Category: Gutter Cleaning

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Gutters

Posted on August 28, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning

Cleaning your gutters might not seem all that important and feels more like a chore, but it’s actually essential in order to keep your home secure. If you constantly neglect your gutters, not only will your home look trashy, you’ll have to spend a significant amount of money to repair all kinds of serious damage around your home.

You can clean your gutters for the most part, but if you want to ensure they are completely clean, you should consult a gutter cleaning service provider. If you let your gutters become clogged, however, and constantly neglect them, all sorts of problems will arise:

Basement flooding — Clogged gutters are the number one cause of basement water problems. Once the water starts overflowing, water will begin to infiltrate basement walls and cause black mold, bad odors, flooding, and other water-related issues.

Insect infestation — When the debris in gutters becomes moist, this acts as a great habitat for insects. All kinds of bugs will be attracted to the inside of the house when the weather changes, and not cleaning gutters can lead to damaging insects infesting your roof and the rest of your home.

Rotted wood — When water overflows onto the side of your home, it causes serious rotting around the wood. This wood rot can spread to areas all over your home, as well. Additionally, you’ll find that your gutters are an easy point of entry for rodents and other insects.

Make sure you’re working with a trusted gutter cleaning service provider to ensure that your gutters are thoroughly clean. Gutter cleaning technicians can also offer leaf guard installation and gutter installation services, as well.

Additionally, it’s important to know how to identify these clogged gutter issues. Here are a few sings that you have clogged cutters: spotting birds or pests by the roof, water spilling over the side, sagging gutters, stained siding, and plant growth.

Don’t neglect your home’s gutters anymore. If you’re in need of gutter replacement, installation, or cleaning, make sure you’re working with experienced professionals. Contact Gutter Maid, a trusted gutter cleaning service provider, right away!

Take Care of Your Gutters: 3 Important FAQs

Posted on August 24, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning

When it comes to being a responsible homeowner, it’s important to take excellent care of your roof and especially your gutters. If your gutters are clogged, old, or damaged in any way, that could lead to all sorts of structural damages and extremely expensive repair work.

Here are some frequently asked questions pertaining to taking better care of your home’s roof and gutters:

What’s the main cause of gutter damage? — Water can cause all sorts of gutter issues. If the water has no place to go, it will become much too heavy for the gutters to hold and cracks and breaks will subsequently happen. A single gallon of rainwater weighs eight pounds and a home with clogged and overflowing gutters could be holding weights in the thousands of pounds at any moment, causing all sorts of structural and financial damage.

Should I handle my gutter replacement and repair needs myself? — No! Unless you’re fully trained on gutter installation, replacement, and cleaning services, you should let professional gutter companies work their magic. You can inspect your gutters yourself and clean out all the leaves a few times a month, but anything else might be above your pay grade. Contact a skilled gutter cleaning organization and let them handle everything.

What’s the best way to find experienced gutter installers near me? — Talk to your neighbors, family members, and friends. If they have had roof and gutter work done in the past, they should be able to refer a company to you. Hopefully, you are only receiving positive referrals, but there are plenty of instances when gutter installation services didn’t perform that great of work. Thankfully, in today’s plugged in world, you can simply Google: “gutter installers near me” and a large list of quality organizations will come up. Check out the reviews on each of them and find one that specializes in gutter installation, debris removal, and damage prevention.

If you’re still searching online: “gutter installers near me,” and want to ensure that you’re hiring an experienced gutter cleaning company, give Gutter Maid a call right away.

Taking Care of Your Home’s Gutters: Part 2

Posted on August 1, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning, Gutter Cleanings, Gutter Repair

You have already read about the importance of gutter replacement and hiring professional gutter cleaners at least two or three times a year in order to keep your home durable and strong for many years, but now it’s time to dive even deeper. Hopefully, this guide will help you identify the mistakes you’re already making when it comes to your gutters, your roof, your siding, and your entire home’s structure.

From not working with gutter installation services to ignoring approaching rainstorms, here are some common gutter-related mistakes that you should avoid at all costs:

Incorrect gutter installation — Whether you’re cleaning your gutters sufficiently or not, if they weren’t installed properly, you’re going to have a lot of damaging and costly problems on your hand. That’s why it’s best to work with gutter installation services when you’re home is being constructed or whenever you’re replacing old or damaged gutters.

Not checking your gutters after a rainfall — Even the slightest summer rainfall can significantly damage your gutters if they are old or installed incorrectly. In fact, an inch of summer rainfall can pour nearly 1,500 gallons of water onto your roof and your gutters. After each summer rainfall, it’s recommended to get on your roof and inspect every inch of your home’s gutters.

