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Homeowners who live in areas with harsh winter climates are well aware of how hard winter ice and snow can be on roofs and gutters. On many homes, the signs are all there: the roof covered in snow, icicles hanging from the sides of the house and ice dams forming in the gutters and at the edge of the roof. Many people don’t realize that icicles and ice dams are two of the most obvious signs of danger ahead for a roof. 

What Are Ice Dams?

The phenomenon known as an ice dam is a buildup of ice which can occur in the gutters or along the eaves of a roof. Ice dams form when a warm roof (the result of an under-insulated attic) causes ice and snow to melt. The resulting snowmelt travels down to the edges of the roof, where it’s naturally colder, and refreezes. When this occurs, any additional moisture will back up behind the ice dam, an occurrence that often results in water seeping under the shingles. This water can then leak into the house through the ceilings and walls, and will eventually cause rot and lead to the formation of mold.

How to Prevent Ice Dams From Forming

It’s important to know how to prevent ice dams to keep moisture from entering your house. Here are four ways to do this. 

• Don’t let snow linger on your roof. It’s fairly easy to remove snow from your roof. This can be done using a snow rake, which doesn’t require the use of a ladder. Since snow is the primary element in the formation of ice dams, ensuring its removal will prevent them from forming. 
• Add more insulation. Heat travels to the roof in one of two ways: either by convection through the top surface of insulation or conduction through the slanted part of the ceiling. By adding more insulation in the attic, the temperatures in the different areas of the attic will remain more stable, which will reduce heat loss through convection and conduction.
• Find and seal air leaks. The other main factor that causes snow to melt and ice dams to form is the heat that escapes through gaps and slits inside the house. If the warmth isn’t able to reach your roof, the snow won’t melt and the process that leads to the formation of ice dams will be arrested. The common fixes used to stop air leaks are weatherstripping and caulking. Seal any gaps you find in the ceiling to stop warm, moist air from rising to the attic and causing the snow on the roof to melt.
• Consider installing gutter covers. Unless you have heated gutters, ice can easily build up inside of them. Icicles can form as well which, if allowed to remain, can cause your gutters to pull away from the exterior or even be torn completely off. One way to prevent this is by installing Gutter Helmet® gutter covers, widely regarded as the best gutter covers around. They can be installed on existing gutters and will help keep ice dams from forming in them.

Protect Your Home From Ice Dams

To learn more about this high-quality product and how our gutter covers can help protect your home from the threat of ice dams, give Gutter Helmet a call today at (800) 824-3772 or contact us online.

The post 4 Ways to Stop Ice Dams From Forming appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Buying a new home is an exciting time—especially if you’re a first-time buyer—but you’ll quickly realize that there’s a lot that goes into homeownership. From the basement to the roof, you’ll need to be well versed in every aspect of your new house.

One thing that can’t be overlooked is your gutters. Though they’re small and not always easily seen, they play a vital role in keeping your property safe.

We put together this ultimate homeowner’s guide for gutters, so you’ll never be in the dark when it comes to your gutters.

Why are gutters important?

Your gutters protect nearly every aspect of your home by directing rainwater off your roof and safely to the ground, away from your foundation. Without them, your roof can leak, your siding can get damaged and you could experience foundation troubles.

The different gutter materials

Much like siding and roofing, you have quite a few choices with your gutter materials. These are a few of the most common types:

• Aluminum: Lightweight yet durable, aluminum is one of the top gutter choices. It’s also an inexpensive material; however, thin aluminum can be prone to dents and other types of damage.
• Copper: If you’d like your house to stand out, copper gutters are a good choice. These are extremely weather resistant, but they do cost the most out of others on the list.
• Steel: Another durable material choice is steel. They won’t dent or crack, but steel gutters can get rusty over time.
• Vinyl: Our homeowner’s guide for gutters wouldn’t be complete without vinyl. These are the least durable type (so we don’t recommend them) but they are the cheapest option.

Maintaining your gutters

Simply installing gutters isn’t enough to guard your property against water damage—you also need to ensure they’re in good shape. Here’s what to know about gutters when it comes to maintenance:

• Install gutter guards: Our top piece of advice for new homeowners is to put gutter guards on your new gutters. These block leaves, twigs and other debris from falling in the gutters, reducing the need for as much maintenance down the road.
• Clean them: Clogged gutters are ineffective at directing water away from your house, so they need to be cleaned twice a year. Even if you’ve installed gutter guards, it’s not a bad idea to get up on the roof and make sure there aren’t any blockages.
• Inspect and repair them: Check for any cracks or holes while you’re cleaning out your gutters. Any gutter damage also makes them ineffective, so the repairs need to be made right away. While you may be able to make some minor repairs on your own, we recommend bringing in a professional to take care of it.

