Summer doesn’t seem like the time to be thinking about cleaning or repairing your gutters, but here are a few things to consider.
Spring Is The Rainy Season
By the end of spring, your gutters are sure to be clogged with dirt, debris, leaves or limbs that have fallen on your roof. Summer gutter cleaning is an essential preventative maintenance for your home.
Guard Against Summer Storms
Summer storms and extreme weather can cause major problems with your gutters. Frequent showers and heavy winds bring debris and possible gutter damage. Cleaning your gutters can be an excellent way to maintain a healthy gutter system.
Preparing for fall
Cleaning and maintaining your gutters in summer is the best way to prepare your home for fall. When the leaves start falling, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your home is well-prepared for the added weight that will be deposited into your gutters.
Remember that prevention methods cost a lot less than repairs. Don’t wait until gutter clogs cause damage to your home. The Gutter Pros can help you with gutter cleaning and repairs. We also specialize in seemless gutter installation by trained professionals. We are fully insured and offer onsite FREE estimates.
All You Need To Know About Gutters, Types, Enhancements And gutter installation Cost
Let’s face it – there are tons of remodeling projects that any home or business owner can take up nowadays and improve the property. One of them is gutter installation.
Before you ask yourself how much do gutters cost, there are three things you can benefit from when installing new gutters. We are talking about value, convenience and marketability.
Obviously, there are many homes with signs of old or dysfunctional gutters, homes with faded siding, leaking roofs or clogged gutters.
Cost Of New Gutters
If you are seeing the following signs:
Gaps in your gutters
Cracks and fractures
Standing water
Sagging gutters
Peeling paint
Rust
Water damage marks
Mold
Soil erosion
Foundation problems
Overflowing water
Unexplained nails or screws
It is more than obvious that you need the cost of new gutters. Below, we are giving you all the answers on how much gutters cost and what is the best type for your region or needs. Also, how much are gutters?
So, let’s begin.
Cost To Install Gutters: All The Prices & Materials
Just like with any remodeling project, gutter installation depends on the material you choose. So, if you are wondering how much do seamless gutters cost, the answer is – it largely depends on what you are choosing.
Gutter Installation Costs Range From $569-$1,423
And if you are wondering how much do new gutters cost, the price region is somewhere between $546 and $1,361 – and the national average cost is $953. Below, we are listing the prices of gutter installation by the material. How much does it cost to install gutters?
Gutter Prices And Materials
As we already mentioned, the cost of gutter installation depends on the type of gutter and material that you select. So, if you are wondering how much do gutters cost at home depot, there is a big difference between steel, aluminum, vinyl, copper and other types of gutters.
Prices, Pricing & Costs Of Gutter Installation – How much do gutters cost?
Vinyl Gutters – This type of gutters is one of the least expensive, starting from $4 a piece and going up to $8 per piece for a really nice and quality pick.
Aluminum Gutters – A bit more expensive than vinyl gutters, aluminum gutters provide resistance and go from $6 to $12 for the most expensive type in the range.
Steel Gutters – Boasting with even more durability than aluminum ones, steel gutters are made of top-quality, are long lasting and therefore more expensive. Their price starts from $11 and sometimes goes up to $33 per piece or more.
Copper Gutters – Known as the highest quality type out there, copper gutters cost at least $40 per piece and can even reach a price of $100.
Wood Gutters – The cost of wood gutters installation goes from $5 to $8 per square foot or around $700 to $1300 for a complete project
Gutter Replacement Cost
Plastic Gutters – One of the most affordable options, ranging from $3 to $11 per piece. This is the real gutter replacement cost
When it comes to extensions, there are few to name in the range of gutters. Below, we are listing them and their prices:
Splash Blocks/Drains – Used for directing water away from the gutter foundation (therefore preventing damage), these extensions cost between $5 and $10
Flashing – You should expect to pay around $10 for a DIY flashing project that will protect your roof underlayment and siding from damage and moisture
Hangers – Giving extra strength and helping to hold your gutters cleaning tools up, especially in regions where wind and storms are more present
Labor Costs: How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Gutter Contractor?
Labor is often overlooked when installing or replacing gutters. The truth is, hiring a gutter contractor is the best option and paying for such a service will get you rid of any hassles, saving you time and money in the process. After all, you want the job done right and with minimal aggravation, right?
Installed Costs
On average, the estimate for a contractor to replace a gutter and downspout of 50 feet is approximately $509. Roughly, the price per square foot is $5.18. Still, you should not take these rates by heart because different locations and different contractors have different pricing of the gutter installation cost. You can find all of your gutter cleaning tools here.
So, if you got your answers on ‘how much do rain gutters cost’ or ‘how much are gutters per foot installed’, it is clear that you should always include the extra of hiring a gutter contractor and doing the job right.
Gutter Enhancements & Costs
Nothing beats the functionality of a quality gutter that is backed up by a proper enhancement – especially for custom scenarios or specific cases where you need to make most of your gutters. In cases, like these, we have the following enhancements (and costs):
Gutter Prices & Costs
Gutter Cleaning – Wondering how much does it cost to clean gutters? The truth is, this is an important step in protecting your new investment. The best solution to this problem is an enhancement called a gutter cleaner, which costs as little as $25 on Amazon and provides you peace of mind when it comes to your gutters. Professional gutter cleaning as a service, on the other hand, costs anywhere from $100 to $200.