Neglecting weather alerts — If you live in an area of the country that frequently has major storms, you need to have weather alerts on your phone at all times. If your gutters aren’t ready for a lot of rain and a storm is on its way, they could break in half and cause all sorts of problems and damage. If it’s been a few months since your last gutter cleaning and a major storm is approaching, it’s best to contact professional gutter cleaning services to ensure that your gutters are prepared for the upcoming storm.

From proper installation to replacement and thorough cleaning, don’t neglect your gutters at any point. If you want to learn more about taking better care of your gutters or work with professional gutter installation services, give Gutter Maid a call right away.

Taking Care of Your Home’s Gutters: Part 1

Posted on July 30, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning, Gutter Cleanings, Gutter Repair

When it comes to property ownership, there are hundreds of things that homeowners need to take care of, including the gutters.

Gutter cleaning should be done at least two or three times a year, but it’s going to take a little more than you simply placing a ladder at the base of your home, climbing up with a bucket, and grabbing handfuls of leaves and debris. You need to consult with professional gutter cleaners. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company is a great way to ensure that your gutters are clean and your home is protected.

In addition to hiring a professional gutter cleaning company for thorough cleanings a few times a year, there are some other aspects of gutter care that you need to be aware of. Here are some tips for ensuring that your gutters and the rest of your home are clean, protected, and long-lasting:

Replace your gutters if too much damage has occurred — Whether you’re staying on top of your gutter cleaning or not, if they are extremely damaged, you should consider gutter replacement. Additionally, if your gutters are extremely old, you might as well replace them and have new and improved gutters installed in order to avoid problems down the line. Leaving old or broken gutters attached to your home can cause serious structural damage and end up costing you a fortune. Stay ahead of these structural problems and replace your gutters whenever they are in jeopardy.

Pay attention to weather reports — If an upcoming storm is bringing plenty of rain, you should make sure that your gutters are clean and functioning properly prior to the storm hitting your property. Far too many homeowners ignore weather alerts and only react to the rain. But if you are paying attention to the weather and clean and repair your gutters prior to significant rainfall, your gutters will have a much better chance of lasting throughout the storm.

Install a leaf guard — Without a quality leaf guard, your home’s gutters won’t perform as well as they could. Thankfully, professional gutter cleaning services offer more than just cleaning — they can help with leaf guard installation, as well.

If you are considering hiring a professional gutter cleaning company and want to learn more about how to better take care of your home, contact Gutter Maid today. Also, stay tuned for part two to learn even more about taking care of your gutters and some costly mistakes that you should avoid.

3 Great Tips For Improving Your Home’s Durability and Appearance

Posted on July 11, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning, Gutter Cleanings

Homeowners should make a point to monitor their properties and look out for structural defects. Even the smallest issue with your home’s structure could spiral into major damage. In order to keep your home secure for as long as you can, there are all kinds of things you need to focus on.

Here are some tips to keep your home durable and strong for many, many years:

Focus on your roof and your gutters — Your roof is the first line of defense against all kinds of home damage. If your roof is damaged, there are going to be some major issues that occur — both structural and financial. In order to keep your gutters and roof strong for years, you have to ensure that you’re having them cleaned, inspected, and repaired at least a few times a year. A proper roof cleaning will allow you to maximize its shingle life for around 25 years or more. Additionally, working with a gutter cleaning company can keep your gutters free of debris and clutter, as well as help identify any structural problems atop your home. These professionals working for gutter cleaning services might discover that you’re in need of an upgraded leaf guard installation, some shingle and roof repair work, as well as an entire gutter replacement. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company can drastically improve the look of your home’s roof and keep your gutters clean and durable for many more years to come.

Keep your home and property clean — If you neglect your property’s cleanliness, there are going to be some serious problems aside from just your home looking bad. If there are weeds, piles of clutter, and garbage all over your property and the inside of your home, that’s essentially inviting all kinds of pests and rodents into your home. These pests love a messy home and will cause even more problems once inside. You should be focusing on keeping your home as clean as possible. Also, a clean home will help you feel even more productive and motivated to improve other aspects of your property.

Have your HVAC systems tuned up — Your home’s HVAC units are extremely important when it comes to property durability. Poor HVAC production can cause all kinds of housing issues and lead your energy bills to skyrocket. If you’re spending a fortune on energy expenses, you won’t be able to focus on other aspects of home improvement and protection.

If you are ready to improve the durability of your home, as well as maintain its physical appearance, it’s time to get to work! If you’re searching for an experienced and skilled gutter cleaning company, give Gutter Maid a call right away.

Why Should You Hire a Gutter Cleaning Company? 4 Great Reasons

Posted on July 9, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning, Gutter Cleanings

Why should you hire a gutter cleaning company? There are plenty of reasons to do all sorts of household cleaning and repair tasks yourself, but if you want something done with the utmost professionalism, it’s best to work with an experienced and dedicated organization.

