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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Barrels, Gutters Posted on

What’s New in the Gutter Biz?

rain chain

Have you toured any model homes lately? If you look closely you may notice a couple of new exterior items as you approach the house. Some builders now include a rain chain near the front door because it’s more aesthetically appealing than a downspout. In addition, you may spot a rain barrel on the property. Many home owners are concerned about water conservation and they realize that it’s beneficial to water plants with rainwater instead of tap water.

Alloy Gutter Company often gets calls asking if we install both rain chains and rain barrels...YES we do! There are many different styles of rain chains and rain barrels available. For this reason, we ask that you provide the materials. As long as you have these items on site we will be happy to hook them up for you as part of your gutter installation. You can also have us add them to your existing gutter system.

Alloy Gutter Company can take care of any of your gutter needs including minor repairs, complete gutter installations and adding the extras like rain chains and rain barrels...make us your first call to install it all!


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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Gutter Repair, Gutters Posted on

The Price You’ll Pay For Leaking Gutters

leaking-gutter

Who enjoys spending money on gutters? Not me. I would much rather spend money on the “fun stuff” for my house; things that people will actually notice and compliment me on.  However, new gutters are not as expensive as most people think and you don’t want to spend a much larger amount on repairing a water damaged home.

I was watching a home remodeling show where the homeowners had ignored an overflowing gutter. As a result, their basement started to develop a musty smell that they chose to ignore. The brick and trim on the home’s exterior started turning green from moss growth. The water pouring down along the foundation of their house was causing more damage with every rainfall.

A few years later they decided to remodel their basement. Once demolition was underway their contractor found several unwelcome surprises. The cement block basement wall was ruined in several spots and the front porch brickwork needed extensive repairs. This was the result of ignoring an overflowing gutter.

The time had now come to pay the price for the deferred maintenance. It was going to cost several thousand dollars to fix the water damaged areas. They were told that these repairs had to be completed before any other work could be done.  Of course these dollars were not in the budget and the scope of work for the basement remodeling project had to change.

Don’t let this unpleasant surprise happen to you. Make sure your gutters are working properly so that your largest investment is protected. At Alloy Gutter Company we are experts at preventing costly water damage. We can install new gutters or even repair your existing gutters. Call Alloy Gutter Company for a free estimate and be assured that costly water damage issues are not in your future.


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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Gutter Blog, Gutters Posted on

Are Dirty Gutters Bugging You?

dirty gutters

Few events in life are more exciting than the purchase of your first home. It’s so much fun to dream about all the improvements you’ll be making to create your own special place. Picking out pretty flowers and other landscaping upgrades are usually placed at the top of the new homeowner’s priority list.  However, once they have the keys in hand, most homeowners learn that there are some maintenance issues that must be given immediate attention.

It was a beautiful summer evening and we were looking forward to some relaxation time out on the new patio. What a treat after spending the day cutting grass and weeding the flower beds. Lawn furniture was arranged and cool drinks were carried outside. The first minute or two was peaceful and then I felt the first bite.  Within the next couple of minutes we were swarmed by mosquitoes! This was certainly not the backyard retreat I had envisioned.

As we ran for shelter I wondered where all the pests were coming from. This issue had to be dealt with immediately.  The next morning we checked the gutters and they were full of debris and standing water. The perfect environment for mosquito breeding! However, the pests were quickly flushed away by cleaning out those dirty gutters. And so this story has the happy ending of two new homeowners with clean gutters, no mosquitoes and relaxing nights on their new patio!

Don’t let dirty gutters ruin your spring and summer nights. Be sure to put gutter cleaning at the top of your to-do list. A quick call to Alloy Gutter Company is all it takes to get those gutters cleaned. Don’t experience the aggravation of being bugged by your gutters!


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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Gutter Installation, Gutter Replacement, Gutters Posted on

For Great Curb Appeal – Start at the Top of Your House

roofing

Every spring we see advertisements that encourage us to freshen up the exteriors of our homes.  It’s so easy to get excited about adding beautiful flowering plants and fresh mulch to our landscapes. Everyone wants their home to have great curb appeal.  However, few people realize how important gutters are to maintaining the curb appeal of their homes.

seamlessgutter

Spring showers are great for greening up your landscape but if your gutters are leaking, those beautiful foundation plantings are taking a beating.  Make sure you look up during those rain showers to be sure your gutters are not overflowing and are draining the rain water away from your home’s foundation.   Stop any water erosion by having your gutters cleaned, repaired or replaced.

