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If you had your gutters installed or replaced recently and are experiencing problems with water damage or water flow, it is likely that the hardware was not put in correctly. Though it is often an easy fix, some of the damage caused by bad gutters can be serious. Here are some of the signs that your gutters were poorly installed.

Improper Pitch

When your gutters are installed, they need to be set at a certain angle to allow water to flow toward the downspout and exit. If the pitching of the gutter is off, this can result in pooling and overflowing water.

Detached Gutters

Detached gutters hanging off your home can be dangerous. This not only means that the system is not working, but it also poses a potential hazard. If there is a strong wind or storm, the gutter could become completely detached from the roof and fall onto something or someone below.

Ineffective Downspout Placement

Downspouts are needed to get the water from the gutters to the ground. However, if these downspouts are not placed at the right locations, water can have a difficult time finding its way out. This also results in pooling water in your gutters.

Clogged Gutters

It is no secret that items such as foliage can clog your gutters at any time. However, if your gutters were installed without protection or guards from falling leaves, then they will quickly and frequently get stopped up.

Leakage Inside Your Home

A very serious consequence of badly installed gutters is leakage inside your house. If you see water damage where your walls meet your roof, you could have gutter issues instead of roof problems.

Though these are just a few of the signs that your gutters were poorly installed, if you are experiencing any of these issues, you need to get them fixed right away. Contact one of our professionals at Gutter Maid to inquire about our gutter installation service and repairs.

If you can clean your gutters yourself, why ever call a professional gutter cleaner? What is it that they do that makes professional gutter cleaning worth considering? How do professionals clean gutters?

Our gutter experts answer all your questions and will show you the best way to clean gutters like pro gutter cleaners. Read more below!

What does gutter cleaning include?

In general, gutter cleaning typically includes:

• Gutter inspection
• Debris and lead removal
• Gutter pressure washing
• Flushing

In addition, some gutter cleaners go a step further and also include:

• Small gutter repairs like tightening the gutters
• Roof inspection
• Before and after pictures
• No clog warranties

How to clean gutters like a professional

1. Get Professional Gutter Cleaning Tools

A professional gutter cleaner always has an arsenal of tools on hand to readily clean any debris, large or small. Typical pro gutter cleaners use a variety of tools including:

• Extension ladders
• Trowel
• Bucket
• Garden hose
• Gloves
• Safety goggles

In addition to enabling efficient work, all these tools protect pro gutter cleaners from debris as well as any potential pests.

2. Clean out Debris

Once the professional gutter cleaner is situated in a spot to efficiently clean your gutters, they’ll begin. Some pro gutter cleaners use the two-bucket method which involves one bucket for gathering debris and the other to hold tools. They hook these buckets to the ladder to keep balance.

Professional cleaners typically start with the downspout area and remove noticeable debris, like leaves, twigs, and more, and place it in the bucket. The trowel comes in handy to rake and gather smaller debris into removable piles. Latex gloves are also important to carry wet or damp debris.

3. Flush Out Gutters and Downspouts

Finally, the last step in how professionals clean gutters are flushing out the gutters and downspouts. After the professionals remove all or most of the noticeable debris, they use the hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts.

This method removes dirt and grime that might be harder to remove by hand. This also allows the cleaners to spot any blocks if the water doesn’t drain properly. If requested, after everything is finished, the professional gutter cleaner can install gutter guards to protect them from future debris.

Here at Gutter Maid, we ensure premium gutter cleaning in Frederick, MD, at a reasonable price point. Our team of professional gutter cleaners delivers 100% satisfaction with worry-free scheduling and prompt service. Don’t believe us? Read our outstanding reviews on Angie’s List, Google, and Yelp.

Give us a call to schedule your gutter cleaning or installation at your townhome, apartment, or single-family home.

Gutters may not be the most visually noticeable part of your house compared to your front door or stone veneer, but they are one of the most important components of your home. Your gutters divert rainwater away from the roof and foundation to the ground and further away from your house. Eventually, your gutters may sag, rust, or break, so it’s important to replace them. However, check out this guide on preparing for gutter installation services before doing so. There are some important steps every homeowner must take before tackling this project or calling a professional.

Do the Research

Before any gutter installation services occur, always do the necessary research. For starters, know the different types of gutters and gutter materials best for your house. An aluminum k-style is the most common for residences because it’s inexpensive and durable, but there are others too. Half-round and custom-built fascia gutters are two other types of gutters. Not to mention, wood, vinyl, steel, copper, and stainless-steel are other available materials, too. Regardless of which type and material you pick, do the research and then compare every advantage and disadvantage before finalizing your decision.