Gutter Guards – Also known as the plastic mesh that prevents leaves and other clutter from blocking your gutters, gutter guards cost approximately $6 (for a piece of 6”x20’).
Wire Mesh Screens – With this enhancement, you can make sure that no pests enter your gutters. They are a cheap solution that provides protection and costs as little as $1 per square foot.
Heat Tape – Heat tapes are a great gutter enhancement for cold regions and weather, as they protect gutters from icing. Featuring cables of tapes, they can be activated with the touch of a button and the water will drain away naturally. The price for heat tape is as little as $77 for 100 feet which makes it a cost-efficient investment.
Downspout Screens – What these things do is redirect potential clogging debris from the downspout opening and leaving only water inside. They cost approximately $8 per piece..
Seamless Gutters: Cost Vs. Popularity
As you probably read before, seamless gutters are a type that is custom-made for your home. As the name itself says, these gutters don’t have seams in the middle of a section – just at the corners. The benefit is obvious – they have fewer potential areas of weakness.
They can be made from aluminum (or copper) and can be customized for a lot of specific needs.
The advantages of seamless gutters are endless. They ensure that the water is carried away from your home, reducing the excessive water infiltration around or into your basement. Also, they can maintain the strength and integrity of the gutter system.
Many people choose seamless gutters because they are made to custom-fit their homes. If you are wondering how much do seamless gutters cost, the average price is $6 per foot (including professional supply and installation).
Gutter Replacements
If you decide to replace your gutters, you should expect to pay $100 to an expert for the removal and disposal of your old ones. This is why many people decide to remove their old gutters by themselves.
However, you should also know that the risk of doing this wrong is big – and that the installer may charge you extra for any replacement work that they are trying to ‘fix’ afterwards. So, usually the best solution is to hire a gutter replacement expert straight away.
The Cost Of Different Types Of Gutter And Downspouts
As you probably know by now, gutters are important because they preserve the foundations and walls of your home – and direct the water to the land. So, gutters prevent flooding and are the best way to secure your home from crumbling or cracking. How much does it cost to install gutters?
There are different types of gutters and downspouts based on their material, including:
Copper Gutters & Downspouts – These range from $40 to $100 per piece and are effective but are mostly chosen because of their great looks. You should however know that copper can change its color over time and can be stolen in some areas because of the metal’s value.
Steel Gutters & Downspouts – These cost anywhere between $11 and $33 per piece and are a great choice if you live in a region with harsh weather conditions. Even though they are durable, the cost is a factor that may discourage most of the homeowners interested in this type.
Aluminum Gutters & Downspouts – With a price of $6 to $12 per piece, aluminum gutters and downspouts are one of the most common materials. Strong, lightweight and easy to install, they offer the best bang for the buck.
Vinyl Gutters & Downspouts – Vinyl goes from $4 to $8 per piece and is a very affordable option – great for typical climates with no extreme hot and cold temperatures.
A Final Word
In the end, one of the main things you should look out for when installing or replacing gutters is the location of your gutters. The truth is, sometimes the gutters are not positioned well because of the house’s design (which is mostly a case in older homes). This is why moving the gutters and downspouts may be sometimes necessary – and times when you may need to repair your siding or repaint your home exterior.
Also, you should know that replacing gutters and downspouts is best done in spring (rather than summer or fall) all in order to prevent further damage caused by rain. By doing this, you can also save some money when getting extra help.
As the best line of defense in your roof, gutters are certainly one of the most important things in your home’s exterior. That is why you should definitely invest in them and go for a type that fits your needs and exceeds your expectations!
Commonly known as a moth, sewer flies or sink flies, drain flies are a genuine 21st-century problem for many homeowners and businesses. Living and breeding in the organic matter inside the drains, these flies are mostly found in kitchens and bathrooms.
Even though they are not harmful and do not transmit any diseases, sewer and drain flies can make everyone feel yucky. Below, we are talking about them in detail, listing how to get rid of drain flies and how to kill drain flies and keep them away from returning.
What Are Drain Flies And What Do They Look Like?
If you are wondering what do drain flies look like, the best way to describe them is as insects that are very small (2mm to 5mm in length), light grey or tan-colored. Their body is short, and their wings are in the shape of a leaf. The fuzzy appearance of drain flies comes from the small hair that is present all around them.
The drain flies love organic resources located in the trash as well as ones that are found near the infested areas and are extremely small. Their live cycle is from 1 to 3 weeks, and the eggs can hatch in 32 to 48 hours, reaching the maturity age in 9 to 14 days.
Do Drain Flies Bite?
Thankfully, drain flies do not bite. They are merely nothing more than a nuisance and an annoying army of insects present in kitchens in bathrooms.
Are Drain Flies Beneficial In Any Way?
Believe it or not, the drain flies are considered as beneficial because their larvae can break down the drain-clogging materials. However, if you are wondering about the damages that they cause – they can contaminate the food (with their filthiness) and intensify bronchial asthma in some people.
