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Tag Archives: Gutter Cleaning

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Author Alloy Gutter Categories Clogged Gutters, Uncategorized Posted on

Dirty Gutters: Buyers Are Looking at Your Gutters

We’d all rather other things than spend an hour or two up a ladder cleaning out our gutters. It can be a quick job if you do it regularly, however not many of us enjoy climbing a ladder with a bucket, a mini shovel and a brush, scooping rotting leaves into the bucket, then climbing back down, only to move to the ladder half a step and do it again. No wonder most of us ignore this job to watch TV, have a nap, walk the dog or do nothing at all. When leaves clog your gutters, it stops water being able to flow away. This build-up of water must go somewhere and will often seep into your home. Especially when it goes unnoticed, this water will build up and cause mold issues. Believe it or not, if you’re trying to sell your house, people will notice if your gutters are dirty. No, they probably won’t climb ladders to have a peek, but they will know. Bugs love gutter debris, especially when it’s moist. They’ll happily make their home in your gutters, taking every opportunity to sneak into your house. And no one likes to be constantly swatting bugs when walking through a home. Termites also love rotting branches that collect in gutters, so you run the risk of a termite infestation if you don’t clean your gutters KEY TAKEAWAYS:
  • The harsh truth is that if you ignore gutter cleaning, it will cost you dearly.
  • Cascading water from the gutter not only ruins garden beds but can also fall and sit along the foundations of your home.
  • If your house is surrounded by trees, you may need to do this job more often (every season is recommended). However, if you’re tree-free, twice a year will do.


    • "Overfilled gutters can create a waterfall effect onto your garden beds below. Although waterfalls are a beautiful sight in nature, they’re not so marvelous when they’re caused from a blocked gutter." ORIGINAL POST: http://blog.homesales.com.au/latest/dirty-gutters-putting-buyers-off/

    Author Alloy Gutter Categories Alloy Gutter Posted on

    Rain Run Freely – Performing Gutters Maintenance

    The gutters play an essential role in protecting the outside of a house, allowing the drain water from the ceiling to the floor. When clogged with leaves, twigs, branches and other dirt or debris, the water does not drain properly and this will eventually cause damage if the problem is not resolved. Gutters need to be cleaned once or twice a year and more if the house is surrounded by trees. If you notice that the water is not flowing in the gutters when it rains, it indicates that they are full of debris or clogged. Whether you try to perform gutter maintenance manually, others rely on instruments like scoops or tongs, it might not be worth risking your life and limbs scaling a full-size extension ladder. Although, in theory, it can be cheaper to clean and maintain your own gutter, there are numerous reasons why hiring a professional service may be the best choice.
    • gutter guard option
    • reduce the amount you spend cleaning and maintaining gutters
    • weight of clogged section pulls down gutters
    Continue Reading ... "When you consider the nature of gutter cleaning, and when you think about the very real physical dangers associated with working high up on a ladder, it’s easy to see why so many dread the task."
    Author Alloy Gutter Categories Alloy Gutter Posted on

    HELP…My Basement is Leaking!

    “My basement is leaking and I need someone to come out right away and fix my gutters.”  We occasionally get phone calls that start with these words. The following is a list of questions we will ask you to determine if your gutters are the problem or if it may be something else:

    • Are your gutters clean or do you have a waterfall coming from your gutters when it rains?
    • Are you sure the downspouts are not clogged and water is flowing from them during heavy rainfall?
    • Do all the downspouts have at least 3’ extensions?
    • Are the gutters leaking?
    • Are the gutters free of standing water/correctly pitched?

    If you can answer yes to all these questions, you don’t have a gutter problem.  You will need to contact a company that specializes in basement leaks. However, once your basement is dry again, the staff at Alloy Gutter Company wants to help you keep your gutter system operating properly. Make sure to call Alloy for any gutter cleaning or repair work you may need in the future.

