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Installing gutters can be a difficult process, and installation can be expensive. This article, however, can help guide you through the various options, letting youContinue ReadingEverything you need to know about Rain Gutters for Builders

The post Everything you need to know about Rain Gutters for Builders appeared first on Rain Gutter Pros.

Gutters are designed not just to decorate the edges of your roof but to carry water away so it doesn’t erode the soil around your foundation. When they become clogged with leaves or storm debris instead, they fail at this and tend to dump water right where you don’t want it. Gutter guards go a long way in helping gutters perform properly. However, you’ll still need to occasionally clean the gutters and the guards covering them.

The Benefits of Gutter Guards

Gutter guards are advanced covers designed to greatly reduce the amount of debris entering your gutters. Depending on the type of guard you choose, it should stop materials like:

• Falling leaves
• Pine needles
• Broken bits of shingles
• Twigs and branches
• Seed pods and pine cones.

However, the exact type of guard determines what exactly it will stop. Even the best gutter guard can’t entirely stop small particles from entering the gutters. This results in the need for occasional cleaning, although it will be far less often than without guards in place. The reduction in gutter cleaning to just once or twice a year is well worth the investment in these gutter guards.

Why Clean After Getting Guards?

You install gutter guards in the first place to reduce the chances of a clog that could lead to water overflowing along the edge of the roof. If you don’t clean the gutters occasionally to remove the small amount of debris that makes it past the guard, you’ll still end up with clogged gutters eventually. The reduction in the frequency of gutter cleaning is also matched by a drop in cleaning difficulty, but you’ll still need to make time for it at least once a year. This also allows you to check the guards and ensure they’re still properly attached.

Deciding When to Clean Gutters

Consider how often you had to clean your gutters before installing guards. In most cases, it’s best to clean the gutters at least once every three months to keep debris under control. Once gutter guards are in place, you’ll likely only need to clean once a year instead. Consider what most commonly fills your gutters to determine when to schedule the cleaning. If you primarily deal with leaves and other tree debris that drops in the fall, aim to clean the gutters at the end of autumn. For areas where spring storms tend to fill the gutter with debris instead, make sure to plan an early spring cleaning to get them ready. Have the gutters inspected and cleaned any time there are signs of a leak or clog, such as water overflowing from the edge of the gutter.

Trees and Gutter Guards

If you live on a heavily wooded property and have mature trees around the home for shade in the summer, you may have to clean your gutters more often than once a year even with gutter guards in place. It all depends on the specific trees around your gutters and what kind of weather occurs over the course of the year. However, it’s still a good idea to use gutter guards under mature shade trees since they’ll block the majority of falling leaves and other debris. You’ll still see a reduction in total cleaning and reduced chances of damage to the gutters by installing the right guards.

Cleaning the Gutter Guards Themselves

The gutter guards themselves can become clogged with debris over time. This is particularly likely to happen if your roof is shedding particles or you have a lot of fine debris like small pine needles falling on the roof. Cleaning the gutter guards at least once a year, preferably after the bulk of the fall leaves have dropped, will ensure the best gutter protection. A clean gutter guard allows water to flow through and into the gutter, while a blocked or dirty guard will send it over the edge and onto the ground near the foundation. Keeping the gutter guards clean is as important as unclogging the gutters.

How the Type of Gutter Guard Affects How Often You Clean

Some gutter guards are more prone to get blocked up than others. Foam inserts can become clogged with everything from particles off of asphalt shingles to pine needles that mat together. Mesh and slatted guards are less likely to get clogged, but they still need cleaning one to two times per year. Check with the manufacturer to find out if your gutter guards lift up easily for manual cleaning. If they’re permanently attached, you’ll want to invest in professional cleaning of your gutters rather than trying to handle them yourself.

Cleaning Other Parts of the Gutter System

It’s not just the gutters and the guards that need routine cleaning and inspections. Don’t forget about the downspouts and any drainage pipes that connect to them. Clogs in the drainage part of the gutter system can lead to water issues and backups all the way to the roof. Use a simple hose test to verify water is still flowing properly any time you’re already up there to check the gutter guards or clean out the gutters.

