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How To Prevent Slick Spots On Your Sidewalk


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How To Prevent Slick Spots On Your Sidewalk. No matter how well the snow and ice are removed from sidewalks, parking lots and the surrounding streets, people will invariably encounter some slippery surfaces when walking outdoors in the winter. Many cold-weather injuries are the result of falls on ice-covered streets and sidewalks. Walking on snow or ice is especially treacherous. Getting around in icy conditions calls for planning, caution, and a little common sense: Dress warmly and wear boots with non-skid soles (avoid plastic and leather soles). When entering a building, remove as much snow and water from your boots as possible. Take notice that floors and stairs may be wet and slippery. Walk carefully. Be prepared to fall and try to avoid using your arms to break your fall. If you fall backward, make a conscious effort to tuck your chin so your head doesn’t strike the ground with full force. Streets and sidewalks that have been cleared of snow and ice should still be approached with caution. Look out for “black ice.” Dew, fog or water vapor can freeze on cold surfaces and form an extra-thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that can look like a wet spot on the pavement. It often shows up early in the morning or in areas that are shaded from the sun. Eliminating Snow and Ice Pay attention to weather predictions in your area. This will allow you to buy shovels or de-icers if you do not already have them. It will also help you predict whether you will be dealing with freezing rain or light, fluffy snow which require different techniques. Apply a de-icer early in an ice storm, or a storm with heavy wet snow. You can choose between sand, rock salt, potassium chloride and other products. Keep up with shoveling once the snow starts if possible. If it is only a powdery snow, you can just brush it away with a broom. If you cannot keep up with it, just shovel it all away at the end of the storm. For more information about protecting your gutters or 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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Spring Gutter Cleaning & Repairs


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Spring Gutter Cleaning & Repairs Spring Gutter Cleaning & Repairs are important to put on your Spring cleaning list. With budding branches and shedding dead debris, our gutters can find themselves filled mid-spring. Spring is also a rainy season. Clogged issues cause issues that may have arise in the winter months. For gutter cleaning, we have a general rule of thumb. If you are uncomfortable with heights or maybe some of your gutters are just a little too high, call a professional. If you are DIY gutter cleaning this spring, please use proper ladder safety, mind the power lines and wear sturdy shoes. Gutter Cleaning is messy work. If you have a clogged downspout to clean make sure to wear protective eyewear to avoid any dirty water or debris from getting in your eyes. Any repair work we STRONGLY suggest you call a professional. If you are thinking about installing gutter guards on your home, spring is the perfect time to do so.   For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter 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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Prevent Slick Spots


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Prevent Slick Spots Prevent Slick Spots. This winter can be a very dangerous time when ice and snow come into play. Slick spots can form on walkways due to dripping gutters. Some dripping will happen, it cannot be avoided but you can prevent the majority of it and take precautions to keep your walkways free of ice. Our first suggestion is making sure your gutters and downspouts are free of all debris and clogs. Debris and clogs in your gutters can cause water to overflow and run over your gutters. This can be avoided very easily by cleaning your gutters out at the very end of fall/ beginning of winter. This will allow water/melted snow to run easily out of your gutters. Another tip is to rake snow off of your roof. When snow begins to build up on the edge of your roof, rake it off. Leaving the snow there can cause ice dams to form, creating a large leaking water supply to find itself on your walkways. It can also cause ice icicle to form. Although ice icicles can happen no matter what you do to prevent it ( besides install heated gutter guards), you can give them less to form on and have less to worry about. Our third tip is to salt your walkways after you have cleared them. This will help melt the snow and give your a dry surface to walk on.

