11. May 2012 by admin.

It is easy to think that without leaves in the Spring, gutters don’t get full of debris and cleaning isn’t necessary. However, before a tree can have a leaf, it produces a seed that varies depending on the type of tree, and drops as the leaf grows.  Seedlings fall inside our gutters from trees being over our homes or the weather carrying them.  Between the many types of seedlings inside our gutters and the roof grit that slowly piles up in the gutter, you have the perfect breeding ground for growing unwanted trees and plants over time.

When is the right time to clean my gutters?

During the Spring season, when the Dogwoods lose its’ bloom, that is the sign that all seedlings have dropped and that gutters should be cleaned.  Due to the unpredictability of mother nature, each Spring season differs as to when it is exactly time.  Most Springs, the end of April is when this occurs.

What all needs to be done when cleaning my gutters?

A live person is definitely needed to be able to remove the debris from the runs of gutters, to include the downspouts.  Bucketing the debris is recommended for it allows easier cleanup.  Re-tacking the nails around the perimeter of the home is needed due to the nails backing out over time.  It also allows proper alignment of pitch for maximized water drainage.

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23. November 2010 by admin.

Gutters and downspouts are the silent heroes of your Tennessee home.  You never think about them and all the hard work they do.  Until they stop working. Then, the rain starts pouring over the sides, the downspouts are clogged up, and it’s a big mess.  Maybe it’s time to have new rain gutters and downspouts installed.  Let’s take a look at what you may need to know…

Many Tennesseans take their rain gutters and downspouts for granted.  They see the guttering attached to their home, but they never give them a second thought.  That can be a mistake for several reasons that we will take a closer look at in a second, but gutter maintenance is a very important part of your entire homes maintenance.

Why Gutters Are Important?

While most people pay little attention to their gutters, myself included, they demand high quality and preventative maintenance.  The function of gutters is very important to the exterior maintenance of your home. 

Here are some benefits to having gutters on your home:

• They guide the rainwater off of your roof and away from your home.
• Keep the water from settling around that foundation of your home.
• Prevents damage to your roof, soffits, fascia and exterior paint.
• Prohibits water from entering into your interior walls and basement.
• Prevents water from draining on window sills, etc. creating rotten wood over time.

What Can Occur Without Gutters?

Damage will occur once water has penetrated the foundation of your home, this can become a major problem and can be quite costly.  This type of damage happens when there are no gutters on the home, damaged gutters, or the downspouts are damaged or placed in a bad location.  Water damage to your foundation can result in the growth of mold which is not only hard to get rid of, it also can cause serious health problems for you and your family. 

Gutters and downspouts are a key element in protecting your home during heavy rains.  Gutters will prevent your roof’s fascia boards from getting wet and rotting out.  They also protect the underneath side of your roof from getting water in there and doing more damage.  Downspouts prevent water from pooling beside your foundation and seeping into your basement.

Why is important to perform regular gutter cleaning?

Regular gutter and downspout cleaning and maintenance will keep your gutters cleaned out and prevent water from backing up and causing this type of damage.  Water flows smoothly through the gutter channel and out the downspouts and away from your home.

Without properly installed and functional gutters and downspouts, you can easily find yourself with roof damage or erosion problems in your yard.  In many cases this can lead to leaky basements and other problems, as well.

Keeping your gutters clean will prevent a lot of potential problems from ever happening.  Even if you do not have trees around your home, your gutters will still become clogged with outside debris such as seedlings and helicopters in the Spring and the obvious leaves in the Fall.

Do you have asphalt shingles?  If so, the rain and everyday weathering slowly causes those tiny granules on your shingles to constantly fall and collect in your gutters weighing them down and eventually pulling the gutters away from the home.  Over time this extra weight causes them to be pulled down and unable to drain properly.  At this point, it will cost you more to fix your gutters in this condition versus being on a proactive Gutter Maintenance Plan. 

Understanding your gutters…

Your guttering is sloped at a slight angle toward your downspout.  So, when that extra weight causes the gutter to sag, the angle is lost and the water simply collects in the channel.  Eventually it pulls your guttering away from the roof and causes the wood to rot. 

Your gutters have nails or screws that attaches the gutters.  Over time coupled with weathering, your gutter nails will eventually back out.  So, getting all nails tacked in, is absolutely vital to keeping the pitch of your gutter aligned for maximized drainage.

Read my prior posts on how to select an insured, professional to clean out your gutters AND perform a maintenance.  The typical cost should be around $75.00 and up to $450.00 depending on the following factors:

• How much gutter is there to clean?
• How many stories is the house?
• Anything obstructing the way or making the job more difficult?
• What is the pitch of the roof?  Do we have to “ladder” the entire home?

Average costs for our members is around $200.