Gardening is hard work and we want our efforts to pay off for many years to come. Don’t let the rain wash away all your hard labor.  I have learned this lesson the hard way; one of my spring projects is to add soil and grass seed to an area where the soil eroded due to an overflowing gutter. Don’t let this happen to you.


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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Alloy Gutter Posted on

Looking for a Seamless Gutter Subcontractor / Installer for This Season?

seamlessgutter

Alloy Gutter Company is the seamless gutter and leaf protection subcontractor for you! Alloy Gutter is built on long-standing relationships with contractors. When we are on your jobs, we are representing your company. If we generate any leads while on your jobsites, we turn them in back to your company.

Why else should you use Alloy Gutter?

  1. Been in business since 1976 – that means you KNOW we’re good!
  2. Same-day/next-day installations on seamless gutter and leaf protection installations*
  3. Expertly trained installers
  4. Over 30 colors in stock
  5. Fully staffed office to assist you, Monday – Friday, 6am – 5pm
  6. Push-Button Easy – Call, Fax, or Email Jobs 24/7
  7. Large Service Area – We Service from Flint down to the MI/OH border and from Lake Erie to Lake Michigan!

With the harsh winter we've had here in Michigan, we are anticipating that many homeowners will find a lot of problems on their homes’ exteriors as the weather continues to break. People are starting to  go outside to inspect their homes. Alloy Gutter is equipped to keep up with the amount of work-flow that this type of winter generates.  Let Alloy Gutter take care of all of your seamless gutter installations this year!

*Some restrictions apply. SE MI only*

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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Spring Posted on

Spring Is Here…Now What?

spring

We have had a long, cold, snowy winter, but hopefully that is all behind us and we can look forward to spending some time outside and enjoying the spring weather. Now is also the time to get outside and inspect the havoc that was wreaked on your home during the snowy, icy winter.

We nearly set a record in Metro Detroit this season, receiving over 76 inches of snow this winter (while our average is only 44 inches!) Grand Rapids, Michigan also experienced a much snowier winter than usual, receiving over 101 inches of snow this season (while their average snow fall is around 60 inches). Given the crazy amount of snow this year, it makes sense that our homes may need a little more exterior upkeep this spring – as snow and ice are hard on roofs and gutters.

Many home inspection experts will encourage you to get outside and check for any loose or hanging gutters. We had an extensive amount of calls this winter for ice & snow dam issues, which could very possibly have resulted in damage to gutters and downspouts. It is very important to get those issues fixed as soon as possible. When the “April Showers” arrive, you want your home to have proper water management, keeping water away from your home’s foundation and protecting your landscaping.


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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Gutters, Icicles Posted on

What’s The Deal With Ice In My Gutter System?

frozen-niagara

Have you seen the pictures on the news of fountains that have frozen mid-flow? How about Niagara Falls freezing over?

Are you wondering how your gutters or downspouts can be frozen? Think about it this way. If something that is draining straight down can freeze (i.e. Niagara Falls), can you see how water can freeze in your gutters and downspouts? It is the same concept.

“But there’s not any ice on my roof!” Even if there does not appear to be any ice on your roof, there can still be ice in your gutters and downspouts. If you feel like your downspouts are not draining correctly, a good way to tell if there is ice in your downspout is by tapping on the downspout and listening to hear if it sounds like it is solid or if it has a hollow sound.

Thanks to the Polar Vortex and the sub-zero temperatures, we receive many calls about gutters overflowing. The reason for this appearance of overflow is because even if you can’t see it, there is a good chance your gutters are filled with ice.  Anything that comes on top of your ice-filled gutters would appear to be overflowing, but really there is just not any more room in your already-full gutters. It would be similar to having a full cup of coffee and then trying to pour more into it. There isn't any room for the new coffee, so the cup would overflow.

gutters-ice-dam

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done about the frozen gutters & downspouts until the temperatures rise, and we have a good, old-fashioned thaw. At this point, your gutters and downspouts should start draining properly, and the melted ice (water) should flow out of your downspouts per usual. If, after a thaw, your gutters & downspouts are still not draining properly, then it would be time to have your gutters & downspouts inspected and cleaned out of any non-ice related debris (i.e. – leaves, twigs, miscellaneous debris that was not cleaned out in the fall before the snow and ice).

