to spilling, pooling, leakage, and possible foundation damage. It is recommended that you have your home’s gutters inspected at least two times a year. You may need to have your gutters checked more frequently if you suspect any damage or you live in a densely forested area. In order to properly examine your gutters make sure to follow all the steps outlined in this plan. 

Disclaimer: We don’t recommend inspecting your own gutters as ladders can be dangerous if not used properly. Even so, a fall from a significant height could be very harmful. Be sure to have a bonded, insured professional inspect and clean your gutters regularly.

Remove all the debris from the gutters

The first step to a full gutter inspection is to remove all the leaves, needles and other debris from the gutters. You will either need to use a ladder to reach your gutters or one of the numerous ladder-free gutter cleaning tools available. If you choose to use a ladder, always use good ladder safety by enlisting a spotter and making sure that the ladder is firmly planted on even ground. Once the gutters have been cleared of large debris, you will need to remove all the small debris, dust and mud from the gutters using a hose or a hose attachment. As the water runs through the gutter system, make sure to look out for leaks on the underside of the gutter and that the water flows easily through every part of the system including the downspout.  

Check for leaks or slow spots

Make sure that water is flowing freely through the downspout as well as through any pipes the downspout may connect to, including underground pipes. If underground pipes are clogged you may need to use a plumber’s snake or other implements to insure maximum drainage. If there are any areas where the water slows significantly or pools, you may have a slope issue. Spikes or hangers may need to be adjusted or relocated up or down to improve the slope and create better flow in your gutters. 

Examine materials around the gutters

Check the space between the gutter and the wall, especially if you have noticed water running down the side of the wall during storms or if there are any visible stains on the side of your house. You will want to closely examine the spikes or hangars that hold the gutters to your roof as those can become loose and may need to be resecured or even replaced. Make sure to inspect all the seams, ends or any other part where sealant may be missing or where you may find leaks. Repair by removing old sealant and applying new material. 

Make sure your home is protected

You may find this potentially dangerous process to be too involved or overwhelming. If this is the case, don’t hesitate to call Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaners. Our team of professionals will inspect your gutters making sure they run smoothly, cleanly and without any leaks. We will ensure that your home is as protected as possible.  Call us today to get $25 off your first gutter cleaning!

Get $25 Off Your First Gutter Cleaning!

This post first appeared on https://nedstevens.com

Does your home need a gutter guard?

Everyone knows how important it is to maintain your home’s gutters. Everyone also knows how grueling it can be to clean out your gutters. With this in mind, many homeowners looking for an easy solution for preventing clogged gutters are interested in gutter guards. The idea behind gutter guard products is that they are designed to help keep debris out of your gutters by protecting your gutters from accumulating that debris in the first place. There are many different kinds of gutter guards, each with its own goal of keeping your gutters clear. But it’s not that simple.

There are many considerations that you should take in before deciding to invest in gutter protection. You may not live in areas where trees are prominent and do not need gutter guards. If the nearest large tree is more than 200 feet away from the edge of your roof, gutter guards are probably not necessary. However, even if you live in an area covered in large, leafy trees, gutter guards may not offer the protection you are looking for. Read on to find out about gutter sponges, one such method of gutter protection and whether or not it is effective in preventing gutter clutter. 

What are gutter sponges and how do they work?

Sponge guards are among the various types of gutter guards and work through the use of a sponge that is shaped to conform to the inside of each gutter. Most sponge gutter guards consist of an open-cell polyurethane insert or an insert made of foam. This foam or sponge acts as a trap by intending to filter any large debris out of the water that flows down the gutter.  Sponge gutter guards are a do-it-yourself product and can be found at most home improvement stores.

There are a few important things to understand about sponge gutter guards. 

Many are not flame retardant which may be a serious issue if you live in an area prone to fires. Sponge gutter guards can impede water flow, backing up your gutters and causing water to possibly spill down your home’s walls. While gutter sponges are somewhat effective at filtering out most large debris, they often leave behind small needles, leaves and seeds. Over time, these small items of debris collect to form a thick layer of mud and muck at the bottom of the gutter. For this reason, gutter sponges can be prone to rotting and even mold. This smelly, unhygienic mess then has to be cleaned out, defeating the purpose of having a preventative system in the first place. 

Sponge or foam gutter guards typically only last 1-2 years, making it a costly option for a gutter protection system. They also attract and retain oils and tar from your roof. These oils build up in the cellular walls of the foam, eventually turning the foam material into a solid. For a system that is designed to allow water to flow as easily as possible, having a large, solid form in the place you need the most flow again seems contradictory to the point of having a preventative gutter system.

