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Gutters Pulling Away From Home


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Why are my Gutters Pulling Away From Home? This is a very common question that we are often asked and issue we run into. Gutters pulling away from home can be caused by a couple things. Fascia board can be rotten or the gutters could be weighted down ( by debris or water) making them sag. If gutters start to sag in the winter, it could be because of snow especially if there was a lot of accumulation. The gutter system should make sure that the water moves off and away from your home but they do require maintenance. We suggest gutter cleanings at least twice a year, more if there are a lot of trees around your home. Gutters are secured to the fascia board with spikes or hangers. We, at Gutters & Guards, use hidden hangers. These hangers are not visible from the ground and in our opinion, they are much stronger than spikes. A couple ways you can prevent this is by installing gutter guards or by cleaning your gutters. If you notice that your gutter are not properly draining, check them and see if they are holding water. Clean gutters make it easier to tell if your gutters are holding water because of failing fascia board. Taking care of the gutter system on your home is one of the ways to preserve the life of your home. It also adds resale value to your home, as the curb appeal is increased. Gutters should never pull away from the home. Instead, they should remain flush with the edge of the roof and be clear of any debris and standing water. 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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Bees And Gutters


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Summertime brings the bees. That means being more careful when you are working outside and around the house. Bees and gutters are a common area where they can build a nest or on a roof eave. Common areas that you will find nests are behind the fascia, gable vents, peaks, eaves, awnings and other small areas. They can be pretty easy to spot depending on the location, if not consult a professional. If you happen to randomly come upon a nest, don’t panic. Quickly just walk away or slowly go down the ladder. Acting frantically or moving quickly can be dangerous, especially if you are high in the air. Removing the can be a bit more difficult. If you are allergic to bees, hire a professional. It’s not worth it. If not, you can dress in thick clothes, gloves, hat, googles, etc. to protect yourself. The best time to protect yourself is in the evening, they are most inactive. One application or pesticide or spray should do the trick. Monitor their activity and once the hive is inactive, remove it and if the hive was in an area where bees should not be, caulk or make that area inaccessible.     In the event of a sting, the first thing to do is remain calm and balanced. Ask your pharmacist ahead of time for medication that will counteract the pain and swelling from a sting. And of course, if the situation feels serious, do not hesitate to call 911. 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 Guard Maintenance


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Gutter guards are a great way to help keep debris out of your gutters, but a little gutter guard maintenance is needed. Depending on the type of gutter guards you have, debris can get stuck on them. Mesh guards can get sappy and debris and harden onto of the screen. Plants & Other Things Growing From Your Gutters If you really allow your gutter guards to take care of debris and do not check them at least once a year, you may find that seeds, or debris can make it into your gutter and even start to grow! We suggest that you check your gutter (even with guards/covers) at least once a year for any signs of failure. Problems such as gutters pulling away from your home, or damage to your covers, can cause larger issues in the future. Large branches that land on your roof can cause debris back up and damage your gutters too. Sticky Gutter Guards Tree sap and other natural gooey substances can make your gutter covers sticky.  Mastershield Gutter Guards guarantee a no clog and that they can clean off any sticky substance (Learn more). Other gutter guards and covers do not have that guarantee and sap can accumulate on your gutter guards. To clean off the sap or other sticky substances: Dampen a rag with mineral spirits and rub the affected area until the sap is removed. Wash the item with soap and water after the sap is removed to get rid of any remnants of the mineral spirits. Soak a cotton ball with nail polish remover and gently rub the hardened sap until it is removed. Wash the metal surface with soap and water. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the sap-splattered area until all of the sap is dissolved. Wash the metal object with soap and water. (source) Dried Debris In the summer, rain will move debris off the trees and on your roof. Lighter storms won’t move larger debris as fast such as leaves and twigs. Then with the fast drying from the heat and sun, it can bake leaves on your gutters. An easy clean for this is to take a soft bristle brush and water hose and rake the debris off. For a free estimate on gutter guard maintenance, 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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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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Gutter Maintenance Tip #32 – Gutter Clog Removal


