Month: May 2018

4 Bad Habits That Can Ruin Your Home and Your Bank Account

gutter replacementThere are so many aspects of homeownership that often go overlooked, but it’s these little tasks that actually save you from major problems. Neglecting even the smallest part of home maintenance can end up costing you a significant amount of money on repair expenses and could severely damage your home’s structure.

That’s why it’s essential to only practice good habits when it comes to home and property ownership.

Here are some bad habits that can ruin not only your bank account but your home’s look and feel as well:

  • Not cleaning your gutters — Gutter cleaning should be done at least two times a year, and that’s only cleaning out the small debris that builds up. If your gutters are in need of major cleaning, it’s best to give professional gutter cleaning services a call.
  • Neglecting gutter replacement needs — If you have neglected your gutter cleaning needs, you may end up relying on gutter replacement services. You can’t just leave damaged or old gutters atop your roof for an extended period of time because they will continue to cause problems. An inch of summer rainfall can result in nearly 1,500 gallons of water breaking down your gutters. Don’t wait, replace your gutters as soon as they become compromised.
  • Letting trees overgrow — It might not sound like it should be very high up on the priority list, but forgetting to trim your trees can lead to some big problems. Make sure you’re pruning your trees at least once every year or two in order to keep branches and tree limbs away from your house. Also, if any trees are growing underneath power lines, it’s even more imperative to keep them trimmed.
  • Not changing batteries in smoke detectors — Sadly, according to the National Fire Protection Association, one in every five household fire fatalities can be attributed to malfunctioning smoke alarms. In order to keep your property and your family safe, you need to make sure you’re changing your smoke detectors’ batteries every few months.

Make sure you’re taking excellent care of just about every aspect of your house and your property in order to avoid major financial troubles. If you’re in need of gutter replacement, gutter installation services, or just want to speak with a trusted gutter cleaning company, give Gutter Maid a call right away.

Replacing Your Home’s Gutters: Is It Time?

gutter cleaning techniciansGutter replacement is a key aspect of property ownership that a lot of homeowners seem to neglect. If you don’t take care of your gutters, your entire housing structure will be in jeopardy of suffering expensive physical damage.

Keep in mind that although you can clean your own gutters, you shouldn’t attempt to replace your own gutters and install new ones yourself. It’s a much better idea to work with professional gutter cleaning technicians who also specialize in gutter installation services.

Find some local gutter installers and gutter cleaning technicians to ensure that your home’s gutters are functioning properly and looking great all year long. In the meantime, here are some signs you need to keep an eye out for in regards to your gutters.

  1. Regular water leaks — Each gallon of rain water weighs about eight pounds, so a home with clogged and overflowing flutters will be holding thousands of pounds of water, resulting in frequent leaks and spillage. Immediately after a rainstorm, it’s essential to take a look at your gutters and see if there are any leaks or cracks. If there are, contact gutter professionals right away.
  2. Paint pealing — Malfunctioning gutters can actually cause problems for exterior siding and paint jobs because of excess moisture. If you ever notice a sector of your home’s siding having visible paint issues, take a look at the nearest gutter to see if there are any physical issues.
  3. Wood rotting — Pain peeling is one thing, but structural rotting can be much more damaging and expensive to repair — and it can all be at the hands of faulty gutters. If a gutter cascades over the housing structure, exterior wood trim elements like door jambs and window sills will breakaway.
  4. Visible mildew — If a gutter’s downspout is too close to the home, moisture accumulation can begin to ruin the foundation and landscaping. Mildew can start appearing in the basement and all over the home if your gutters aren’t installed properly or are compromised in any way.

If you want to learn more about what it takes to keep your gutters clean and functioning properly, or work with trusted gutter cleaning technicians, give Gutter Maid a call today.

What Factors Determine How Much Your Gutter Cleaning Company Will Charge You

gutter installation services

Nobody wants to break out the ladder and gloves to clean out the gutters themselves, even though clogged gutters are the leading cause of water problems in basements. It can generally be dangerous, especially if the conditions aren’t favorable.

So many people land on the decision to hire gutter cleaning services. Those who don’t come to that decision are often convinced that the cost of hiring a professional gutter cleaning company would be outrageous and that the potential hospital bills from doing it themselves would be much less.

Professional gutter cleaning will almost always cost significantly less. In order to estimate what it might cost you, you have to consider these factors.

Height of the House

Typically, the shorter the house the more cost effective the gutter cleaning will be. Unless the company offers a fixed rate, the cost will usually increase in sync with the number of floors. The higher the home, the higher the risk factor involved for the cleaning company, and they often charge to match the danger. And depending on the house, they might need special equipment to reach the gutters as well.

Size of the Gutters

Basically, the bigger your house (and therefore gutter square footage, or linear feet), the more the cleaning company will charge. However, the bigger your house, the more work you’ll have to do if you decide to do it yourself.

Condition of the Gutters

If your gutters haven’t been cleaned out since they were installed in 2002, then chances are they’re pretty backed up. Gutters that are filled with a lot of debris will often cost more because they will take more time to clean.

Extras

If you want your cleaning company to do extras, like a leaf guard installation or hardware inspection, then that will cost more as well.

Low cost gutter cleaning is attainable with relative ease, but you shouldn’t expect the company to tackle a large or inherently dangerous job for the same price as a one-story ranch home. The more you have to get done, the more you need a professional gutter cleaning service.

For low cost gutter cleaning for your home, call us today.