    Author Alloy Gutter Categories Alloy Gutter, Clogged Gutters Posted on

    An Ounce of Prevention

    About 5 years ago, the neighbors behind me put an addition on the back of their house. The addition included new gutters. Their backyard has lots of big trees. Their house is a light gray brick house.  However, at the corner where the addition connects to the original house, the brick is now a mossy green color. This area always looks wet and green. There is no doubt that this moisture has found its way down to the foundation walls of the house. The soil has even eroded away in this area. This could easily be avoided if the homeowners simply cleaned out the gutters. Yes, they do have newer gutters but they can’t do their job if they are full of debris. Gutters, like everything else on your house, have to be maintained. When I look over in that direction, all I see are future $$$ signs. This is going to be an expense fix if it’s left go much longer. Foundation problems on a house can get real costly. They could simply call Alloy Gutter Company if they don’t want to do their own gutter cleaning. When Alloy cleans you gutters, you avoid paying the high price of deferred maintenance. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
    Author Alloy Gutter Categories Gutters Posted on

    Why Is It Important To Keep Your Gutters Clean?

    Clean gutters are your number one defense against many problems that could arise with clogged gutters.  Your gutters have one job and that is to control the water around your home.  If leaves and twigs prevent your gutters from doing their job you could wind up paying for some serious repairs. GutterCleaning Some issues that can arise from clogged gutters: Cracked Foundations – This is the number one reason to keep those gutters clean!  If excess water is constantly coming in contact with your foundation wall this can weaken the foundation and lead to cracks.  This can lead to severe cracks in the winter from the constant freezing and thawing. Rotten Fascia Board – When your gutters are clogged with debris water will start backing up against your fascia board around the house causing it to rot.  The rotting will only continue to get worse if the gutters are not cleaned properly. Icy Driveway and Sidewalks – If this water is not being directed to the proper areas because of the clog, you will end up water depositing on nearby sidewalks and your driveway.  During the winter months this can cause some slippery conditions and a major liability issue for not only yourself but your visitors as well. While these are only a few problems that can arise there are many others you should be aware of such as leaky basements, washed out landscapes and an increase of insects.  If you are comfortable cleaning your gutters yourself we stress the importance of safety first.  Watch out for electrical lines, bees’ nests and proper ladder placement.  If not, give the professionals at Alloy Gutter a call to take care of your clogged gutters right away.
    Author Alloy Gutter Categories Spring Posted on

    Spring Forward

    This is the time of year that we begin to notice that the days are getting longer. The sun is up higher in the sky and we start to see things we may have missed during the dreary winter months. I recently glanced up at the corner ceiling and noticed the return of the cobweb. I was actually happy to see this annual spring visitor returning; ANYTHING that signals the end of winter is a welcome sight! Now is the time I begin to make a list of outdoor projects.  My annual spring to do list usually starts with “no spend or very little spend” items. Projects that don’t require lots of dollars can make a huge difference on the appearance and function of your home’s exterior. Spring To-Do List:
    • Clean out the garage (before you go out and repurchase things you already own)
    • Wash the windows (nothing lets in more sunlight than clean shiny windows)
    • Wash the patio furniture (setting it back outside again will put a smile on your face)
    • Hose off the front porch (playing with water is always a fun thing)
    • Clean out the flowerbeds (get ready for the flowers before you bring them home)
    • Clean out the gutters (make sure they are in good repair and ready for spring rains)
    Most of us don’t enjoy cleaning out the gutters. It’s a hassle getting out the ladder and for someone who dislikes heights it’s a scary job. Three years ago I had Alloy Gutter Company put leaf protection on my gutters. I only wish I had done this sooner. I took this job off my list when Alloy Gutter Company came out and cleaned my gutters, inspected them and installed leaf protection. Let Alloy Gutter Company shorten your list...for a price that is far less than most people think…get off that ladder and enjoy the sunshine with both feet on the ground!
    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!

    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.