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Gutter Clog Removal Gutter Clog Removal. A clean gutter can keep your home in working order. We suggest that you clean your gutters at least twice a year, more if you have lots of trees around your home. Gutter clog removal can be a task you have to take care of if your gutters do not have covers and the amount of debris is greater than the amount of times you clean your gutters. We have a few tips on how to remove the few different types of gutter clogs. Gutter Clog At The Downspout Opening Remove all debris from gutters and downspout opening. Make sure to wear gloves and protective eyewear. You never know what can be hiding in your gutter debris. Once you have the gutter clean, run some water through it to see if actual downspout is clogged. If so please see Downspout Clog removal. Gutter Clog By Loose Hanger And/Or Spike 1. Remove all debris from gutters and downspout opening. Make sure to wear gloves and protective eyewear. 2. Reposition or repair the gutter supports as needed. You may want a professional to do this because it can be a tricky job to do. Gutter Clog At Downspout 1. Try to free the obstruction with a stick, plumbing snake, or pressure washer outfitted with a telescoping wand. 2. If you can’t reach it, simply disassemble the downspout and remove the clog. For more help on this job, please view our previous blog on downspout clog removal. Gutter Clog In Underground Downspout This is a tricky clog to unclog because the pipe is underground and can be crushed or damaged by tree roots, it could need a complete replacement or it could be an easy fix by just being clogged at the place where the pipe and downspout meets. To figure out what needs to be done, remove the boot of the bottom of the downspout to see the opening of the underground downspout area. Remove visible debris. Turn on a garden hose and force it into the underground portion of the line; the water pressure may dislodge the clog. If this does not seem to work, call a professional. They will have tools and will be able to assess the damage better. If you do not have the time or confidence in removing some of these clogs please call a professional. 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 #31 – Using Large Downspout Smaller Gutter


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Using Large Downspout Smaller Gutter Using Large Downspout Smaller Gutter. The main goal of your gutter system is to collect the rain water from your roof, rush it down the downspout and away from your home.  Using large downspout on smaller gutter might be your answer. In some cases we have used a larger (3×4) downspout on a regular 5″ gutter to help all that water flow faster and prevent overflow from occurring. If you see that your gutters are constantly overflowing around the downspout area and you’ve checked for a clog, this may be the solution. Consult with a professional  (such as Gutters & Guards, Inc.) for their opinion. Let your gutter cleaning worries be behind you! 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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Last Chance To Add Gutter Guards Before Fall


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Last Chance To Add Gutter Guards Before Fall Add Gutter Guards Before Fall comes. This is important to do because once the trees start shedding their leaves, it’s a lot tougher to get a completely clean gutter, also it’s twice as much work! If you unsure if gutter guards are what you need take a few things into consideration such as: Amount of Trees Around Your Home If you have trees surrounding your home, it’s highly likely that you have to clean your gutters out more than twice a year. Adding a gutter guard system can cut back on the amount you will have to clean out your gutters down to twice a year ( the recommended amount) and depending on your gutter guard it should be a quicker clean as well. Most gutter guards will keep the larger debris out of your gutters and prevent clogging from occurring ( there are instances where larger debris can find it’s way in). Some gutter guards, such as MasterShield are designed to keep smaller debris out, by smaller debris we mean as small as “…constructed with a non-stick, 316 surgical grade stainless steel microfilter that will not allow the tips of pesky pine needles or other debris in. In fact, nothing but water can get through a MasterShield protected gutter!” (source). Other gutter guards such as Leafproof offers “…the flow (of water) will reverse direction as a result of surface tension, and the water will drain into the gutter. Most debris will not follow this reversal or is blown off the roof by the wind when dry.” (source)  So no matter is you’re looking for a screen mesh or a solid gutter guard, we have you covered. Type Of Tree Depending on the type of trees that surround your home can effect the type of gutter guard you should think about installing on your home. It should never be about pricing until you have a couple of similar gutter guards to choose from. For trees such as pine trees and other small debris shedding types, a screen mesh will do the job. Our highly suggested gutter guards is our screen mesh. It’s very similar to Mastershield but it’s pricing is less. This is not because the product is less, it’s due to the warranty. So depending on the warranty you want this will help you decision. Where as our drop in gutter guard is good if you have trees with larger leaves. Ask your estimator his opinion when getting your FREE estimate! How Often You Find Yourself Cleaning Your Gutters If you find yourself clean debris from your gutters more than twice a year, a gutter guard system would be a huge help. It’s a lot of work to clean your gutters. From positioning the ladder to removing all the debris. It’s a very important job to make gets done in the spring and in the fall to ensure a proper working gutter system. We do offer a gutter maintenance program where we will come out to your home (once/twice/three times a year, your choice) and clean your gutters while also maintaining them (small things such as tightening, making sure downspouts are clear, etc). We will also let you know when it’s time for a cleaning! Learn more today!  You Want To Harvest Rain Water Some people collect the rain water from the gutters to use for watering plants, etc. A way to filter rain water is by using a micro mesh gutter guard, such as matershield or screen mesh.   If you are interested in getting a FREE quote for installing gutter guards on your home, please give us a call and we’ll be happy to come out and take a look. If you want to see the samples, we have some in our showroom for your viewing. 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 #28 – Check Fascia Board For Rot