Let’s take a deeper dive into why someone might rather work with an experienced gutter company as opposed to handling these residential tasks themselves.

Why should you hire a gutter cleaning company?

Keep your home looking clean — Sound simple enough? If you leave the gutter cleaning up to you or your spouse, there is a chance that those gutters never get clean. You might move around some leaves and piles of debris, but gutters need to be thoroughly cleaned in order to prevent additional major issues.

Avoid damages to your home’s structural integrity — By working with an experienced gutter cleaning service provider, they won’t just offer cleaning services, they will offer skilled repair and replacement services as well. While these professionals are cleaning your gutters, they will look for breaks and other issues atop your roof — letting you know when you need additional assistance.

Prevent basement flooding — Clogged cutters are the number one reason for basement water problems like molding and flooding. In order to avoid these issues that can be nightmares for homeowners, your gutters need to be extremely clean.

Save a significant amount of money — Any of the above issues won’t just be annoying for you and your family, they will also cost plenty of money once repairs are needed. Hiring gutter cleaning professionals might cost a bit more than attempting to clean them yourself, but as we’ve seen, it will be well worth it. You will end up spending a lot more cash on home repairs if these gutter-related issues progress.

If you’re done wondering why should you hire a gutter cleaning company and want to work with skilled professionals who can help with gutter installation, cleaning, and gutter replacement, give Gutter Maid a call right away!

How to Keep Birds Out of Gutters and Keep it that Way

Posted on June 4, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning, Gutter Cleanings

Spring has officially sprung and that means the comeback of our favorite rooftop guests: birds.

While you want birds to have a safe place to raise their offspring, your gutters aren’t the best option. Bird nests can actually cause a slew of problems if left alone, but taking them down can be another challenge. So how to keep birds from making nests in unwanted places? How to keep birds out of gutters?

The gutter pros show you how to keep birds away from your gutters with a few simple tips.

Why bird nests are bad for your gutters

Before we get to the ways we can prevent birds from roosting in your gutters, it’s important to touch on why birds are bad for them in the first place.

The most obvious reason is the possibility of the bird’s nest clogging your gutter. Though it’s unlikely that a single nest will clog your spout, the accumulation of a few nests can lead to some preventable issues.

Not only can these nests lead to overflow that damages your lawn, the increased weight from the water can cause sagging at a much quicker rate, and even cause gutters to fall from the house. This can result in necessary gutter replacements.

After a nesting incident, be sure to look up gutter installation services and their reviews to ensure a quality, reliable gutter replacement.

Safe bird nest removal

Do it sooner than later. Some birds can get quite territorial if there are eggs or young offspring present, so the smartest course of action is to wait until nesting season is over. Ensuring your safety is the most important thing when removing a bird’s nest.

Though bird nests seem fairly easy to remove, there are a few precautions to take to remove it safely and without risking getting diseases or bacteria.

Additionally, look up any bird protection laws in your area before attempting to remove it. If the bird and its nest are protected, you could be hit with a fairly heavy fine for its removal.

If you do attempt to do it yourself, make sure you have a ladder and spotter so you don’t fall. In addition, wear protective eyewear and long-sleeved clothing — birds and their feces carry diseases on their claws, beaks, and nests.

If the nest is old, there might be other animals or bugs living inside that still require precaution. Once the nest is removed, clean it with a disinfectant to stop diseases and bacteria from spreading.

If you have never done it before and you’re not sure who to call for bird nest removal, consider calling animal control or a gutter cleaning company before you try to do it yourself.

If a gutter replacement is necessary following a nest removal, consider calling gutter installation services for a consultation.

How to keep birds out of gutters

There are a few great ways to prevent birds from nesting in your gutters.

1. Stainless Steel Bird Spikes

Many use stainless steel bird spikes to deter birds from perching, while others prefer gutter spikes to prevent birds from landing on gutter edges.

2. Visual deterrents

You can also try using visual deterrents that act like an alarm, such as foil tapes that create noise and reflect light. Using a combination of these options is also a great idea if you have a significant bird issue in your area.

By placing such reflective elements around the areas you notice nests, you can effectively prevent birds nesting in gutters.

3. Clean your gutters regularly

Finally, you should also clean your gutters regularly of any debris or build-up at least twice a year to keep birds out of gutters.

Consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning company or contact other gutter installation services to discuss your options.

What Factors Determine How Much Your Gutter Cleaning Company Will Charge You

Posted on May 1, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning

Nobody wants to break out the ladder and gloves to clean out the gutters themselves, even though clogged gutters are the leading cause of water problems in basements. It can generally be dangerous, especially if the conditions aren’t favorable.

So many people land on the decision to hire gutter cleaning services. Those who don’t come to that decision are often convinced that the cost of hiring a professional gutter cleaning company would be outrageous and that the potential hospital bills from doing it themselves would be much less.