You may still need to clean your gutters after getting gutter guards, but you’ll enjoy doing it far less often. It’s also easier to clean gutters with guards in many cases due to the reduced accumulation of debris. Choose K-Guard for gutter protection you can trust.

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

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In the grand scheme of home maintenance, it may be easy to overlook gutter cleaning. However, doing so could jeopardize the structural integrity of your entire house.

The team at Superior Pressure Washing has a no-fuss approach to gutter cleaning that ensures you never have to worry about clearing them out yourself. Here are a few reasons why you should not neglect your gutters.

Small creatures love a clogged gutter. When leaves or other debris build up, the blockage provides creatures like squirrels, rodents, birds, ants, and other small animals a place to nest and hide from predators.

These pests can be damaging as they can gnaw through the materials of your home or even spread disease if they come in contact with members of your home.

A blocked gutter with an excess of debris could also mean that your roof’s drainage system cannot do its job. If the pipe is clogged, water cannot flow as it should and can gather in unwanted places. If it begins to pool around your house, you risk the foundation and integrity of your home.

Foundation damage is dangerous and usually requires expensive repairs. It’s best to nip this in the bud by regularly cleaning your gutters.

Mold and mildew may begin to grow on your gutters. A gutter cleaning from Superior Pressure Washing can help eliminate this and reduce your chance of mold-related breathing risks and health hazards.

Overall, it’s important to note that gutter maintenance costs can begin to add up. The worse your gutters get, the more expensive it may be to clean them up or even repair them. The damage to other areas of the house can be even more costly.

If it’s been a while since your last gutter cleaning, reach out to Superior Pressure Washing for a free estimate. We look forward to serving you!

This post first appeared on https://www.superiorwash.net/

The post How to Take Care of Your Gutters This Winter appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Santa won’t be the only thing up on the ho-ho-housetop this winter. Living in the Midwest, you are likely all too familiar with the snowy and icy conditions that come with the winter season. With an average of 18.6” of snowfall each winter, the colder months in St. Louis and surrounding areas are no joke. Generally, when gutter damage is discussed in the winter, most people are talking about…

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

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As we prepare for the winter, it’s important to keep an eye on your gutters. As we’ve discussed- heavy buildup of leaves, debris, and even snow and ice can cause damage to your roof and home.

Gutters aren’t high priority for most people (even though they should be!), especially in the winter. However, leaving snow or ice in your gutters is a recipe for disaster.

To begin it helps to go into the winter with clean gutters- check out our tips on that here!

Snow

If you’ve shoveled, you know that snow can get heavy. This weight can seriously strain your gutters- which may result in them pulling away from your home.

Ice

We’re no strangers to winters here in Northern New Jersey. We’re all too familiar with those dreaded times where the snow slightly melts, then freezes overnight, turning into a large hunk of immovable snow-ice.

Ice buildup is not only heavy- but it can clog your gutters, meaning that water cannot pass through.

Some Tips

An effective way to quickly get rid of ice would be putting salt- the same salt you use on your driveway- on your gutters. Keep an eye on melting ice, and if some of it can safely be removed (not yanked!) it’s recommended.

Similar with now- salt will work! Another option is to go up and scoop snow out periodically!

Note: small amounts of hot water might work- but use with caution as it could refreeze!

However, sometimes the weather is too bad to get up to our gutters, or it slips our mind. If you notice that after a snowstorm your gutters are sagging, leaking, or pulling away from your home, it is time to give Bell Seamless Gutters a call. Our gutters are in one smooth piece to custom fit your home. Our seamless gutters don’t clog, allowing up to 50% more water flow, and come in a wide range of color options.

We have more than 60 years of industry experience and can identify issues, repair issues, and replace and upgrade your old gutters to our top-of-the-line seamless gutters. We also offer gutter guards, which add an extra level of protection!

We also have additional specialties, different color options, and offer rainwater collection services!

To find out more or inquire about our services, visit us online or call us at 1-800-597-1616.

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