Category Archives: Inspiration

DIY Idea: Gutter Garden Planters


Do you have old gutters lying around that you’re not sure what to do with? If you’ve recently had your gutters replaced and still have the old ones lying around, what better way to make use of them than a Do-It-Yourself project! Gutter planters, using rain gutters to plant herbs and flowers, is a creative way to make use of your old gutters. Not only does it create a beautiful addition to your home or garden, but it’s also a space and cost saver. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of different DIY gutter planters so you can choose one (or more than one!) that works for you and get to planting. Hanging Gutter Planter Stand  by Her Tool Belt Learn how to make a hanging gutter planter stand for a fresh herb garden with this DIY tutorial from Her Tool Belt. Make it your own by choosing a paint color to match your home or garden, and planting whatever herbs you use most often. Hanging Gutter Planter by The Creative Mom This gutter planter by The Creative Mom offers a wonderful way to save space and add instant curb appeal to your home. If you’ve been wanting to add flowers to your front porch and don’t have the room, or want a beautiful and easy addition for your garden, this DIY is for you. Rain Gutter Planter by A Girl & A Glue Gun A Girl & A Glue Gun offers another option for a hanging gutter planter. This tutorial allows you to make the planter your own with by adding labels and words of inspiration. It also mixes in traditional pots in case you don’t have enough gutter to make a full hanging planter! How to Use Gutters to Dress Up Your Fence by Instructables If you’re working with a small yard, this DIY will be the choice for you. By attaching the gutter planters to your fence, this DIY will allow you to save space in your yard and garden while still adding the beauty and convenience of the previous planters. How To Make A Hanging Gutter Garden by Goods Home Design This hanging planter from Goods Home Design uses half round gutters instead of K-Style, creating a distinctive look from the previous DIYs. Add style and color to your home by planting colorful flowers and hanging them up. These are just a few of the gutter planter DIYs that exist, but they’re a great start if you’re interested in making something out of your leftover gutter material. If you try any of these ideas, make sure to share it with us on Facebook or Twitter. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Cleaning Patio Furniture


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Patio Furniture Clean Up. This summer choose a sunny, warmer day to pull your patio furniture out of storage and deep clean it if you have not yet. Like we’ve said above, choose a sunny day. It give your furniture and cushions ( if washable) time to dry. Before you get started, gather all your materials such as: soap, glass cleaner, bucket, water, sponges and your garden hose. Choose cleaning method based on the type of patio furniture you have. Below we have 4 different methods for wicker, wrought iron, wood, and plastic, as well as cushions and the umbrella. PLASTIC FURNITURE Bring all the furniture and set it on a concrete slab. Mix 1/4 cup of mild dish soap with one gallon of water, then dip a brush or sponge and scrub furniture. After you give them a good scrub, rinse with water and let them air dry. If you notice water spots, wipe them with a cloth. The same cleaning method can be used for glass top furniture and after they dry, spray with glass cleaner and wipe clean with cloth. WICKER FURNITURE For wicker furniture, use a soft bristle brush and the soap mix from above. This will dislodge dirt and remove stains. Rinse with garden hose and let air dry. WOOD PATIO FURNITURE For wood furniture, the cleaning mix is a little different. Combine two oz of bleach with one gallon of hot water. Use a sponge and apply to furniture. Let it sit for 15 mintutes and use a soft brush to scrub. Scrub WITH the grain not against. Rinse with garden hose and let air dry. WROUGHT IRON FURNITURE Wrought iron furniture can be a bit trickier to clean, especially if there’s rust. If there is rust, remove the rust with sandpaper and repaint as needed. If there is no rust then you can wash your furniture with a soap mixture used for the plastic chairs. After you rinse the soap off the furniture you can take an extra step and finish with a coat of wax. CLEANING CUSHIONS To clean cushions, lay them out on a hard, clean surface, but don’t put them on grass or dirt. Spray the cushions with a hose using the nozzle attachment, then pour dish soap onto a wet sponge and scour the cushions. Rinse your cushions clean with the hose until all the soap is gone. Kneel on each cushion, pressing it from top to bottom, to squeeze the water out, also flip the cushions every few hours so both sides can dry. If your cushions did not make it or are old, you can toss them out or just replace the fabric on them. DON’T FORGET THE UMBRELLA To clean a patio umbrella, place old sheets on the ground, then spread the opened umbrella out on top of the sheets. Use soapy water and a scrub brush to remove dirt, then rinse it thoroughly with a hose. Let the umbrella air dry completely before putting it back up. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Fall Decor Tips


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Fall Decor Tips Fall Decor Tips. Are you wanting to boost your curb appeal without really changing your home this fall? Add some simple fall decor to bring the fall season into swing. Mums The Word Mums are a great fall flower. With their bright and fun colors, it get anyone into the fall season. If the exterior of your home has a color scheme, find mums that fit into that scheme ( they come in all sorts of colors).   Pumpkins & Gourds Pumpkins and gourds are not long meant for thanksgiving decor and jack-o-lanterns. There are tons of different tutorials on different styles on decorating pumpkins and gourds. Check out our exterior decorating page on pinterest for some great tutorials and looks.   Festive Fall Wreath As cheesy as it sounds, a good festive wreath can really boost your homes exterior. It looks festive and inviting all at the same time by adding a pop of color and flair to your home. If you can’t find one you like at the store there are hundreds of different styles and types that you can make or buy online via Pinterest. The possibilities are endless. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Summer Projects


