Gutter Guards Make Cleaning a Breeze

Most people don’t think about gutter maintenance until the leaves fall in autumn, but summer is an excellent time for a good cleanout, especially after all the rain we’ve had. Many homeowners tend to ignore this job because it’s both messy and dangerous, but leaving gutters full of debris can actually cause major issues with both drainage and leaks. With so many options to cover the gutter and stop junk from collecting there in the first place, it’s a good time to take a look at how gutter guards can benefit your home.

If installed and maintained properly, gutters are a vital part of your home’s ecosystem. They allow rain to travel from the roofline and through downspouts which deposit that rain safely away from your foundation. This system prevents too much water from building up around the base of your home, thus minimizing the chance of basement leaks and mold issues. However, if gutters are filled with leaves, twigs, and other tree debris, they will simply overflow, depositing the water at the foundation of your house, right where you don’t want it. Since homeowners don’t want to tackle the cumbersome task of cleaning their gutters several times a year, most gutter systems get overloaded quickly. This is why gutter guards are such a popular and smart option for a maintenance-free home. 

Gutter guards are metal adaptors that can be installed with new gutters or retrofitted to work with existing gutters. Made with heavy-duty aluminum, gutter guards have perforated holes to let rain in and keep everything else out, including tree remnants and nesting birds. One of the features that I like best is that they prevent snow build-up and potential ice dams in the winter. These are common problems that will deform and even tear down your entire gutter system with too much weight. Also, many gutter guards come with a 10 to 25-year warranty which is helpful for people with homes in more heavily wooded areas.

Gutter guards are a smart investment, but the kind of guard that you get largely depends on your home, its position, the trees around it, the size and age of your current gutters, and the condition of your roof. A pro will be able to recommend the best product for the job and will usually complete the installation in just one day. Come autumn, you can sit back and relax knowing that your gutters are protected from debris and water can move freely from your roof down to the ground.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Upgrade Your Gutters For Less Maintenance Year Round

While most people think about gutter cleaning in the autumn, the falling of spring blossoms can cause serious clogging that creates overflows and inadequate rainwater drainage. 

Gutters have come a long way in the past few years. Back when many of the homes in this area were built, open gutters were used to collect rain off the roof and deposit it onto the ground through a system of downspouts. Open gutters, however, allow not only water but leaves, whirlybirds, blossoms, and sticks to also fall into the gutter, blocking them and eventually causing overflow without regular removal.

Gutter cleaning keeps me busy, mainly because it’s a dirty job that can also be dangerous if you’re not used to working on a ladder. Luckily, over the past few years, gutter manufacturers have smartened up, creating shields to install over your current gutters, as well as closed gutter systems that can replace your current setup.

Gutter guards come in a variety of materials and sizes, but they are all designed to maximize water flow while keeping tree debris out of the channel. The least expensive option is steel mesh screens which slide in and sit above the gutter lip itself. The arch design helps to ensure that debris can’t get stuck in the back of the gutter and they generally come with a five-year warranty against rusting or corrosion.

A step up from mesh screens is a heavy-duty aluminum option that can be fitted from the front and back, avoiding the need to remove roof shingles for installation. These products come with a ripple design to prevent leaves from drying on the surface and they are generally backed by a 20-year warranty so you don’t have to worry about replacing them often. I like these because the design strengthens the gutter which comes in very handy during major snowstorms when many homes in the area suffer from heavy and dangerous ice dams.

Finally, there is Leaf Relief, a heavy aluminum gutter shield that can drain nearly 30 inches of rainfall in one hour, which is 15 inches more than the highest rainfall ever recorded (for inquiring minds, that’s 12 inches in one hour in Holt, Missouri). For homeowners who want no maintenance, this is the gutter product for you. The 25-year no-clog, no-overflow warranty gives it the same lifespan as a new roof and the inset design makes it invisible from the road. Best of all, dry debris blows away with only a six-mile-per-hour breeze.

No matter what type of gutter guard you choose, you want to make sure that it’s the best product for your home. While any gutter guard will reduce debris getting into your gutter, the right guard will depend on the trees in the area, how much rainfall you get, the position of your house, and the size and age of your current gutters. Once those factors are taken into consideration and the appropriate product is chosen, you can say goodbye to messy cleaning and enjoy less maintenance at your home.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Watch for Ice Dams

With a week of snow, ice, and temperatures all over the place, it’s a great time to remind homeowners about ice dams. 

Ice dams occur when the heat from the inside of a house melts the snow on the roof, causing water to run down and refreeze at the edge of the roof. Over time, this can create a thick layer of ice that can cause damage to the roof and even leak into the house.

The first sign of an ice dam is often the formation of icicles on the edge of the roof. While icicles may look pretty, they are a warning sign that water is not draining properly and may be backing up under the roof shingles. Other signs of an ice dam include water stains on the ceiling or walls, peeling paint or wallpaper, and damp insulation.

Preventing ice dams is much easier than dealing with them after they form. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your home isn’t susceptible to the problem:

1. Keep your gutters clean. Gutters filled with debris can cause water to overflow and freeze on the edge of the roof, leading to ice dam formation.

2. Insulate your attic. A well-insulated attic will keep the heat inside your house from melting the snow on the roof.

3. Ventilate your attic. Proper ventilation will help prevent heat buildup in the attic, which can contribute to ice dam formation.

4. Consider installing an ice and water shield. This is a type of roofing material that is designed to prevent water from seeping into the house if an ice dam forms.

If you already have an ice dam, there are a few things you can do to remove it:

1. Use a roof rake to remove snow from the edge of the roof. This can prevent more water from backing up and freezing.

2. Fill a pair of pantyhose with calcium chloride ice melt and lay it across the ice dam. This can help melt the ice and create a channel for water to escape.

3. Hire a professional. Removing an ice dam can be dangerous, especially if you have to climb on a ladder or walk on a slippery roof. It's best to leave this job to the professionals.

Ice dams are both a common and serious issue that can cause damage to your roof and home. Taking steps to prevent ice dams from forming is the best way to avoid this problem. If you do have an ice dam, there are ways to remove it, but it's important to be cautious and seek professional help if necessary.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.