What gutter guard is best for my house?

If you’re looking for the best way to clean and maintain your gutters year-round, Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning can answer all your gutter solutions questions and address all your gutter needs. As we mentioned, gutter guards – foam or otherwise – don’t replace gutter cleaning. There’s no perfect “set-it-and-forget-it” solution that will keep your gutters totally debris-free without some help. Call us today and get $25 off your first gutter cleaning!

Get $25 Off Your First Gutter Cleaning!

This post first appeared on https://nedstevens.com

As we celebrate the holidays and move into a new year, we can’t help but be retrospective and hopeful about the future. The winter skies hang close over us while we nestle comfortably in our homes. As you consider what resolutions to make that will make your life better and more secure, you need only look out the frost-covered window to the gutters that line your roof! How does a new gutter system sound for the new year?

One resolution that is guaranteed to add to your safety, financial well-being and value of your home is to upgrade to a K-Guard new gutter system.

Why should I make installing a K-Guard new gutter system my New Year’s Resolution?

The answer to this question is simple – installing a new gutter system helps you protect your family as well as your home, your largest financial investment. K-Guard gutter systems are versatile and customizable to every home, and their unique design will save you hours and hours of time and manual labor for many years into the future.

Not many New Year’s resolutions can check off two boxes – increasing the value of your home while at the same time increasing your safety. 

Often overlooked, gutters are a critical component of any building. By collecting the rain and runoff water and moving it away from your house, gutters prevent pooling and flooding that can cause significant structural damage. Regular gutters are effective at moving water away from your house, but as anyone who has climbed a ladder onto their roof knows, they are extremely prone to clogging and flooding. 

Safely cleaning clogged gutters is a difficult task – either shuffling along your roofline or constantly climbing up and down and moving your ladder. Why not make a resolution to install new gutters that both increase your safety and protect your house?

K-Guard’s patented gutter technology is designed to prevent the clogging and flooding that plagues standard gutters. Their specially designed covers allow water to move freely away from your house while preventing sticks, debris and leaves from blocking the flow. Your gutters don’t have to work overtime trying to keep your house dry, and you won’t have to spend tons of time dangerously removing those thick clumps of debris we all dread to see!

How do K-Guard gutter systems save me money?

Likely one of your other New Year’s resolutions is to spend more time with your family or to do fun things with the people you care about. Imagine not having to spend hours on your roof or climbing up and down and moving ladders in order to clean out your clogged gutters? Or how much do third parties charge in order to handle the task for you? Your time is valuable, and whether you tackle the task yourself or pay someone else to do it for you, cleaning out your gutters is a time and money black hole.

Installing new K-Guard gutters will give you back the time you would have spent manually cleaning out your gutters, but by doing a better job than a standard gutter at moving water away from your house, they also potentially prevent thousands of dollars of damage from occurring! Your foundation will remain intact, your paint and siding will remain pristine, and your wooden frames won’t rot. 

A new gutter system that is as effective as the K-Guard system will reduce the frequency that you need to paint your house and protect the structure. And, if you are planning to sell your property, K-Guard gutter systems make a fantastic selling point for home inspectors and buyers.

Any one of these is reason enough to install new gutters this year, and all of them together show why those gutters should be K-Guard gutters!

How will a K-Guard gutter system improve my safety and the safety of my home?

It’s a fact that over 500,000 people in the United States every year have ladder-related accidents. Constantly climbing up and down and moving your ladder to reach all the clogged parts of your gutter is dangerous. Falling off your ladder or your roof can result in painful injuries that take you away from work and off your feet for weeks or even months.

Why not make a resolution to keep yourself safe and healthy?! Not only does installing a new K-Guard Gutter System save you time and money, but it will also protect your safety, something no number can adequately quantify.

What makes a K-Guard gutter system the right investment?

There are many reasons to choose K-Guard for your new gutters. Just ask our previous clients! Our great product, fantastic customer service and quality installation are the reasons we get great reviews. 

While we provide amazing customer service and our professional installers are the best in the business, we couldn’t do it without having a great product. The award-winning K-Guard system has been installed and tested for years and refined and improved over time. 

Give us a call and join the ranks of our satisfied customers! Make a New Year’s resolution that increases your safety, saves you money and protects your most valuable investment — your home. Make the easiest choice you’ll make all year by contacting us today! Give us a call at (614) 568-7777.