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Summer Projects Summer Projects are here and that means time for outdoor projects to keep your home looking great. Help you enjoy the nice warm weather too. We have a few suggestions to get your home looking fresh and new while saving you some money in the long run. Clean Your Gutters We cannot stress this enough! If you haven’t already cleaned your gutters for the spring. It’s a good time to do it. We suggest that your clean your gutters at a minimum of twice a year and if you live in an area where there are more trees, you may need to clean them out more times a year. Power Wash Deck/Patio/Walkways You may not think about it but something as simple as power-washing your walkways, patio and deck can really brighten your homes curb appeal. If needed, re-seal or re-stain your deck/patio/walkway to ensure long-lasting appeal. Update Your Landscaping Is the landscaping around your home looking a bit lackluster as of late? Give it an update by adding a flowerbed or new plant to really give it a new look! Check out our Gardening pinterest page for inspiration and get to work!   Replacing Your Roof or Siding If you need to or just have the extra money to, replace your roof or siding to give your home a bright new look!   For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or gutter leaf guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and make sure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Summer Gutter Maintenance


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Summer Gutter Maintenance Summer is fast approaching and that means the hot weather and summer thunderstorms will be soaking your gutters and then allowing leaves and other debris to accumulate since the water will dry up faster (due to heat). This is why it’s important to already have your gutters cleaned out. Another important thing to do during the summer is if you are planning on it add gutter guards! Summer is the perfect time to invest in gutter guards on your home. It can prevent clogs from happening as well as making it an easier task when fall rolls around. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or gutter leaf guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and make sure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Spring Yard Maintenance


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Spring Yard Maintenance Spring is here and it’s time to get the outside of your home looking as great as the inside. This means a little Spring yard maintenance. We have a small checklist to get you on the right track. Clean Your Gutters This needs to be done before you do any other type of yard work, unless you have trees above your branches that could get debris in them. For more tips of DIY gutter cleaning please view our previous post on the subject,but if you are looking for a professional gutter cleaning service ( like gutters & guards, Inc.) please call today and get an appointment set up before the spring time rush hits. Prune Dead Or Damaged Branches from Trees and Bushes Taking care of dead or damaged trees/bush branches can not only promoting a fuller plant. It can protect your home from a dead branch from falling on your home. Use the proper trimming tool to trim up those bushes. If the trees around your home are too large, please hire a professional. Clean Debris From Flower Beds And Around Plants In the fall we rake our yard to clean up the leaves but it’s nearly impossible to rid your yard completely. Clean out your flowers beds and remove mulch if you have old mulch from last year. Compost ( If you want) Why not start a small composting bin to let nature do it thing. Rid your yard of all the debris. It’s also a great place to put the gutter debris after you clean your gutters! Prep Your Lawn For Seeding Spring is a great time to reseed your lawn in preparation of summer. Use a rake to loosen the problem areas and sprinkle with grass seeding of choice. Neaten Up Hardscape Your hardscape can take a real beating in the winter. With snow falling and melting moving the dirt around your hardscape stones. Brush off your stones and fill around as needed to keep that great hardscape look. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or gutter leaf guards, call us today! Gutters & Guards experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and make sure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Gutter Color Choices


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Gutter Color Choices Gutter Color Choices. Gutters are a necessity when it comes to homeowner-ship. They are important to keep your home functioning and running right. With gutters it’s not the same as it was 30 years ago, gutters can now be functional and stylish. We offer over 30+ colors in seamless aluminum gutters, as well as copper gutters. Using colors on your gutters can give your home some added curb appeal and really give it a custom home look. Below we have some examples of gutters colors paired with siding and stone that can be used for a home remodel.             To view more of our color listing please visit our Gutter Installation page where we have links to show you all of the available options of gutter colors to choose from.  Also check out our blog post that is All About Seamless Gutters. View photos to see some of the darker gutter colors. For a free estimate on gutter installation, repairs or gutter leaf guards, call us today! Gutters & GUards experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram  