We can handle all of your gutter work

The final thing in our guide of what to know about gutters is who to call for all of your gutter work—and the answer is L & S Seamless Guttering. We do everything from gutter and gutter guard installation to repairs and maintenance. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

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

Los Angeles Water Restrictions & Conservation Tips Made By Rain Gutter Pros Inc

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Are you ready for the holidays? There’s so much to do to get prepped for this season, especially after a year-plus of being stuck inside! This might be the first time in a long time in which you’re welcoming friends and family back into your home to enjoy each other’s company.

Right along with preparing a delicious meal and picking out the presents for aunts and uncles, it’s essential to get your home looking its best for the season. The best way to do that? With the professional cleaning services of Superior Pressure Washing. 

How Superior Pressure Washing Can Help with Your Holidays  

If you’re in the greater Gaithersburg, Maryland area, turn to the experienced professionals at Superior Pressure Washing for all of the cleaning services you’ll need for this holiday season. Here’s are some highlights of what we can provide:

• House washing. Is your exterior in need of a refresh after a long, weather-beaten East Coast summer? With the skills of Superior Pressure Washing, we can get your home looking as good as new (and ready for company).
• Roof cleaning. Your roof is one of the more prominent features in your home. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the features most in danger of the effects of dirt, grime, and more! With Superior Pressure Washing, we’ll restore your roof’s essential “curb appeal” and help secure this vital part of your house.
• Gutter cleaning. Don’t forget about your gutters! Without proper maintenance, gutter damage can have a catastrophic effect on the rest of your home. Let us get your gutters in proper working order!

Get Started with Superior Pressure Washing

Don’t wait around to book your appointment with Superior Pressure Washing this holiday season! Our appointment books are filling up quickly. Let us help you get your home in the best shape possible for the holidays! Schedule your appointment here!

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

Technology has certainly changed the home improvement area with things like enhanced security, smart home features, and more. One of those changes surprisingly comes with your gutters. You can not get heated gutters to prevent ice buildup and heavy snow from weighing them down. But is that additional expense really worth it? While it’s not quite as intense as a heated driveway it serves the same…

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

In many areas of the country, with winter comes damaging ice and snow. If you neglect to clean out your gutters before winter arrives, these elements can do a number on even the best gutter systems. Because your gutter system’s job is to funnel rainwater and snowmelt away from your roof and down to the ground, gutter clogs due to a lack of maintenance can lead to a lot of problems.

Important Benefits of Fall Gutter Cleaning

In this post, we outline some of the benefits of making sure your gutters are properly maintained.

• It helps prevent water damage. If your gutters are full of debris, water won’t be able to move freely through them. This can result in them overflowing, causing damage to the side of your house as well as your landscaping and foundation. Water problems brought about by overflowing gutters can also cause your roof to deteriorate much faster than it would have otherwise. Excess moisture on your roof will lead to mold and mildew growth, as well, which can not only damage your roof but lead to health hazards too. 

• It stops ice dams from forming. While icicles hanging off your gutters may look pretty, they’re actually an indicator of the presence of a dangerous ice dam. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of the roof, often due to gutter obstructions that prevent water from draining off the roof and away from the house. Ice dams will cause water to back up and seep under your shingles and into your house. The weight of the ice and icicles can also cause your gutters to warp and sag.

• It keeps pests away. While cold winter weather will help get rid of some pests, such as certain insects, there are still plenty that are active in the winter. And although clean gutters won’t keep all pests away, it will help prevent small animals from nesting in your gutters and eventually moving into your home in search of a warm, dry place to spend the winter. 

Get Into the Habit of Year-Round Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance

By keeping your gutters clean year-round, you’ll be able to avoid many of the negative effects of clogged gutters, and maintaining them regularly will help them last longer. Gutter cleaning is a dirty, tiresome and often dangerous task, however. For this reason, we invite you to talk to our team at Gutter Helmet and find out more about the advantages of our top-of-the-line gutter shield, the main one being that you’d never have to clean your gutters again! To find out more about our exceptional gutter protection system, give us a call at (800) 824-3772 or submit our online contact form.

