Declutter Your Gutters

When the rain starts pouring, how do your gutters respond? Do they function exactly as they should, or do they allow water to leak down the side of your home? It’s easy to take rain gutters for granted, but if yours are in bad condition or clogged with leaves and debris, poor gutter performance could have a detrimental effect on your landscaping and foundation. You may need to have new gutters installed and cleaned to protect the integrity of your home and property.

Gutter Installation

It may surprise you to learn that not all gutters are created equal. If your home needs new gutters, it’s important to research your options so you know what you’re getting. Then you should hire an experienced gutter installer to help your investment perform the way it should.

Choosing the Right Gutters

You have a diverse range of gutter styles to choose from, but one of the biggest choices you must make is between sectional and seamless gutters.

• Sectional gutters: If you’re replacing the old, dilapidated gutters on your existing home, they’re probably traditional sectional gutters. These come in prefabricated pieces that the installation team trims and fits together to run along the perimeter of your roof. Even though some pieces are 20 feet or longer, seams created where joints fit together can create weak spots and potential leak sites.
• Seamless gutters: This newer option is much more durable because seamless gutters only have seams at the corners and downspout outlets. The installation team extrudes the appropriate gutter lengths on site using a special machine. Then they lift the gutters into place and securely attach them just below the roofline.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

The Grounds Guys^® installs seamless aluminum gutters to meet the needs of most homeowners. When you choose this option, the benefits include:

• Lower potential for leaks, even after years in use
• Preserved home and landscape appearance
• Customized extrusion at the job site for ultimate accuracy
• No more unsightly gutter seams
• Many colors to choose from
• No need to ever repaint the gutters

Gutter Cleaning

Leaves, pine needles and other debris always seem to find their way into your gutters. When this happens, downspouts can become completely clogged, allowing water to flow over the sides of the gutters and pool right next to the foundation.

Keeping your gutters clean to prevent this scenario is an important but often-postponed chore. The thought of climbing up a ladder and handling wet, slimy leaves is not something you look forward to. However, neglecting this chore could create more problems than you probably realize. If you don’t feel up to the task, rely on a professional for rain gutter cleaning.

Why Clean Your Rain Gutters?

• Preserve the appearance and integrity of your siding: As water runoff from the roof rises to the top of the gutter, it spills over the side and runs down the siding. This can leave unsightly staining behind that only accumulates and worsens with each storm. Water running in rivers down the siding can also make it soggy. This is bad news, especially for wood siding, which can rot and harbor mold growth that creates significant damage over time.
• Prevent basement flooding: Your gutters are most vital during a deluge, serving the important task of draining water away from your home. When clogged gutters allow water to flow over the sides and pool near the foundation, basement flooding is a real possibility. The overly saturated soil pushes against the foundation walls, which may crack under the pressure. Once the water eventually drains away, the soil erodes behind it, allowing the foundation to settle and causing additional cracks that could let water in the next time it rains.
• Prolong the life of your gutters: All that debris lingering in the gutters weighs them down. The strain may eventually cause the gutters to sag or even collapse.
• Prevent ice dams: In the winter, melting snow needs somewhere to go. If clogged gutters prevent drainage, water and ice could linger on your roof, damage the shingles and potentially leak into the attic.
• Discourage pests: Termites and ants love flooded gutters. The water and debris provide a haven to hide and breed in. By keeping your gutters clean, you decrease the likelihood that these pests will linger and damage your home.

When to Clean the Gutters

At the very least, you should clean your gutters in late fall after most of the leaves from surrounding trees have fallen. This is a good time to clean up your yard as well, not only to prevent the wind from sweeping up fallen leaves and depositing them in the gutters, but also to prepare for snowfall that can rot leaves and make your yard a mess. It doesn’t hurt to check your gutters once or twice more throughout the year, especially if you live in a wooded area.

DIY vs. Professional Gutter Cleaning

At best, gutter cleaning is a disgusting task you force yourself to complete once a year. At worst, cleaning your gutters can be a hazard. If you decide to attempt the task yourself, make sure you use a sturdy ladder and wear work gloves and protective eyewear for safety.

You may prefer to leave the task to a professional. The Grounds Guys offers free quotes, convenient scheduling, professional crews and value-driven service to help you get the most out of the appointment.

Let The Grounds Guys Install and Clean Your Gutters

Our job is to help make your home and property as beautiful, functional and durable against bad weather as possible. Whether you’re building a new home or making improvements to your existing one, count on us for seamless gutter installation. Then call us up every autumn to perform gutter cleaning services so you don’t have to. From the initial call to the final clean-up, you’ll be blown away by our professionalism and genuine care for your needs.

To learn more, or to schedule services, please contact The Grounds Guys today!