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Winter Curb Appeal


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Winter Curb Appeal Winter-time is usually when you are not thinking about curb appeal and thinking more about how is my house handling this weather. We suggest that you think about both. You can do small little things to keep your home looking great when there is a foot of snow in your yard. Below is a few different suggestions to help you get your home looking great this winter.   Keep Your Pathways & Walkways Clear Slipping can be a dangerous thing to happen in the winter. Making sure that you always have plenty of de-icer and a snow shovel handy is important for making this happen and keeping your walkways pedestrian safe. You can also see if your gutters are leaking. If you see a slick spot (or happen to find one) this will let you know that your gutters may have a problem that needs to be addressed when it’s warmer. Take a photo so you want to remember the spot when it gets warmer. It not only gives your home some great winter curb appeal; it keeps your family safe. Exterior Lighting This can be an important part of keeping around your home safe. Since the days are shorter and it gets darker earlier, it’s a pretty smart investment when it comes to safety around the home. There are lots of different ideas to choose from when it comes to exterior lighting. We really like this idea (link). It gives this home almost a fairy-tale look. If whimsical isn’t your style there are also some really great lighting hardware that can bring light to your home while keeping a more conservative look.We suggest something more modern and sleek, such as this (link) Whatever you choose you can rest knowing that your home is a little more safer when you can see where you’re going. Winter Decor Add a festive wreath to your entry door, or decorating your empty flower boxes with a seasonal flowers.   Using evergreens and other fake plants would be easier to manage especially when the temperature drops down into those brisk/cold days. Though this is more of a holiday design it could last all year-long. (link) If that isn’t something you’d want to keep all winter long you can add a bird house or something else to keep your flower box full during the winter months (link). Don’t forget about a wreath. Wreaths are a fast and creative way to add curb appeal and charm to your home.  We found a fantastic guide with over 35+ different wreath ideas that range from holiday to just winter themed. (link) To learn more about winter curb appeal please visit our pinterest board Outdoor Decor. For a free estimate on heated gutter guards, adding regular gutter guards or gutter repairs, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Thanksgiving Home Prep


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Thanksgiving Home Prep It’s the week of Thanksgiving and that can mean a real busy schedule, especially if you are hosting a dinner this Thursday. If you are not hosting and being a visitor this Thanksgiving, you might want to contact your host to see if you can help out by bringing a dish or something. Also plan out your traveling. If you have pets make sure it’s okay that you bring them along or plan to board them. If you plan on hosting Thanksgiving this year, we have a few tips to help you get through the week. Week Of Plan your menu/cooking schedule. This will help you plan out your morning of Thanksgiving better and allow for you to pick up all that you will need at the supermarket. We suggest 2-3 days before the day that you shop for perishables. That may include your turkey depending on if you found one before or not. Day Before Tidy up the house. Mainly just the rooms that your guests will be in the most. You could recruit some help from your family to make it go a little faster. Make sure you give that bathroom a good scrub down and check your toilet paper levels to assure that you have plenty. Decorate if you haven’t already. Sweep your entrance way and maybe add some cute crafts or decor to get everyone in the Thanksgiving spirit. Here is a great board from All You Magazine that will help get your home in the spirit. Enjoy and have fun with it! Set the table. This includes the kids table as well. You can place all the dishes, placecards, flowers and anything else that will be fine sitting out on the table overnight. Prep your serving dishes. Find all your serving dishing and have them ready to transfer the cooked food into the next day. It may even help to have them in the order you will need them as your follow your cooking schedule. Thaw out anything that may take some time to unthaw, such as your turkey. Day Of Start with the turkey. It takes the longest to cook thoroughly. Have sink filled with soapy water so you can wash dishes as you go. After everyone gets their first plate make sure to cover all the leftovers until you place them in Tupperware to keep in the fridge. This will prevent food-borne illnesses. Enjoy your company! For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Hanging Lights On Gutters Part 2


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hanging lights on gutters With the holiday season right around the corner, homeowners are already hanging lights on gutters. We already posted a blog about hanging lights on gutter guards which you can still ready up about if you’re looking for ways to just attach them to your gutters, if you don’t have gutter guards on your home and the fascia board is much too low for your tastes. We suggest using all-in-one gutter clips. They will hold the lights and firmly attach to your gutters. They’re also light so your gutters will not be strained in any way. Before you start hanging gutters it’s important to plan. Choose the style and colors of lights you want to use.  LED lights not only save energy but you can connect up to 25 strains. This could save you a lot of time, money and planning on where to plug in all the extension cords you’d need. With Incandecent lights you can only connect 2-3 strains. Next you need to choose where you want to place lights. We suggest drawing and outline of your home and marking where you want lights. Popular places to hang lights are: Rooflines/Eaves Bushes/ Trees Pillers/Posts/Railings Window/Door Frames Driveway/Pathways Planters/Window Boxes Choose 2-3 places and plan if you want to use regular bulbs or icicles. Also if you want to use colored, white or a mixture. Just don’t overdo it. Check your lights to make sure they’re in working order before you hang them. Do not use lights with frayed wires. This is a fire hazard. Make sure to have a helper to help it go faster and to help you keep it straight. Ladder safety is also an important part too. To learn more about ladder safety check out our ladder safety post. After you get all your lights set make sure to use a timer. That way you’re not wasting energy during the day and you don’t need to keep your lights all night. If you follow these few steps, hanging lights should be a breeze this year. Just make sure to choose a night, dry day. Also make sure your gutters are clean before you start hanging lights. If not this could cause problems and a big mess to clean up.  For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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