If you would like to get an online quote for Gutter Maintenance – whether it is a one time or ongoing, we perform the following every time:

1. Clean the gutters by hand
2. Clean downspouts (flush if necessary)
3. Blow off roof, porches, and driveways
4. Take debris collected from gutters offsite
5. We bucket or tarp all debris
6. If on regular Gutter Plan, then we provide a 100% drainage guarantee or we come back for FREE!

Simply click the link below to be directed to our website to fill out an online quick request –right off our home page!!

Online Gutter Quote

Please respond to this article and let me know what you think and if you have ANY questions pertaining to gutters, roofing, or any other home need by registering easily and submitting your question or comment. 

If you prefer to email, you may do so at:  christine@ssserviceandrepairs.com.

Next topic:  Gutter Gimmicks…helpful or not?

View the video and see for yourself.

HAPPY FALL 2010!

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4. April 2010 by admin.

Spring Gutter Season occurs during the month of May.  The reasoning is due to all seedlings, helicopters, etc. that shed when the pretty flowers during the month of April lose its’ bloom.  Did you ever notice how everything around us would be full of color, then one day, goes away.  We never give much thought on where the blooms go when the pretty flowers go away.  Some of that stuff actually end up in our gutters contributing to the need for a Spring gutter cleaning, along with the helicopters and normal shingle grit that sheds from your shingles daily causing your downspouts to clog and gutters to be weighed down by this surprisingly heavy debris.  With steady maintenance in the Spring, despite no leaves in sight, you can literally extend the life of your gutters and prevent unnecessary damage to your exterior and sometimes interior home.  Your gutters should have a full maintenance conducted at least 2 times a year, typically Spring (May) and Fall, which runs usually between October through December, depending on weather.

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12. January 2010 by admin.

Gutter season is definitely coming to an end.  For a lot of homeowners, gutters were not on the to do list.  Do not underestimate the need for ongoing gutter maintenance for your rain gutters.  Prevention is key when it comes to your gutters.  

Your gutters are like a trough, which is designed to hold some debris.  When it is not cleaned out regularly and time goes by, your downspouts will clog with seed pods, seedlings, helicopters, etc. in the Spring time and various sizes of leaves in the Fall.  Of course, the most important to remember–roof grit that sheds from your roof constantly throughout the year!  This stuff weighs extremely heavy contributing to the cause of gutters backing out from your home.

When your gutter downspouts get clogged and water has no escape, then it is forced to go back up toward your home at the rate in which it is traveling and go over your home causing water to run on whatever is in the path of the water. 

This problem and expense that not having your gutters cleaned is so preventable.  No different than your heating and air system is that of your gutters.  No gutter gimmick will alleviate the need for a live body to physically clean what they all allow to get in the gutter!  It is recommended that at the very least to get your gutters cleaned out 2 times a year.

Be sure to check out the company who is conducting your gutter cleaning!  It seems like a small job with very little need for education or credentials, but not having a professional and knowledgeable company could literally be the difference in your experience.

Make sure that the company or person you choose has the following:

1.  General Liability and Workers Compensation Insurance - This is for in the event that someone gets hurt at your home which gutter cleaning is a dangerous job! If they are not covered, you run the risk of having a claim on your insurance.

2.  Bond - Make sure the company carries a bond.  This is for in the event that (we all hope doesn’t happen) someone steals from you!  Even a professional company can have this happen!
No one company is risk free.

3.  Experience - The working height and level of maneuvering needed on your roof during a clean
is best done by people who have years experience in working on a roof.  Also, having
experienced professionals on your roof can also ensure that they will be able to recognize if
anything obviously wrong with your roof while up there (example:  missing shingles, rotten roof boot)
Experience is key to be able to properly assess your gutters and drainage system.  Be sure the
company has an understanding of how gutters drain.

4.  Community References - Check out the community references on the company of choice.
What people have to say about services already rendered is the best way to assess the
company of choice.  A reputable company with intentions on conducting business in the area for
the long haul will have people in the area that have used their services.  Be sure to check a
handful of references not family or friend related.

5.  Guarantees and Warranties - Be sure to ask about the company’s policy in the event that an
issue arises.  Do they offer a 100 Percent satisfaction guarantee?  What is their protocol should
something happen?  We tend to think about this when something happens!  Find out on the front end.

Reduce your risks and ensure a positive experience with your company or person of choice by
doing your homework on the front end!  I hope this helps in determining what all is involved when
selecting someone to do the job.

Remember - nothing can replace a live body to clean your gutters AT LEAST 2 times a year (Fall and Spring).  It is a maintenance on your home that needs to be done no more than your Heating and Air that gets serviced twice a year which prolongs the life of the unit.  The question is who…

Be sure to write in your questions and comments!  We want to hear from you!

Stay Warm!

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