We hope that this information lends more insight into what is really going on in your gutters during the winter. Stay warm!


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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Roof Raking Posted on

“Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful….” And So Is All Of The Snow On Your Roof!

There are several reasons why the snow on your roof can be dangerous to your home. It may look pretty and seem like something that you can’t avoid, but here are some reasons that you should do something about the snow on your roof.
  • The more snow we get, the heavier it becomes on your roof. 2 words – cave in! Snow can actually cause your roof to cave in.
  • Snow can result in roof leaks. Nobody wants a leaky roof over the holidays!
  • Ice, snow, and water can cause your roof to warp and rot. We all know roofs are not cheap to replace, so it is important to keep the one you have in good condition.
  • Wintery precipitation left on your roof can cause stains.
Alloy Gutter Company offers snow removal from roofs. We also apply calcium chloride to aid melting and prevent the future accumulation of more snow and ice.

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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Gutter Blog Posted on

Prepare Your House For The Holidays – From The Outside In!

Now is the time of year that everyone is thinking about upcoming festivities and decorating for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other various winter holidays. It is also the time of year that homeowners should be buttoning up winter projects and preparing their homes for the long, cold, snowy, winter months (especially in a state like Michigan!) One thing that you should be sure to do is clean out your gutters. You can do this yourself or hire a professional, like Alloy Gutter Company, to do the work for you. Gutter cleaning is important because leaves and debris become heavier and heavier as they soak up water and eventually turn to ice. This can cause your gutters to pull away from your home, which is a whole new problem. So be sure to get your gutters cleaned while there is still time! Now is also a good time to install leaf protection on your gutters. All three styles of leaf protection that we offer can be installed on new or existing gutter systems. When we install leaf protection, we also take the time to clean out your gutters and downspouts. Leaf protection is the gift that keeps on giving – making your future seamless gutter maintenance much more manageable! Let your mind be at ease this winter knowing that you took the proper precautions in caring for your greatest investment – your home!

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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Leaf Protection Posted on

Leaf Protection: Protect Your Gutters

RobB1 Does leaf protection really matter?
  • Gutters are the first line of defense against water leaking into your home.
  • If your gutters are clogged with debris, water is probably not draining away from your home properly.
  • If water is not draining properly, it can collect along your foundation, possibly leading to dreaded basement leaks.
  • The weight of water and debris sitting in your gutters can cause your gutters to pull away from your home.
  • Clogged and dirty gutters can promote ice dams in the winter, which are particularly dangerous and can lead to your gutters falling off your house completely due to the weight of the ice.
  • Gutters that are full of debris and mucky water can attract nasty vermin – including carpenter ants, mosquitoes, and other rodents.  Once these critters make it into your gutters, their next stop would be inside your house!
Our solution: Leaf Protection! We offer 3 types of leaf protection. Strainer style is our most popular style, as it sits flush in the gutter and is not visible from the ground. Many of our own employees, including our owner, have this product on their homes! It is a great seller. Shelter style is another popular leaf protection that we offer. The way it works is that leaves, debris, and twigs will land on top of the system and are blown off by the wind. Rainwater will flow down your roof into the “patent-pending Aluma Flow Louver System,” where it is then directed through your gutters to an outlet, and then discharges out of the downspout. It comes in 12 colors to match your existing gutters or your roof shingles, if you desire. Our final leaf protection product is Helmet style. One of the benefits of this product is that it is easy to repair and can be replaced in 4 feet panels, in case of a fallen tree or something of that nature. It is said to handle any imaginable amount of rainfall due to its heavy duty material and thoughtfully engineered design.  This product comes in 15 colors, plus copper, to match your new or existing gutters. Having been in business for over 37 years, we have tested many different types of leaf protection products. After careful research and many years of experience, we have found these products to be of the best quality and value. We can, however, obtain and install other types of leaf protection per request. However, we feel that you will be more than satisfied with any of these 3 products. Call us today to set up a free estimate. Cheers to leaf-free gutters!

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