Are Drain Flies Hanging Around Fruit, Stale Beer, And Soft Drinks?
No. If you are seeing the moths occupying your fruit, stale beer, soft drinks or any other alimentary products, you are dealing with fruit flies – which is another type of flies that is necessary to get rid of.
Drain flies do not hang around fruit or wardrobe (clothes moth). They only hang around kitchens and bathrooms – or in other words all damp areas with sinks, garbage, and pipes.
‘Flies In My House’ – What Are The Signs Of Drain Flies Infestation?
All areas with nutrient-rich organic materials attract drain flies. Hence, drains, sewers and septic tanks are the perfect habitats and breeding grounds for drain flies – which is where you should look and see the signs of drain flies infestation.
The most common one is the presence of adult drain flies, which hang out near drains or breeding areas. You can learn more about spotting drain flies in the upcoming part.
How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies And Make Them Disappear
Before you decide to get rid of drain flies, you should be sure that they are present in your home or any other area. To do that and learn how to kill drain flies, you should know how to spot the signs of their presence. They include:
Detecting Them With Naked Eye – The first thing is to locate the drain flies with a naked eye – and see if they are precisely the type that you are ‘hunting.’ What you should know here is that there are many similar flies out there – such as fruit flies, house flies, gnats, cluster flies, deer flies, horse flies and blowflies – which is why you need to find a nearby pipe or drain that is probably their breeding source.
Testing The Drains – Another great way to get rid of drain flies is to cover all of your drains outlets and pipes with sticky tape and see how they are getting stuck to the tape every time they get nearby. Even though this is a great way to kill drain flies, it is not a permanent solution that works in the long run. To do this test, you should:
Clean and thoroughly dry the drain areas in your home (kitchen and bathroom).
Since drain flies are most active at night, you should place a piece of clear tape over the drain outlets and pipes with the sticky side facing forwards – but don’t completely cover the drain with tape.
Leave the tape overnight or during the weekend and if you find any flies afterward, you have successfully located the source(s).
Eliminate Drain Flies: Destroying Their Breeding Source
As soon as you identified their breeding source, it’s time to learn how to kill drain flies. To do that, you should first clean your drains from the outside and afterward pour 2-4 liters of warm water that will moisten the drain.
Next, you should use a metal pipe brush and push it through the pipe. While moving it up and down with your gutter cleaning tools, you will also clean the sides of the tube and pull out the grime. Once that is done, you should pour a drain cleaner gel into the sewers and coat the sides of your pipe.
As soon as you apply the drain cleaning gel, it’s time to pour plenty of water again and use a plunger to flush the organic matter trapped in your pipes.
Now, Time To Finally Get Rid Of Drain Flies…
If you did everything right (as described above), you have successfully removed the drain fly eggs and larvae. The only flies left are the adult drain flies. Since they have no place to lay eggs at this point, you should kill them and get rid of drain flies once and for all.
To do that, you should use:
Chemical sprays – perfect for killing mature drain flies but toxic for use in the kitchen.
Fly swatters – these work mechanically and can do a good job, even though they leave a bloody mess from the walls.
Liquid dish soap sprays – these soaps contain borax which has insecticidal properties and should be used in an empty spray bottle and sprayed onto drain flies (5-7 drops and 2 cups of warm water inside the bottle).
Drain flies traps – If your kitchen is infested, you need to take a bowl and fill it with an equal amount of sugar, water, and white vinegar, adding 5-10 drops of dish soap. Leave the bowl overnight beside your sink to attract and kill the drain flies.
How To Get Rid of Drain Flies From Returning In Your Kitchen Or Bathroom?
As soon as you have learned how to kill drain flies, it’s time to learn how to prevent the same problem from happening again. The truth is, many homeowners succeed in getting rid of drain flies periodically – but not when it comes to preventing them from coming back.
The best method in cases like these is to:
Always keep your drains clean and free of clogs
Make sure that there is no stagnant water in your bathroom/kitchen
Use an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) in your pipes on occasions to prevent the drain fly eggs from breaking out the larvae stage
To prevent future drain fly infestations, you should repeat these processes and always make sure that your drains are clean.
Getting Rid of Drain Flies A Final Word
In the end, the best thing about drain flies is the fact that they don’t bite – or pose a significant threat to our health. Also, there is very little evidence to back up the fact that they spread bacteria and disease.
However, no homeowner is comfortable with having drain flies inside the kitchen and bathroom. The little insects are annoying and create a feeling of a dirty kitchen or bathroom. So, if you merely want to get rid of them with pesticides, that is not possible.
Luckily, there are tons of products that can help you kill drain flies such as fly extermination products, organic gels, fly-freezing sprays, septic tank treatment agents, and foams.
Still…
One of the best-case scenarios is to hire a pest control company – or exterminator – that is specialized in dealing with drain flies – and one that can help you kill them and prevent them from coming in the future through a simple pest control audit.
Good luck!
Enjoy this post how to get rid of drain flies? Take a look at one of our recent article about gutter prices.
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