Professional gutter cleaning will almost always cost significantly less. In order to estimate what it might cost you, you have to consider these factors.

Height of the House

Typically, the shorter the house the more cost effective the gutter cleaning will be. Unless the company offers a fixed rate, the cost will usually increase in sync with the number of floors. The higher the home, the higher the risk factor involved for the cleaning company, and they often charge to match the danger. And depending on the house, they might need special equipment to reach the gutters as well.

Size of the Gutters

Basically, the bigger your house (and therefore gutter square footage, or linear feet), the more the cleaning company will charge. However, the bigger your house, the more work you’ll have to do if you decide to do it yourself.

Condition of the Gutters

If your gutters haven’t been cleaned out since they were installed in 2002, then chances are they’re pretty backed up. Gutters that are filled with a lot of debris will often cost more because they will take more time to clean.

Extras

If you want your cleaning company to do extras, like a leaf guard installation or hardware inspection, then that will cost more as well.

Low cost gutter cleaning is attainable with relative ease, but you shouldn’t expect the company to tackle a large or inherently dangerous job for the same price as a one-story ranch home. The more you have to get done, the more you need a professional gutter cleaning service.

For low cost gutter cleaning for your home, call us today.

Moving to a New Home? These 3 Tips Will Help You Adjust

Posted on April 23, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning

If you’re planning on moving to a new location in the next few months or even years, you need to make sure you’re considering every single aspect of moving to a new area. You can’t just pack your bags, move into a new place, and expect everything to go well. There are going to be mishaps and complications along the way, so it’s best to plan ahead and do everything you can to stay on top of these potential issues.

Here are some tips that will help you adjust to your new location:

Drive around the area until you’re physically oriented — To avoid mass confusion as soon as you start your commute to your new job, spend a few hours each day familiarizing yourself with the geography of your new home. Pay close attention to the roads, landmarks, and the local traffic, just to get a better feel for the community. This will take time, but after you’ve driven around a few times, you’ll finally feel more comfortable and will likely pickup little secrets about the roadways as well.
Contact professional gutter cleaners — Though your gutters should be thoroughly cleaned at least twice a year, it’s still best to know who you should call if you are having any issues with your gutters or your home’s leaf guards. It might not sound like a top priority, but hiring a professional gutter cleaning company should be one of your first calls once you settle into your new home. Even the smallest issue with your gutters can lead to extremely damaging and costly property issues.
Research where essential buildings are located — In addition to hiring professional gutter cleaners, you’re going to want to search online for other businesses and establishments that could come in handy. Find out where the closest hospitals are, as well as dentist offices, grocery stores, and anywhere else you might want to go to.

If you’re relocating to Virginia and want to find some professional contractors for gutter installation services and cleaning help, you’ve come to the right place. If you want to get in contact with professional gutter cleaners, give Gutter Maid a call right away.

3 Reasons You Should Hire a Professional Gutter Cleaning Company

Posted on April 9, 2018 by guttermaid - Gutter Cleaning, Gutter Cleanings

The winter is finally over and it’s time to start preparing for the nice weather. No matter what kind of roof you have on your home, new or old, it’s important to make sure your gutters are 100% clean and properly functioning. Keep in mind, the majority of newer roofs are built to withstand loads of snow of between 15 to 30 pounds per square feet, and all that snow can drop down into the gutters and cause serious issues.

Neglecting your gutters can end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Even though cleaning out leaves and snow piles might not sound all that significant, it’s essential you keep your gutters cleaned and well-maintained.

Here are some reasons it’s important to have your gutters thoroughly cleaned by skilled professionals:

Leaves can fall all year-round — In high-yield environments, leaves can fall and pile up inside gutters constantly and lead to serious structural damage. You can’t just wait until the final leaf falls onto your home to clean out your gutters — you need to have them professionally cleaned every few months.

Leaves and snow aren’t the only things inside gutters — Unfortunately, leaves, water, and snow — though damaging — aren’t the worse things that can be found in your gutters. Gutters can act as ticking time bombs filled with bird droppings, insects, and even rodents. All that can pile up and can become so heavy that they drop and completely wreck your home, leaving the bottom of your property filled with all that disgusting debris. If you believe there are any signs of pileup inside your gutters, give a professional gutter cleaning company a call right away.

Your home’s foundation is at risk — Neglecting to clean your gutters isn’t just important for maintaining a clean home environment, it’s also essential for protecting the entire structural foundation of your property. Water and grime can pile up and overflow outside of your gutters, causing your home’s foundation to crack and become severely damaged, resulting in even higher repair costs. Again, to make sure your home is protected, give an experienced gutter cleaning company a call right away.

If you’re in need of gutter installation, leaf guard installation, gutter replacement, or are still wondering why should you hire a gutter cleaning company, give Gutter Maid a call today.