Do It Yourself Rain Gutter
Cleaning Tips:

Rain gutters need to be inspected
at least on an annual basis. What do you
look for? Look to remove any
accumulation of leaves, twigs, dirt,
soot/mudd and other debris. Use your
hand (with gloves) or a gutter scupper
(this can be obtained at your local
hardware store) to remove all the
foreign matter. While you are up there
cleaning your gutters it would be a good
time to inspect the condition of the
rain gutters themselves as well as the
condition of the down spouts. Look for
any loose gutter spikes or loose gutter
brackets and inspect the down spout
straps to make sure they are secure. Be
careful when you clean old, partly
corroded metal rain gutters and down
spouts. Don't apply too much pressure if
you have to scrape debris. You're liable
to create a new hole. Old holes can
sometimes be patched with roofing cement
and a repair patch. Next, use your
garden hose with a wand or nozzle to
flush out any remaining soot, dust and
dirt particles and run water into the
down spout to insure water is exiting
properly. Check the rain gutter seams
for leaks. Over time the gutter seam
sealant dries and starts to peel away.
Use a putty knife to remove the old
sealant and with the same putty knife
apply a generous amount of 100% water
proof silicone sealer (make sure the
gutter seam area is dry and clean) over
the gutter seam. If you are having
trouble getting the sealant to stick try
just a small amount first and rub it
with your finger on the trouble area
until you get a light film to stick.

Our standard Rain Gutter Cleaning is designed to ensure that you have proper drainage. When was the last time that your rain gutters were thoroughly cleaned and flushed?

Dirt, leaves, tree branches, bird nests and other debris slowly accumulate over the months impeding the flow of rain water. When rain gutters are "debris filled" the rain, not having proper drainage, will usually cascade over the sides of the rain gutter, causing unpredictable erosion and water pooling which can lead to the premature destruction of building surfaces from rot and mold. Down spouts are often clogged with debris preventing them from doing their job of letting the water exit in a controlled and predictable manner. Sometimes this requires dismantling the down spouts to clear the obstruction. We do whatever it takes to get your rain gutters and spouts fully functional and doing their job!

The following is our scope of work:

1. Inspect all gutters and down spouts.
2. Clear all gutters and down spouts of debris.
3. Clean and flush gutters and down spouts to ensure water drains properly.
4. Install screen over down spout to prevent future blockages at exit points.
5. Perform minor repairs where needed.
6. Remove leaves and other debris that have accumulated on the flat protions or valleys of your roof.

Homeowners Tips - Maintaining Roofs & Gutters

Annual inspections and preventative maintenance of roofs and gutters can help identify problems that need to be fixed and can extend the life of your roof. Below are some tips that should help you avoid some common problems.

Got Trees?
Trees lose their leaves. This debris, as well as other types of debris, can cause a roof to deteriorate by:

• Promoting moisture. This encourages the growth of algae, fungus or moss.
• Preventing the water from draining properly. This causes water to backup under the shingles thereby causing a leak.
• Damming gutters and drains. This also causes water to back up under the shingles. Trees that are near the home or that have branches that overhang the roof can cause damage by rubbing against the shingles and gutters.

To prevent these problems:

• Remove debris from your roof
• Clean out gutters, downspouts and drains
• Cut tree branches away from the roof gutters and drains

Roof
There are many visual clues on a roof that can help point to problem areas. Check the roof for:

• Missing, damaged, or improperly aligned shingles. Repair or replace these shingles.
• Exposed or raised nails. As a general rule no nail heads should be showing on any roof unless they are caulked or sealed.
• Dried out, cracked or missing caulk or roofing cement. Remove old material and replace with new caulk or roofing cement.
• Damaged or water-stained facia. Determine what is causing the staining. Repair or replace the facia. Installing edge metal at the bottom of the roof may solve the problem.
• Missing, improperly installed or damaged flashing. Flashing should be around all penetrations and low spots on the roof. Flashing helps direct water away from roof penetrations and low spots. Penetrations can include vents, fireplaces, skylights, antennas, satellite dishes, heater pipes, air conditioning ducts, dormers, turbines, cable or tie-off hooks, etc. If the flashing is damaged or missing, have the flashing repaired or replaced.
• Overall shingle (roofing material) deterioration. It may be time to replace your roof. Consult a licensed, bonded and insured roofing contractor.

Roofs can be dangerous. If you are planning on doing the inspections and/or maintenance yourself, make sure you stay safe by having the proper equipment and by watching your step. In addition to the proper equipment make sure you have:

• a sturdy ladder that is tall enough to access your roof safely
• shoes with good traction
• a work partner/spotter