Category: Know Your Roof

How To Hang Christmas Lights With Gutter Guards

How To Hang Christmas Lights With Gutter Guards

One of the many perks of the holiday season is decorating your home inside and out with bright displays of sentiment and cheerfulness. However, hanging Christmas lights on gutters can be challenging. Don’t break your back setting up your charming holiday display. Here’s how to hang Christmas lights with gutter guards.

The Different Parts of a Gutter System

Rain gutters are not just single pieces of metal half-pipes. They are complex systems comprised of various parts that all work in tandem to keep water away from your roof and foundation. Sometimes, you might need to replace a single part of the gutter system but… what is it called exactly?

Knowing the exact gutter parts name can be a bit tricky if you’re not in the industry. Here are the types of gutters and the different parts of a gutter system you need to know about.

Fixing Loose Gutters with Hidden Hangers

Fixing loose gutters with hidden hangers before and after picture

Older gutters, installed with gutter spikes, are likely to pull loose from the fascia board over time. We were able to re-secure the existing gutter using premium grade hidden hangers, saving this Montgomery County resident the cost of a new gutter. 


Hidden hangers are used in new gutter installations, but can also be used in existing gutters between the existing spikes. Because these hidden hangers are screwed into the fascia boards, they offer much better protection against loose gutters!

The Difference Between Seamless and Regular Gutters

The Difference Between Seamless and Regular Gutters

Gutter professionals don’t craft each gutter the same way. While some pieces may differ in color and appearance, there is an even more fundamental variation in gutter structure. This distinguishing factor is the presence of gutter seams. Seams are the connecting areas between two pieces. For example, your jeans have seams where threads sewn through two parts of a pant leg hold the entire clothing item together. A similar concept exists with some gutters. Here’s the difference between seamless and regular gutters.

Home Improvements To Help Lower Insurance Premiums

Home Improvements To Help Lower Insurance Premiums

Your home is an investment, so you likely protect it from risk with homeowner’s insurance. However, these policies are expensive, and it’s always a good idea to find deductions whenever possible. Here are a few home improvements to help lower insurance premiums.

Install an Alarm System

Alarm systems are the backbone of your home’s security. Regardless of the provider you choose, lining your entryways with sensors and connecting with a 24/7 security monitor will save you on insurance. Alarm systems decrease the likelihood of burglary, which decreases the overall risk to your insurer. Your agency will appreciate the extra layer of protection and reward you for this prudent decision. You can also improve your door locks with deadbolts and smart locks that will keep intruders at bay.

Cleaning Your Gutters

Your gutters perform an essential function for your home’s water drainage system. But when something goes wrong with them, your home can suffer damage. Cleaning, improving, and maintaining your gutters prove that you care about home upkeep. Clean gutters reduce the risk of water pooling, foundation damage, roof deterioration, and wall mold. If you need to replace your gutters altogether, our team at Gutter Maid performs gutter installation in Maryland, and beyond. Your proactivity will shield you from costlier problems while protecting your insurer, too.

Put in Smoke Detectors

Smoke is almost always an indicator of a fire, which is a costly disaster for insurance agencies to cover. Smoke detectors alert homeowners before fires become too difficult to handle, and they give you time to call the authorities. Show your insurance agency that you put in smoke detectors, and they may lower your premium.

Stronger Roof

Replacing your roof is a costly affair, and many homeowners neglect this essential maintenance task. You should address this problem to avoid home damage and reduce your insurance bill. Consider putting in a new roof with stronger shingles, and you may save even more than you thought. Discuss which roofing solutions will guarantee a lower premium with your insurer and install them right away.

Use these home improvements to help lower insurance premiums. Start saving money today with a few of these maintenance tasks. Our professionals at Gutter Maid are more than happy to assist you with all your gutter-related needs.

The Different Types of Gutter Systems

The Basic Types of Gutter Systems

There are different types of rain gutters made from various materials and styles. Every homeowner should know the basic types of gutter systems to have the best rain gutters for their home. The materials, styles, and types all matter when it comes to proper gutter installation and maintenance.

How Gutters Improve Your Home’s Value

How Gutters Improve Your Home’s Value

Part of being a homeowner is knowing that, one day, you might move. In that case, it’s best to ensure your home’s resale value is as high as possible for the best return on investment. While there are many opportunities to improve your home’s interior, remember to improve your exterior as well. Curb appeal is one of the biggest boosts to market price, and one of the most ignored factors is your gutters. As a homeowner, you should know how gutters improve your home’s value, so you can increase your market value and get the best deal possible.

Home Improvement: Gutter Installation and Planning Tips

gutter installation

If you neglect your home’s gutters, you could end up having all sorts of problems on your hands over the next few months. Snow, ice, rain, and all sorts of debris can pile up and clog your gutters, causing structural damage, basement flooding, and all kinds of other expensive issues.

Although keeping your gutters clean and properly maintained is essential, so is having them properly installed. If your gutters aren’t properly installed, you’re going to experience many more gutter-related problems.

Here are some gutter installation planning tips to keep in mind in order to avoid costly and damaging issues down the line:

  • Inspect your roof — When you have to have new gutters installed on your home, you need to inspect every inch of your roof to ensure that there is nothing wrong. Take a look at the soffit and fascia for signs of rotted wood. If you do notice any rotted wood, you’ll have to have it replaced before new rain gutters are installed.
  • Locate all the downspouts — To increase the capacity of your new gutter system, you should add more downspouts. Take a look around your house and identify where all the downspouts could be placed. Drawing a sketch of your home or roof will allow you to identify where the best spot for unobstructed downspouts. You’ll need one downspout for about every 30 to 40 linear feet of gutter. Additionally, it’s recommended to place downspouts in inconspicuous locations.
  • Hire gutter cleaning technicians — Professional gutter cleaners aren’t just knowledgeable about gutter cleaning, but installation and maintenance tasks, as well. Since cutting, joining, and hanging gutter sections can be extremely difficult, it’s important to work with professionals who are experienced in gutter installation. Also, you likely won’t have all the required tools and materials necessary for installing a new gutter on your home. Though you most likely have a cordless drill and an extension ladder, you’ll still need a crimper, gutter flashing, gutter sealant, elbows, self-tapping hex head acres, rivets, gutter hanging strap, and other items — professional gutter services will have everything needed for this project.

If you’re looking for skilled local gutter installers and want to work with professional gutter installation services, give Gutter Maid a call today.

Pipe Collar Repair Before & After

See our previous post here about pipe collars and their functions.

Below is an infographic showing our pipe collar repair process. When we complete gutter cleanings for our customers, we always check the condition of each pipe collar. If a pipe collar is damaged we can generally repair it right there on the spot for a minimal cost to the homeowner. This is because we carry replacement rubber gaskets on all of our trucks. By replacing the damaged part of the pipe collar only, we are able to complete the repair quickly and easily, preventing costly water damage while also saving the customer money.