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Warning Signs You Need New Gutters

Warning Signs You Need New Gutters

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.

What type of Leaf Protection Systems is best for your home?

What is the best type of leaf protection for my gutters

 

If you’re having gutter cleanings performed regularly only to find them filling with debris again within a few short weeks, you may want to consider adding a leaf protection system. GutterMaid can install all types of leaf protection systems. Here are four common types of systems along with the pros/cons and pricing for each. You will find a base system can be very affordable and perfect for keeping your gutters functional in between gutter cleanings.

Tips for Maintaining Your Gutters This Summer

Tips for Maintaining Your Gutters This Summer

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.

Seamless Gutter and EZ Lock Leaf Protection Installation

After gutter installation

 

Not only do outdated spikes look terrible in your gutters, but they are prone to pulling loose, especially with the added weight of snow and debris. We installed new seamless gutters using premium grade hidden hangers—the strongest and most durable brackets on the market. We also replaced this customer’s old hardware store-bought leaf protection, with a sturdy powder coated leaf protection system by EZ Lock.

Top Reasons You Should Hire a Pro to Install Gutters

Top Reasons You Should Hire a Pro to Install Gutters

Anyone can complete tasks such as taking out the garbage, cleaning the dishes, or walking their dogs, but professionals must complete more complex jobs. This might include car repairs or large projects such as a kitchen remodel or gutter repair. In fact, there are several top reasons you should hire a pro to install gutters—it will save you time and money and help you avoid any unnecessary mistakes in the process.

They’re Experienced

Gutter installers are professionals, meaning they’re knowledgeable and skilled in their duties. This might seem obvious, but for a home feature such as your gutters, this detail is incredibly important. Professional gutter installers understand how to clean, repair, and install gutters and downspouts around your property, with the best installation methods and tools at their disposal. Not to mention, they can recommend different gutter materials, styles, and gutter protection to provide the best gutter system for your home.

It’s Time- and Cost-Efficient

When you hire a professional, you save much-needed time and money that you’d otherwise waste trying to install your gutters yourself. You don’t want to make any mistakes that could ruin your gutters. Otherwise, you risk spending more time and money on fixing these issues than you would save if you hired a professional. With a pro, you won’t waste hours, days, weeks, or longer on a DIY home improvement project that demands time and attention. Professional gutter installers know how to perform the task on time, and they’ll save you money on materials such as downspouts, clips, and guards.

You Avoid Serious Mistakes

Your gutters do more than just transfer rainwater to the ground: they also protect your roof and siding from water or weather damage. In other words, it’s important to install your gutters properly so that they can effectively do this. Clogged or misaligned gutters can cause water damage to your foundation, siding, and roof, which can in turn cause these areas to rot and grow mold. This may damage your home and your health. Avoid all of this and simply call a professional gutter installation service to save you from these serious issues.

Fortunately, Gutter Maid provides premium gutter installation in Ellicot City, Maryland. We offer affordable prices to provide hands-on debris removal and gutter repair. We can also flush out your gutters or repair damaged pipe collars. Fill out our online questionnaire to schedule your gutter cleaning service today!

Front Porch Addition and New Garage • Frederick, Maryland

Porch and garage gutter installation in Frederick MD

This customer in Frederick, Maryland needed gutters for his new front porch addition and new garage. We were able to match his existing 6 inch Musket Brown gutters perfectly.

GutterMaid is continuing to work hard to provide customers service throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Our service does not require physical customer interaction, so you can be assured the working environment is safe. We communicate details of each service through phone and email from start to finish, and photos of your service are emailed upon completion.

Most Common DIY Gutter Installation Mistakes

Most Common DIY Gutter Installation Mistakes

Many homeowners take great pride in their residences, and they want to be in control of every project or renovation. Amateurs can complete some home projects on their own, but only a professional should complete certain types of projects—including gutter installation. Below you’ll find some of the most common DIY gutter installation mistakes people make. Take note of these before you attempt this type of project—or better yet, call a professional to handle it.

Choosing the Wrong Type

One of the biggest mistakes people make with their DIY gutter installations is choosing the incorrect type of gutter. size of the home and the regional rainfall impact which type of gutter you should use. It’s important to decide between half-round gutters, K-style gutters, and fascia gutters. Each of these styles can use different materials, depending on your budget and preference. These materials include aluminum, copper, zinc, or even vinyl. You can also pick between sectional and seamless gutters. Sectional gutters are cheaper, but misplacing the seams can cause more issues in the future.