The post Why You Should Clean Your Gutters Before Snow Falls appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Gutter cleaning is usually at the bottom of the list for homeowners when it comes to fall maintenance. Although dirty and sometimes dangerous, this task shouldn’t be avoided for long, as wet fall weather can lead to major problems such as gutter clogs and flooding, which can damage both your home and your landscaping. When cleaning your gutters, be sure to avoid the following mistakes:

• Not using the proper tools. In order to clean your gutters thoroughly, you need to be sure you’re using the right tools. Don’t cut corners by trying to use equipment like a shop vac or a leaf blower to clean the debris out of your gutters. Sure, this may save a little time initially but, ultimately, you’ll just end up redirecting the debris to your roof or some other area of your property that will eventually have to be cleaned up as well. Instead, all you need is a few simple tools and pieces of equipment: gloves, closed-toe shoes, gutter scoops and a safe, sturdy ladder.

• Going the DIY route. While gutter cleaning is an easy-enough task that many homeowners are capable of doing on their own, whether it’s done safely is another matter. Gutter cleaning can be quite hazardous if you’re not careful. Avoid standing or sitting on your roof while working on cleaning out your gutters as the surface is unstable, and you also run the risk of damaging your roofing. In addition, don’t get on a ladder unless someone is around to hold it steady for you. Overall, you’re much better off hiring someone to take care of your gutter cleaning needs. Just be sure to hire a competent, experienced company with a good reputation that can do the job credibly.

• Skipping cleanings. Another mistake homeowners tend to make is not having their gutters cleaned out as often as they should. Gutter cleaning should be done at least twice a year: once in the spring to remove tree pods and other debris, and once in the fall to take care of any leaves that have built up in the gutters. These seasons are preferred for another reason: the weather tends to be nicer. If you don’t remember when your gutters were last cleaned but you know that it’s been at least six months, don’t delay. Schedule your next gutter cleaning ASAP to avoid flooding due to clogged gutters and the resulting damage to your home. 

Invest in Gutter Helmet®

Though you probably already feel that your fall maintenance list is long enough, you need to make sure that gutter cleaning is on your to-do list – preferably near the top. If you previously invested in Gutter Helmet® gutter guards, feel free to give us a call at (800) 824-3772 or submit our online contact form to learn how to clean gutters with gutter guards. If you’re still indecisive about getting a gutter protection system, check out our website for some of the best gutter guard reviews!

The post 3 Key Gutter Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Because they protect homes from damaging rainwater, gutters are possibly the most essential component of a house. While gutters can last for decades with some yearly maintenance, there’s still a possibility of failure. Thankfully, knowing when your gutters are failing isn’t a guessing game.

This post will cover the top signs of a gutter needing inspection and subsequent repairs.

Cracks or holes

The most obvious sign that it’s time for a professional gutter inspection and repairs is if you spot cracks, holes or any other flaws in your gutters. You may be able to spot the damage from the ground if it’s bad enough, but most of the time, you won’t notice it until you’re up on the roof cleaning them out. For that reason, you should make a habit of cleaning your gutters each spring and fall.

Sagging

Your gutters may start to sag or pull away from your home as they get older and more worn. We often see this when gutters go for too long without being cleaned and start to accumulate tons of debris. As you can imagine, gutters can’t do their job if they’re not flush against your roof. You might be able to reattach your gutters on your own, but we recommend hiring a professional to ensure the job is done right.

Nails or screws on the ground

Gutters are typically attached to your roof with nails or screws. If these fasteners fall out, your gutters will eventually come down with them. Check the area around your foundation for any fallen nails or screws. If you spot any, it’s a sign of a gutter needing inspection. This issue typically goes hand in hand with sagging or aging gutters.

Overflowing gutters

Water should ideally flow off your roof, into the gutters and then harmlessly onto the ground away from your home. But as they accumulate more debris, the water can start to overflow from the sides of the gutters before it makes its way to the ground. Keep in mind that this can occur even with clean gutters during heavy storms, but if it’s a regular occurrence, it’s time to call a gutter repair specialist.

Plant growth or animals

The leaves and twigs in dirty gutters make a perfect nesting spot for mice, rats, racoons, birds and even bugs. Seeds that fall into unclean gutters can even take root and start to grow! Any animal nests or plant growth are reasons for gutter inspection. Your specialist can clean all that debris and make any repairs to ensure your gutters are clean and fully functional throughout the year.