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Check Fascia Board For Rot During your bi-annual gutter cleaning, it’s best to Check Fascia Board For Rot or other issues. A few signs that let you know that it could be time to replace your fascia include: Peeling/Flaking paint: Notice that the paint is coming off of your wooden fascia board. Sand and repaint. Leaking gutters: If you don’t clean your gutters regularly they can often develop leaks, affecting your fascias and soffits. This is not good for your fascia boards, because all that water that is leaking out of your gutters can do some damage to your fascia boards. Rot and Damp: Water is also responsible for causing sections of damp and rot along your roofline including your fascia. Infestations: By infestations we mean pests such as mice, squirrels and bees. If there are damages ( holes,etc.) They will almost certainly try to build their homes there. Short term solutions such as bait and poison will help but it’s not a long term solution. Bird’s nests: Like pest infestation, birds can also set up shop in rafters and disused chimneybreasts and breed. Some bird species protected so it always pays to seek advice before interfering with a nest. A secured Roofline will keep birds from your property. Do NOT call a roofing professional to remove the birds, call animal control first. Let your gutter cleaning worries be behind you! 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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5 Projects To Finish Before Labor Day


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5 Projects To Finish Before Labor Day Labor day is coming close and it marks the end of summer. Start of autumn-like things such as school, fall, and end of the outdoor season. We have 5 Projects To Finish Before Labor Day. Before weather dips too cold and prevents you from wanting to spend a large amount of time outside.  Installing Gutter Guards Investing in new gutter guards for your home can be a real investment to protect your gutters from bad clogs in fall and winter as well as providing your with clean rain water if you use it to water plants and etc. We offer several different types of gutter guards, ranging from our higher end line, Mastershield, to our drop in and leafproof gutter guards. So depending on what type of debris you are looking to keep out we have you covered. Curb Appeal Projects Any type of curb appeal project that you may have in mind, this is the time to get it down. Replacing your roof, replacing windows, adding a deck to your home, no matter what it may be the time is now. The weather is nice and the rain is less often, so call a schedule with a professional today! Caulk & Seal Windows Proper window maintenance can make the difference on the lifetime of your windows. If you do a annual checkup around this time of the year you can do all the repairs, caulking and replacements that may be needed. Scrub & Seal Your Deck If you already have a deck, a good cleaning and a new coat of sealant can help it keep its glossy sheen and protect your decking from the harsh winter weather. Organize/Prepare Garage/Shed For Storage Preparing for winter can also mean properly storing items such as lawn equipment, patio furniture, etc. This may mean that you need to clean your garage or storage shed to make room to store items. Or maybe you know it needs to be reorganized. Set a day aside and make it happen. The only thing holding you back is time. 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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