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Frozen Downspouts


Frozen Downspouts Frozen Downspouts. Ice happens in the winter months. You cannot prevent mother nature for happening but you can prevent the amount of build up that is left to freeze. Frozen downspouts can happen and when they do, this is the best course of action to take. Frozen downspouts; Now what to do. Typically in this part of Virginia, a cold snap doesn’t last too long unless there is snow involved. Check the weather. If the temperatures are rising above freezing in a couple days, let it go. As long as your gutters are clean and free of debris you should be fine and the ice will melt and water will move away from your home, like normal. If the ice is building up at the bottom of your downspout, clear the snow away from it and this will give the ice/water room to move.   If the weather seems like it will be at or below freezing for a while. Take some action. Heavy frozen ice can cause a lot of damage and put A LOT of weight on your gutters. As the weight increases the odds of your gutters or downspouts tearing away from your home go up. This can lead to bigger fixes such as water leaks or improper drainage.   A good way to unthaw a downspout that has frozen at the bottom is by using VERY hot water to melt it. If it’s frozen throughout the downspout, you can climb a ladder and pour water into the top, which can unthaw mild ice buildup. If the inside doesn’t work, try the OUTSIDE of the downspout. Never use force because this can truly mess up your downspout. Also never climb a ladder in wet conditions. It’s too dangerous and never worth the risk. 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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Proper Ladder Safety


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Proper Ladder Safety Proper Ladder Safety is a vitally important part of home maintenance. A step between a job well done and very serious injury or death. It’s no joke. All of our professional practice ladder safety and perform safety inspections to ensure that every job is followed safely. We have a few tips to help you, especially if you are DIY gutter cleaning, practice proper ladder safety and keep yourself safe. We first start out by inspecting our ladders. Prior to using a ladder we check it to make sure that it is: Free Of Cracks, Splits, Corrosion And Any Protruding Nails,screws And/or Splinters. Make Sure All Steps/rungs Are Free Of Oil/grease Or Any Other Slippery Substance Steps/rungs Firmly Attached To Side Rails And Not Broken. Safety Feet/base And Other Hardware ( Screws,etc) Are In Good Condition. Movable Parts Operate Smoothly Without Binding Or Excessive Play Ropes Are In Good Condition ( For Our Extension Ladders) After ensuring that our ladder is up to safe use standards we look at: The Location Set The Ladder Up And Away From Accidentally Be Stuck Or Displaced. If Needed, Barricade Off A Highly Visible Safety Zone In Occupied Work Areas, And Walkways. Ladders Should Not Be Placed In Front Of Doors Unless Door Is Locked Or Guard Posted. Never Use A Metal Ladder Around Expose Electrical Equipment And Wiring. Keep Ladders And Tools At Least 10 Ft Away From Overhead Lines At All Times. If There Is An Issue Contact Your Utilities Department For Assistance. Keep Access To And From Ladders Clear Of Mud, Materials And Debris. Ladder Setup When Setting Up Your Ladder Make Sure That: Ladder Set Up On A Flat Surface. If Ground Is Soft And Uneven, Use A Large Piece Of Plywood To Brace Under Ladder And Provide Better Footing. NEVER Set A Ladder On Boxes, Barrels Or Other Unstable Bases To Gain Extra Height. STEP LADDERS: Always Fully Open Stepladder And Make Sure Spreader Bars Are Locked Into Place. SINGLE/EXTENSION LADDERS: For A Proper Angle, Set The Base Of The Ladder 1 Ft Away From The Wall For Every 4 Ft Of Ladder Length And Make Sure To Let The Ladder Extend 3 Ft Above Roof. Make Sure To Secure The Ladder At The Top To Prevent Slipping Sideways Or Outwards. If This Is Not Possible Tie The Ladder At The Top And Have A 2nd Person Brace The Ladder. Climbing Remember These Tips When Climbing A Ladder: Make Sure Shoes Are Free Of Mud, Grease Or Any Other Slippery Substance. Face Ladder And Use Both Hands. Maintain 3 Points Of Contact At All Times! Do Not Carry Any Tool/materials With Your Hands. Use A Tool Belt Or Raise And Lower Items By Hand Lines. NEVER Climb The Bracing Of A Stepladder ( The Smaller Looking Steps) General Use Do Not Stand/work On The Top 3 Rungs Of A Single/ Extension Ladder. For Stepladders, Do Not Stand/work On The Topcap Or First Step. “Belt Buckle Rule”: Stay Centered, Don’t Let Your Belt Buckle Go Past Either Side Rail When Working, Keep At Least 3 Points Of Body Contact With Ladder: ⇒ 2 Feet + [1 Hand Or Hips Or Chest] Only One Person At A Time On A Ladder Never Adjust Or Move Ladder While On The Ladder Avoid Working On Ladders In High Winds Or Wet Conditions. Use these guidelines and some common sense and you will be less at risk. We know that accidents do happen, we just want to make sure that you have less of a chance for an accident if you choose to DIY gutter clean. If you do not have the right materials, tools or time to DIY please give us a call. ( source) For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter 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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Underground Downspout Clogged