Consider Drainage

Your gutters and downspouts serve one main function on your house: to collect and emit rainwater away from your roof and foundation. Therefore, it’s crucial your new gutters effectively do this. Otherwise, you risk flooding your basement or yard. After removing the old gutters, check for water damage around the soffits and fascia. Mold, mildew, and rotting wood are all clear indicators of water damage in your home. This happens if your gutters don’t match your roof’s pitch, as the water can then pool and lead to moisture in your house. Once you identify all potential drainage issues, install the new gutters.

Leave it To the Experts

If you’re uncomfortable with any gutter installation service preparations, call an expert. Like a plumber or electrician, gutter installers have the skills, knowledge, and equipment to properly install, clean, and protect your new gutters. While taking all precautionary steps on your own can help, leave it to the professionals to handle the nitty-gritty work. Hard to reach places and finer details can save your house from water and structural damage that a DIYer might cause.

On that note, we at Gutter Maid are a skilled gutter installation team ready for any gutter-related project. We provide gutter installation in Bowie, Maryland with the best pricing and lifetime warranty. Whether it’s for residential or commercial fabricated gutters, we use the best materials that ensure longevity and lifetime satisfaction. Call now for a free estimate or see our amazing reviews on Angie’s List.

Gutter cleaning is an essential service, unbeknownst to many people. Neglected gutters can lead to leaks and water pooling that damage a building’s roof, siding, and foundation. While it’s not the most complex home repair, there are many factors that determine gutter cleaning prices that you should know about.

Type of Building

One main factor is the type of building. Residences and commercial buildings require different gutter systems. Commercial properties typically have longer, more complex systems to cover more areas. As such, they require more extensive cleaning than the gutters for residential homes, which cover more condensed spaces. Still, commercial buildings may have cheaper cleaning charges due to special discounts and coverage fees. Even the type of residence could affect cleaning prices. Townhomes, single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, and condominiums each have their own respective prices to account for.

Condition

Another factor is the gutters’ condition. Properly maintained gutters require less attention and cleaning than neglected ones. Better maintained gutter systems typically lack some of the detritus and weather damage that leads to clogs. However, when homeowners neglect their gutters, their systems can overflow, clog, and break. Each of these issues requires repairs to the gutters and can damage the siding, foundation, and roof of a home, leading to higher repair costs than expected.

Time of Year

As with any home project, there are ideal seasons for cleaning gutters. Unless you live in an area that is warm year-round, winter is a horrible time to clean your rain gutters. Times that make it more difficult, like after heavy rains or during early spring when systems are still thawing, could make gutter cleaning prices higher than other times. Still, some companies offer seasonal discounts that help you save more money. Talk with your gutter cleaning company for the best seasonal discounts available to match your budget.

Extras

Of course, you can opt for additional services other than cleaning. While they might add a higher initial cost, they can save you more in the future. For example, gutter screens or guards protect against debris and clogging. This will save on maintenance and repair costs you would otherwise have to pay. Also, gutter repair services could fix any leaks and seams in your system. You may as well have them perform the full service for your rain gutters, rather than a simple cleaning.

We at Gutter Maid offer complete gutter repair and cleaning services at a reasonable price. We offer gutter cleaning in Maryland from our experienced team of cleaning professionals. With the right tools and skills, we can clean your gutters and downspouts, remove debris, clear your roof, fix loose gutter spikes, and, for an additional charge, flush your gutters with water and fix damaged pipe collars. Whether you live in a duplex, family home, or condo, we cater to every type of home and commercial building.

Rain gutters are among the most heavily exposed parts of your home. Weather, pests, and constant use affect their integrity. In fact, many animals make gutters their home, given the space and debris that enters it. Specifically, birds often nest in rain gutters for these reasons. Fortunately, here are some effective ways to get rid of birds’ nests in your gutters.

Gutter Guards

The greatest bird deterrent for your yard is a gutter guard. Gutter guards attach to rain gutters to prevent debris and pests from entering. This reduces clogs, cracks, or other issues from constant use. They also prevent birds from nesting. Aluminum guards click into place over your rain gutters with micro-mesh technology that blocks twigs, leaves, or other nesting materials from entering. Birds will fly away into new spots, leaving your gutters clean and nest-free.

Bird Repellent

Similarly, buy bird repellent to ward off these creatures. Like bug spray, bird repellents are chemical sprays or gels designed to disperse large flocks of birds. Many different repellents exist depending on the bird, with goose, pigeon, or other fowl in mind. Eco-repellents also exist and are water-based sprays to avoid harming the birds.

Bird Spikes

While it sounds extreme, bird spikes are perfectly legal and useful in dire situations. Any frustrated homeowner may consider them as a fail-safe last resort. Ultimately, bird spikes are long, needle-like rods that prevent birds from perching, roosting, defecating, or mating. Bird spikes are predominantly used for larger birds, like pigeons, seagulls, or crows, but they can be used for any other birds as well. Still, leaves and other debris can clog bird spikes. Place these horizontally on your gutters to prevent roosting.