This post first appeared on https://www.kguard.com

Choosing a gutter system for your home is a process, which takes time to ensure your home is protected.

There is a difference between sectional and seamless gutters which is important to consider.

Seamless gutters have a continuous section that join at the corners and at the downspouts. Seamless gutters are the superior option when deciding on a gutter system for your home.

Sectional gutters are composed of individual pieces of material that are bonded together to form the gutter system. Each piece is attached to the other with a sealant, screws, or anchoring beams. This is a popular method and is originally how most gutter systems were installed. The seams in sectional gutter systems can pose a threat to your home. More seams allow more opportunity for rain, snow and other debris to seep through.

Why choose seamless?

Seamless gutters are the superior option when choosing a gutter system because of the continuity of the system.

• Custom-fit- Because seamless gutters are don’t have a bunch of small pieces, they must be custom fit to your home. Every home is built differently so your gutters should be made to fit your home specifically.
• Longer lasting- Sectional gutters are more prone to leaks and breakage because of the various seams. A seamless gutter system lasts longer because it is one solid piece connected to your home and there is less opportunity for water and debris to infiltrate.
• Better design- Seamless gutters have a more aesthetically pleasing design when compared to sectional gutters. This is important to consider for your home’s appearance, value, and curb appeal.

Bell Seamless Gutters offers high-quality seamless gutters and gutter guards to homeowners throughout New Jersey. To learn more about all the gutter options we have available, feel free to give us a call or contact us online today!

The post Seamless VS Sectional Gutters appeared first on Bell Seamless Gutters.

Many gutter guard companies claim that they sell the best gutter protection, yet there are unique benefits that set Gutter Helmet® apart from the competition. In addition, few can share so many great gutter guard reviews! Here are several myths that we hear from potential customers about the competition that just don’t add up.

Myth #1 – Theirs is the only product with a “no-clog warranty.”

First, lots of companies offer a no-clog warranty. But the competitors’ fine print also states you can get a free cleaning when the system clogs … which is a bit contradictory. Gutter Helmet never needs cleaning and our warranty guarantees it.

Myth #2 – A wider gap is better.

The bigger the gap, whether it be in a gutter cap or a screen-type design, the more likely debris and pests are to get into the gutter. Gutter Helmet’s 3/8-inch gap has been carefully engineered to allow a heavy flow of water while keeping out leaves and debris. Other products with a wide ½-inch gap will not be as effective at keeping out debris.

Myth #3 – A lower profile is better.

Some companies falsely claim that their lower profile not only looks better but also performs better. The issue is that products designed with a lower profile must compensate with a sharper curve around the nose, which reduces the surface tension necessary to direct water into gutters. Gutter Helmet’s textured nose-forward design gives it superior water-handling performance.

Myth #4 – Ice falls harmlessly to the ground due to an “ice release” system.

Anytime ice falls to the ground, it can cause damage to landscaping, your home exterior or even people below. The ribbed surface of Gutter Helmet allows melting ice to flow into the gutters without sliding off in sheets. If icing is a serious issue on your home, Helmet Heat® can help prevent ice buildup.

Myth #5 – Thicker material is better.

When it comes to gutter guards, thicker really means heavier. That added weight puts more stress on gutters. With a patented textured panel made of anodized aluminum and a 48-gauge aluminum bracket with twin beams that transfer the weight of the helmet from your gutters to your roof, Gutter Helmet makes your gutter system lighter and stronger.

Myth # 6 – Gutter Helmet® voids your roof warranty.

Because of the installation method and how the weight of the Gutter Helmet is transferred to the roof, some gutter shield companies claim that our product voids a roof’s warranty. Leading roofing manufacturers have repeatedly said that Gutter Helmet does NOT void any roof warranty.

Don’t Be Misled by Other Brands

Gutter guard reviews will tell you a lot about various products and may even dispel some of the myths. Only Gutter Helmet’s patented nose-forward design allows water into the gutter while funneling debris off over the edge. Manufactured with durable and lightweight aluminum and finished with Kynar® paint, not only will your Gutter Helmet function flawlessly, it will look great too. If you’re looking for the best gutter protection, call Gutter Helmet at (800) 824-3772 to be connected with your local Gutter Helmet installer. You can also fill out our contact form and we’ll have them contact you.

The post 6 Myths Other Gutter Guard Companies Want You to Believe appeared first on Gutter Helmet.