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Underground Downspout Clogged Sometimes when gutter clogs are bad, they’re hard to fix. If you get an underground downspout clogged, it can mean a lot of work is ahead of you. Unclogging an underground downspout is not easy, the biggest reason is because it’s underground and unlike a normal downspout, you cannot just remove it and find the clog. Many things can cause your underground downspout to clog such dirt and leaves, tree roots, or from being crushed by concrete trucks driving on the lawn, a common occurrence during remodels. If you remove the connector that directs water into your underground downspout and you see dirt and leaves poking out. Remove this debris to see if it goes further. Make sure that you have a good pair of gloves on!  You can use a hand-held snake ( do not use a power snake. These are too powerful for your corrugated plastic pipes. If it seems like nothing is happening, you may need to call in a professional to have them take a look and it might lead to a complete replacement. Whatever the issue, do not let it happen for too long. This can cause major foundation damages and end up costing you a lot more. Let your gutter cleaning worries be behind you! 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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Gutter Maintenance Tip #25 – Clean House From Top To Bottom


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Clean House From Top To Bottom When cleaning out your gutters, clean house from top to bottom. By this we mean, start with removing leaves and debris on your roof, then clean your gutters, and finish with raking the leaves on the ground. If you cannot reach debris on your roof from a ladder. DO NOT attempt to climb on your roof. It’s far too dangerous and a professional should be called. There are roof rakes that you can use to get debris from your roof. If you are wondering why it’s important to remove debris from your roof, it’s because leaving debris on your roof for too long can cause leaks and other moisture damages. 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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Gutter Maintenance Tips #23 – Rake Off Roof


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Rake Off Roof during gutter cleanings Rake Off Roof. Cleaning your gutters is a very laborious task. When you are cleaning your gutters, make sure to rake off roof. This prevents debris from ending up in your gutters after you already spend your last weekend cleaning gutters. Also any debris left of the roof can lead to water damming up in valleys or around chimney, which can lead to erosion and roof leaks over time. Save yourself the time and money now by taking the time to rake off roof. If you do not have to right tools or feel uneasy about raking the debris off your roof, please hire a professional to do it for you. If you are going to DIY please remember to use proper ladder safety, wear protective eye wear and protective gloves as well. You never know what could be hiding in all that debris. 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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Gutter Maintenance Tips #22 – Inspect Ladder Before Using It


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Inspect Ladder Before Using It When you pull out your ladder to do your bi-yearly gutter clean, inspect ladder before using it to ensure that they are no defects, dents or loose parts before climbing up on it. If your ladder has screws and bolts make sure they are all tightened, for a step ladder look to make sure extension-hinge arms are fully extended and locked in place. If the ladder looks good and safe, it’s safe to use. When you put your ladder into place, lightly jump on the first rung to make sure the ground is secure. That will let you know if the soil is too soft or if there is a gopher hole. If it’s uneven add a 1/2″ piece of plywood to keep it level and steady. If nothing seems to help, do not climb; Wait until the ground it harder. If you are unsure about using your ladder, scared of height or uncomfortable in any other way, please hire a professional to clean your gutters. 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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Gutter Maintenance Tips #19 – Watch For Power Line Hazards


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Watch For Power Line Hazards Be mindful of power line hazards when clean your gutters out. When cleaning gutters around a power line cable that drops from the power pole to the roof of a building, conduct a visual inspection before climbing near it. Look to see if the protective wire insulation hasn’t rubbed off through years of wear-and-tear by weather and nearby trees. If it looks like it does have damage, DO NOT attempt to repair it. Call the professionals!!  If it’s raining or there is a wire problem DO NOT attempt to clean out your gutters until it is fixed. Plus it’s never a good idea to clean out your gutters while it’s raining. Ladders can get slippery. If you do not want to hassle with it, call a professional. 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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