Choosing the Wrong Size

Another common issue many homeowners experience with their gutters is choosing the wrong size. The size will depend on the amount of rainfall your area receives and the layout of the home. The steeper the roof pitch, the more rainwater will collect. Don’t forget about snow and ice: cold climates risk ice dams building up in the gutter systems. This may require heat cables to melt any ice that block the gutters or downspouts.

Incorrect Placement

Some people make the mistake of placing their gutter hangers too far apart. Gutter hangers that are spread too far can sag and possibly break. A sagging gutter can cause water to overflow, which may cause the landscape near a home’s foundation to erode. This could weaken the foundation and even cause a flooded basement. Gutter hangers should be spaced approximately two to three feet apart from each other.

Improper Roof Pitch

Failing to account for the roof pitch can cause its own issues. Rainwater should travel down your roof directly to your gutter and downspouts. If it’s not steep enough, water can pool and damage your roof. This can lead to mold grown and weaken the structure. Ultimately, installing the gutters yourself can lead to a mistake with this and cause further structural issues.

Injury

Of course, doing any outside project without the proper knowledge can increase the chances of injuring yourself. When dealing with great heights such as with your gutter system, you can fall or put yourself at serious risk of doing so. Even with someone helping you, you could still end up in the emergency room.

For these reasons, you should always allow a professional to take care of your gutters. Fortunately, we at Gutter Maid specialize in gutter repair and installation. We offer copper, galvanized, and aluminum gutter systems for your home.

Total Transformation in Frederick, Maryland

Did you know? exterior renovations have one of the highest returns on your investment

Did you know that exterior renovations have one of the highest returns on your investment? We replaced compromised fascia, installed new aluminum fascia wrap, new vinyl soffit, and new 6 inch seamless gutters on this house. Not only does this protect our client’s home from the elements, but it adds great aesthetic and resale value as well. Total transformation for our client in Frederick, Maryland!

Tips for Preventing Gutter Damage

Tips for Preventing Gutter Damage

Gutters are some of the most vulnerable parts of any residence. They withstand weather, seasonal changes, and outdoor factors more than other components of a house. Given this, it’s no surprise that your gutters get damaged. Fortunately, these tips for preventing gutter damage will ensure your gutters remain stable and in good condition all year long.

Hail Damage

The best way to prevent hail damage is to have gutters made from heavy-duty materials, such as copper or stainless steel. These are the strongest gutter materials available and will resist impact from hail and other extreme weather conditions. Replace the brackets in the spring, summer, or fall to secure your gutter system in place. Since hail can damage your roof and siding too, nail down any loose shingles during the non-winter seasons to avoid further structural damage.

Snow Damage

For the snow, it’s best to install a de-icing system to avoid any ice dams or snow build-up. During the extreme cold, water can freeze inside your gutters which can cause them to expand and break. While proper insulation can help prevent this, the best solution is to install a heat cable through the gutters to melt ice and keep your gutters and downspouts clear.

Water Damage

While it might sound counter-intuitive for water to damage your gutters, it can happen. A good way to minimize water damage is to layer your gutters with water-resistant paint. This will seal any cracks or leaks that developed.

Foundational Damage

Damaged gutters can ruin your home’s structural integrity. As the gutters overflow, the water can pool on the roof and cause leaks and mold growth. It can also drip down and collect at the home’s base which can flood the basement or ground floor. To prevent this, point and extend your downspout away from your home to prevent water from collecting around your foundation. It’s also good to perform preventative maintenance around your home with routine checks at the base of your house to see if it sinks.

Clogged Gutters

Arguably, the best way to prevent clogged gutters to install gutter guards. These prevent debris from collecting. When gutters clog, they can lead to roof damage, pests, and a flooded basement. Keep in mind the different types of gutter guards available. There are mesh gutter guards, bottlebrush guards, metal or wire screen guards, foam guards, and reverse curve guards depending on your budget and preference.

Overflowing

There are many reasons why gutters overflow, but the main ones are excess debris, misalignment, too much rain, and simply not enough gutters or downspouts. It’s easy to clean the inside of your gutters, but you should also inspect any misalignment or other structural issues.

With all said and done, you should also have your gutter properly inspected. At Gutter Maid, we specialize in gutter installation in Bowie, Maryland. Our gutter installation and repair guarantee a top-quality gutter system for your residence. Call us today!