AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
PART 1
ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION Gutters play a key role in preventing water from causing damage to not just a roof but also the rest of a home. As such, making the effort to ensure that your gutter system is installed properly will benefit not just your roof but also your entire property. How does proper installation affect gutter quality?
AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION
IT REQUIRES SKILL AND EXPERIENCE
Gutters have to be installed in a certain way and that calls for a particular set of skills and experience. There’s always been a huge debate between professional and do-it-yourself projects, and while not having to pay for professional services may look like a benefit, doing a DIY should only be an option when you already have substantial experience with gutters. Professionals, on the other hand, deal with gutter issues all the time, giving them the opportunity to hone their skills and gain experience, which they can then use to your benefit.
IT USES THE RIGHT MATERIALS
Gutters can be made of different materials and each option has its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, some materials offer better durability while others boast of lower cost and ease of maintenance. Different homeowners have different needs and properly installing a gutter system means using the right materials to address those needs. AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION
IT UTILIZES THE RIGHT SYSTEM
How a gutter system is assembled will also have an impact on the level of maintenance you will have to carry out over time. The choice usually boils down to two options: seamless gutters and sectioned gutters. Seamless gutters are designed to be more leak resistant, but sectioned gutters can be repaired more easily.
IT IS REASONABLY PRICED
It is true that you get what you pay for but this doesn’t automatically mean that the more expensive, higher-end gutter system is always the better option. Alternatively, you shouldn’t zoom in on a gutter system just because it has the lowest price tag, even when you have to work with a budget. There are a number of gutter options you can choose from and it’s important to go over them to ensure you pick out the best one for you.
Proper installation makes it easier to avoid gutter problems, but special features can also help. Learn more about these features in Part 2 of this e-book. AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
PART 2
FEATURES THAT IMPROVE GUTTER SYSTEMS There’s more to an efficient gutter system than a series of troughs and pipes, what with different features coming into play to improve appearance, durability, and even how gutters channel water safely away from the home.
AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
FEATURES THAT IMPROVE GUTTER SYSTEMS
What are these features? Some of them include: Gutter Guards. Gutter guards act as physical barriers to prevent dirt and debris from falling into and accumulating in the gutter trough. They come in different forms but all are designed to prevent a gutter system from clogging. Paint. One of the most obvious yet overlooked features of a gutter system is its paint job. Aside from making a gutter system blend in with the rest of a home, it also acts as a shield, keeping moisture and ultraviolet rays from causing wear and tear. In some cases (especially in older gutter systems), multiple layers of paint may be used to boost protection against the elements. Brackets. Aside from the fasteners that keep a gutter system attached to the fascia, brackets provide structural support for the trough, making sure it doesn’t collapse under all the weight of the water flowing through the gutter system. Brackets can be placed over, under, or inside the trough, as well as on both sides of the downspout, depending on a gutter system’s design and a homeowner’s preference. Screws. Unlike older gutter systems secured by nails, today’s gutters mostly rely on screws now to be held in place. Screws have treads, providing them added grip which helps ensure gutter systems stay firmly attached no matter what. AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
FEATURES THAT IMPROVE GUTTER SYSTEMS
These features appear commonplace but they impart a great deal in making sure that gutter systems not only last through the worst storms but that they efficiently direct water away as well as they are designed to. Alone, each feature may not be striking, but together they contribute towards achieving excellent form and function for a gutter.
Proper installation? Check. Helpful features? Check. In the next part, we’ll be talking about care tips you can practice to further save you from gutter problems. Read on to learn more!
AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
PART 3
GUTTER CARE TIPS Gutters may be built to last but they’ll definitely benefit from getting some TLC from you. As they can affect your entire home, caring for gutters will go a long way towards ensuring your property is in top shape at all times.
AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
GUTTER CARE TIPS
Some of the gutter care tips you should keep in mind include:
KEEP YOUR GUTTER CLEAN
Dirt and debris will accumulate on your gutters so it’s important to keep them clean at all times to prevent clogs. If you got gutter guards though, cleaning gutters will be a thing of the past because your gutter system is already shielded from dirt and debris. However, gutter exteriors may still accumulate dirt parts like seams and downspouts may still require your attention from time to time. For your convenience, you can schedule cleaning your gutters alongside other seasonal maintenance tasks, preparing your home for the changing of the seasons in one go.
INSPECT YOUR GUTTERS ONCE IN A WHILE
Over time, gutters will succumb to wear and tear, possibly springing leaks or getting misaligned when that happens.Regularly inspecting your gutters will help you catch these problems before they worsen, allowing for a simpler, cheaper remedy.
GET RID OF NEARBY FOLIAGE
One of the biggest causes of gutter clogs is foliage building up on gutter troughs. Even with gutter guards already installed, it’d be best to have overhanging tree branches trimmed off so you don’t run the risk of having anything falling on your gutter and damaging it.
AVOID PUTTING UNNECESSARY WEIGHT ON THE GUTTER
Durable as it may be, a gutter system is not designed to support heavy objects. The additional weight can bend a gutter out of shape and deform seams or weaken the entire system’s structural integrity, meaning ladders and big broken branches from nearby trees have no place resting on your gutters. AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES
HOME SOLUTIONS
Midwest 603 South 1st Ave. Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-473-4106
www.homesolutionsmidwest.com
AVOIDING BIG GUTTER REPLACEMENT MISTAKES