Predator Decoys

Birds are simple creatures, meaning bird decoys are one of the best ways to get rid of birds’ nests in your gutters. These are life-sized models of common predators, like hawks and owls. Predator decoys are a humane non-lethal solution for deterring birds. Other deterrents, like holographic tape and scaring balloons, also exist. These products have been shown to work and will scare away any unwanted flying pests.

If you’re uncomfortable installing gutter guards or are unfamiliar with the options available, call us at Gutter Maid. We offer premium gutter installation in Ellicott City, Maryland, at a reasonable cost. With our professional expertise, we’ll properly install your gutters and recommend the right gutter guard. We’ll also ensure optimum cleanliness with our cleaning services. Stop waiting and call us today for an in-house check-in.

Homes aren’t perfect—especially their exteriors, which face the most wear and tear from outside elements such as weather, dirt, and debris. One particularly sensitive part of your home’s exterior is your gutters. Look out for any of these warning signs that you need new gutters to avoid serious structural, financial, and health-related issues.

Cracks

Cracks are the most obvious signs you need to replace your gutters. Even small cracks can seriously affect your gutter systems, causing water leakage and roof damage. They can also break off under too much stress. Your fascia, shingles, and even home foundation can sustain damage, potentially leading to a greater burden. Not to mention, continual water leakage can lead to mold growth in your home and risk health issues.

Pools of Water

Pools of water can damage your roof, too. When water collects, it can weaken the wood in your attic, causing holes or other issues in severe weather. Your gutters also serve to dispel rainwater from collecting on the roof, preventing clogged, misaligned, or broken gutters or downspouts.

Sagging Gutters

Sagging is another similar warning sign that you need new gutters. If the gutters sag or begin to pull away from the house, there are clear issues at play. It’s evident that the gutters have collected water and that the weight is causing them to sag. If left untreated, your gutters can completely break off. Along with the obvious financial strain, rainwater and snow will collect on your roof and siding rather than moving down the gutters, possibly causing further structural issues.

Mildew and Mold

Finally, you cannot ignore mildew and mold. They often have pungent odors and odd colors, so you’ll be able to see it on your siding or under your gutters. Mold and mildew pose health risks; they can cause throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, coughing, wheezing, and skin and eye irritation. Some people are even allergic to these substances, which can have further consequences.

If you experience these issues at any time, call us at Gutter Maid. As one of the best gutter installation companies in Frederick, Maryland, we know how to safely and responsibly install, repair, and clean your gutters. You’ll avoid even the worse gutter-related issues with our services. Give us a call for a consultation, or fill out our online questionnaire.

Warm weather, sunshine, and children playing outside are all signs of the summer season. Many people enjoy the comfort and leisure of outdoor activities too. However, summer is also a time for leaves, animals, bugs, pollens, and other natural debris that can trigger allergies. Even more, this debris can collect in your gutters and clog them. Fortunately, these tips for maintaining your gutters this summer will help you avoid any issues with your rainwater drainage system.

Make Regular Inspections

While the warm air and sunny climate welcome you to summer’s beauty, it’s important not to forget your gutters. As one of the most exposed parts of your home, it’s important to keep regular maintenance on them throughout these months. The best way to do this is through weekly inspections. This way, you can detect any wear, uneven areas, loose brackets, or leaks. Assess these issues and fix the ones you can. Any serious issues may require a professional.

Use Gutter Guards

One simple way to protect your gutters from debris is to install gutter guards. Gutter guards are pieces you can attach to the gutter that block outside material. There are many gutter guards to choose from, like mesh, reverse curve, and screen. Mesh guards have small slots that allow water to run through and stop block twigs or other debris. Reverse curve guards use a unique design in which water does not pass through but rather flows over the top and around a downward curve. Debris slide off the edge and fall to the ground. Lastly, screen guards are like mesh guards but come at a cheaper price point.

Be Careful

Anyone who decides to repair their own gutters must be careful. You should always wear gloves whenever cleaning out your gutters, since you don’t know what type of debris collects there. You must also make sure your ladder is secure. People often sustain injuries from home improvement projects. While it might not seem like the most dangerous chore, gutter cleaning or repair can cause serious injury if you’re not careful. Not to mention, there’s a risk that you can damage your gutter systems if don’t know about proper maintenance techniques.

Hire a Professional

Another tip to maintain your gutters in the summer is to hire a professional gutter cleaning service. They understand how to properly inspect, clean, repair, and install your gutters through fail-safe skills. Your professional gutter service can recommend and install the right gutter guard for you. With their knowledge and expertise, professional gutter services address your gutters and downspouts in a way that guarantees little-to-no further issues.

Any homeowner who needs their gutters cleaned, repaired, or installed should call us at Gutter Maid. As a gutter installation contractor, we understand the importance of a properly maintained home drainage system. We have the experience to fix any apartment, condo, or home. Contact us today to get started.