Do your gutters need some attention?

If you’ve noticed any of these reasons for gutter inspection, it’s time to call our team at L & S Seamless Guttering to perform a full inspection and make any necessary gutter repairs. Along with taking care of repairs, we can install new gutters if yours are significantly damaged. Get in touch with our friendly team today to schedule a consultation and get your estimate.

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

Many property owners are under the assumption that they’ll only need to worry about their gutters during the spring, summer and fall months. After all, that’s the only time it’s going to rain, right?

While that may be true as it pertains to rain, winters present new elements that gutters will need to be able to handle: snow and ice. Noting this, gutters need their fair share of maintenance both in preparing for the cold weather and throughout the season as well.

In this post, we’ll discuss three things that you should be doing to properly care for your gutters this winter. Taking some steps during the fall months before cold weather sets in can help ensure that your gutters are working well when they need to this winter season. 

1. Properly Prep Them for Winter Weather

Proper care and maintenance of your gutters during the winter months starts with prepping them right before the cold weather months set in. There’s a laundry list of things that you should be doing before winter to ensure that your gutters continue to do their job for when temperatures plunge and the snow begins to fall. Here’s a look at some of what should be on your to-do list in late fall:

• Clean out gutters and downspouts: Gutters are often clogged by leaves and other debris. And when they are, it can greatly impact water flow and disrupt proper drainage. It’s suggested that property owners clean out their gutters at least twice a year, and one of these cleanings should occur during the fall months. If rain and ice melt off the roof isn’t allowed to drain properly during the winter, it’s likely to freeze within the gutters, adding more weight to them and potentially causing them to pull away from the roof line or sag. Poorly draining gutters can also lead to ice dams, which we’ll cover more of in the next section.
• Inspect them for leaks: This is a good thing to do periodically throughout the year, but especially before winter weather sets in. The next time it rains, grab an umbrella and walk the perimeter of your home. Look for leaks in the gutter system, especially around where gutters meet downspouts. Make sure to address these leaks accordingly to minimize the risk of foundation degradation and water intrusion.
• Address your landscaping: If you have any trees or landscaping growing near your gutters, you’ll want to take out your trimmer and make sure that any branches are cut back enough to avoid contact with them. High winds in winter often cause branches and limbs to scratch up anything that they come into contact with, and it could lead to damage to your gutters.

2. Be Wary of Ice Dams

Ice dams form when snow melt runs off the roof toward the gutters only to refreeze after the water comes into contact with the gutters. This can prevent water runoff from draining properly and, if ice dams become too significant, can also lead to water seeping through the roof and into the attic or other areas of the home. This, in turn, can lead to some costly water damage restoration.

There are many ways to prevent ice dams from forming, and while some of these methods include ensuring that your attic is properly insulated, we’re going to focus on gutters specifically in this post. Like we said in the above section, you’ll want to make sure that your gutters are free of leaves and debris so that snow melt can properly drain.

Secondly, you may even want to invest in a special roof rake to use this winter. Roof rakes are long-handled, specially designed rakes that will not damage the roof. Property owners can use them following snowfall to rake a few feet of snow off the roof near where the roof line meets the gutters. This will ensure that water can drain more freely and minimize the potential for refreezing. Roof rakes can also be used to break up ice dams if they form.

3. Don’t Forget About Your Downspouts

The downspouts are the parts of the gutters that actually distribute the water runoff away from your home. Ideally, they should be discharging water several feet away from your property, and the areas where they are should be sloped away from the house (and not toward it) to avoid puddling or pooling around the foundation.

Fall is the time to check your downspouts to make sure they’re in good shape and discharging water accordingly. It’s also a good time to make any grading adjustments if the soil is sloping toward your home and not away from it. When the weather begins to get colder, the ground will also harden, making it more difficult to perform any grading.

Contact K-Guard Today

For more information on how to care for and maintain your gutters this winter, contact K-Guard today.

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

Nothing is worse than trying to be sold extras or add ons in an industry that you aren’t familiar with. It’s like when you go to a car mechanic and you aren’t sure whether you really need to upgrade your oil for the car or add on a new vent. The same can be said for gutter guards and whether they are necessary or not. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of gutter guards so that we can figure out whether…

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