Is Your Roof Ready For Autumn and Winter?

Autumn and winter are around the corner which means rain and snow, All of us here at www.GutterBrush.com are no stranger to the very negative effects that wind, storms and heavy rain can have on your roof and ultimately your entire home. Preparing your roof for storms and winter weather is extremely important in having your roof survive a heavy rain and even more crucial in having your home survive heavy snowfall.

When it comes to roof repairs you should first seek out a reputable certified roofing contractor. Ask all around to friends, family, or co-workers who will gladly let you know who’s done a good job with their roofing needs. You can also look for vetted contractors at www.servicemagic.com. Unfortunately, there are plenty of contractors out there that may not have your best interest at heart or they are not experts in roof repair. Second, you should absolutely verify certification, licensing, and insurance. You can usually accomplish this by visiting your state’s Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org.

A certified roofing contractor will easily provide you with a routine roof inspection. Most will do this free or charge you a low fee which should absolutely be applied toward the roof repair if one is deemed necessary. When it comes to the inspection, by actually climbing up on the roof and looking closely, the inspector will uncover problems before they become worse or very dangerous when the winter storms hit. Loose, missing or broken tiles or shingles are specific things that must be handled. Even apparently harmless cracks but visible to the trained eye of a certified roofing professional can degenerate into a dreadful situation and become much more costly in very bad autumn and winter storms. The bottom line is that having a routine inspection done by a certified roofer is the best, easiest and most cost-effective course of action to prevent any catastrophic damage to your house this winter.

Clean Your Gutters Safely and Completely From GutterBrush.

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Are you going to clean your gutters? If so make sure you have a ladder tall enough to allow you to work with the gutter below chest height. Reaching above your head to clean your gutters can be messy and dangerous. In almost all cases, working from a ladder can be safer than bending over while on the roof. You can also make your ladder safer by using a ladder stabilizer such as the one from Ladder-Max (http://www.buyladder-max.com/). Above all else we emphasize safety first whenever you are using a ladder.

The first step is to remove as much debris by hand as possible. Use a bucket if possible. Dropping debris below on landscaping can cause a mess that is more difficult to clean up than the job at hand. Next, use a garden hose to flush the smaller dirt down the spouts. If any of your downspouts are clogged you may need to remove them in order to unclog them. While you are cleaning your gutters be sure to
inspect your gutters for:

- leaks

- damage or dents

- any disconnections

- blockage from tree branches

- detachment from your house

There are now many gutter protection devices available to prevent or minimize gutter cleaning. These are often based on covering the gutters to prevent debris from entering while still allowing water flow. However, there are also products that are inserted into the gutter such as gutterbrush (www.gutterbrush.com. While the cost is sometimes a consideration, these devices can eliminate the periodic and time consuming chore of cleaning gutters.

Clean gutters also help divert water away from your home’s foundation. Any large volume of water can damage your home’s foundation and leak into your basement. Directing water away from the water away from your home with a slope and gutter can reduce or eliminate basement leaks and preserve your foundation. Downspouts are a very important element in directing water away from your foundation and can be configured a few different ways. First, you can utilize surface extensions. These sections range in length from a few feet to 6 feet long. Extensions can be the same as the gutters or they are available in flexible materials which make directing the water easier. Water should be direct toward ground that slopes away from the structure. Second, you can choose to use underground pipe. This option is a way to hide the extension and drain the water. In some cases these are required (such as when the downspout ends at a concrete sidewalk or driveway.)

Finally, gutters need to be in good working condition and making most repairs is simple. But major repairs and replacements can be daunting tasks depending on your skill level. If you are unsure we suggest you consult a qualified and reputable home services professional in your area. You can find these individuals at www.servicemagic.com.

Almost all repairs and connections are made with sheet metal screws and rivets. Some are then caulked to prevent leakage. While some parts can be fitted and connected on the ground, most work will be done on a ladder.

Again, safety is always the first consideration at gutterbrush.com and we hope it is for you as well.