How Gutter Cleaning Saves You From Gutter Replacement

On our Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning blog, we are always trying to show the different reasons you need to clean out your gutters. The cost of replacing your guttering, due to sheer neglect, is one of the most important reasons. Rain Gutter Replacement can be a very expensive process that can actually largely be avoided by simply ensuring that your gutters are cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. You gutters play a vital role in keeping your home from being damaged by rainwater, so when you neglect them you really are opening up the door for a lot of costly repairs.

Rain gutters are particularly important in regions where here is heavy rainfall. The thing about rain gutters is that most people don’t really give them much thought, then before you know it they are blocked and you end up with a real mess on your hands. On top of that allowing your rain gutters to get blocked with debris adds weight to them, which can definitely damage them which can make replacing them more frequently a necessity. This of course can get very pricey which should serve as a great source of motivation for you to make regular cleaning of your rain gutters something that you take seriously.

Different Types Of Rain Gutters

If you are at a point where gutter replacement is a necessity then you should take a little time to learn about the different options that you have. It’s important that you choose rain gutters that will work well as well as look nice since you are likely going to be living with them as a part of your home for quite a while. In terms of style there are two main types of rain gutters, a K-style gutter and a round bottom gutter. Both should work equally well for your home as long as they are properly maintained. In addition to choosing the right style of rain gutter you also need to make a decision about what type of material you want your gutters to be made from.

1. Aluminum rain gutters are the most commonly used style of guttering. It is lightweight, won’t rust, and comes in a variety of colors. On top of that they can be painted so that if you decide that you want to paint your home you won’t have to replace your gutters.
2. Copper rain gutters are known for being both durable and long lasting as well as exceptionally beautiful. Copper gutters don’t need to be painted because like anything made of copper they will develop a patina over time. If you decide that you want copper gutters you are going to have to hire a professional since they will require their seams and joints to be welded.
3. Steel rain gutters are very heavy and durable and should last for a very long time. They can also be pricey, but since they should last you for a longer time period than most other types of gutters this is an investment that is often worth paying.
4. Vinyl rain gutters are a very inexpensive option, but you have to remember that you get what you pay for. While they are inexpensive they are also not very durable, are prone to cracking in cold weather, and they need replacing on a regular basis.
5. Zinc rain gutters are similar to copper gutters in that they are durable, long lasting, develop a patina over time, and they require professional installation.
6. Seamless aluminum gutters have quickly become one of the more popular options out there with most new gutters that are installed being of this variety. Instead of using prefabricated gutters the installer will show up with raw aluminum and make them on site to fit your home. The big benefit of this type of gutter is their lack of seams makes leaks and blockages less likely.

The Cost Of New Rain Gutters

Now that you have a basic understanding of the types of rain gutters that are available you are probably wondering about cost. Now if you are willing to do the work yourself you can save yourself quite a bit of money. Unfortunately there are two main issues that may prevent you from being able to do the work. First, installing rain gutters is very labor intensive and involves a lot of work and working on ladders. Second, some types of rain gutters can only be installed by people with the right training and equipment. If you decide to go the do it yourself route to save some money, you have to remember that the quality of gutters you are installing won’t be the best. That means you will have to replace them more frequently, which of course means more money out of your pocket.
To give you an idea of what to expect in terms of cost for materials these following examples should give you an idea of what type of ballpark your costs will fall into. In terms of cost for materials you can usually pick up vinyl gutters for anywhere from $1 to $3 a linear foot. Aluminum rain gutters, that are prefabricated usually go for about $5 to $15 a linear foot. Copper gutters run for around $30 to $40 a linear foot.

On top of the cost of materials when you hire a professional to do the job you can expect to pay them per foot anywhere from $3 per foot on the low end up to $15 or more on the higher end. That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly. For example lets say you went with vinyl, had it installed, and needed 150 feet worth of gutters. That bill would come up to about $600 on the low end and upwards of about $2,500 on the high end. If you did the same job using copper you would be looking at a price range of about $4,700 to $6,500. That’s quite a bit of money in either case.

Why Gutter Cleaning Saves You Money By Reducing Your Need For Gutter Replacement

Anything that you own needs regular maintenance and care if you want it to last for a long time. This includes your rain gutters. When you look at the staggering costs associated with having your rain gutters replaced it should be obvious that avoiding this is in your best financial interests. The bottom line is that you have to decide if you want to spend a little money now to avoid a problem, or if you want to spend a lot of money later on gutter replacement.

To receive a free quote to clean out your rain gutters, please click on this link here.

How Gutter Cleaning Saves You Money

Hiring a company that specializes in home maintenance projects such as gutter cleaning services can actually end up saving you money in the long run. Not many people take the time to think about how spending a little money now on gutter cleaning services can end up saving you a lot of time, money, and headaches down the road. The gutters on your home serve a purpose, and that purpose is to guide rainwater away from your home to prevent water damage.

Read – How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost?

When your gutters are full of debris and blocked they can’t do their job, which means that water will end up getting into places that it really shouldn’t be getting into. This of course will lead to additional problems, which will mean a higher repair bill later on. Unless you want to find yourself in this unenviable position then you will take the smart approach and be proactive.

The following are 5 ways that gutter cleaning services saves you money.

1. Clean Gutters Prevent Mold And Mildew Problems
When the gutters in your home are working right they keep water from saturating places in your home that are going to be prone to mold and mildew growth. On the other hand when they are blocked that water that would normally harmlessly flow away from your home will suddenly find an avenue that allows it to enter your home. Moisture ends up in mold and mildew, which is definitely not something you want to be dealing with. Once you realize that you have a mold and mildew problem it’s already too late.

You probably have a much bigger problem than you realize, which means you are going to be spending a lot of money on a mold remediation company. On top of that you will probably have to stay in a hotel for a few days while the cleanup is done since mold is toxic. The bottom line is that spending a little money on gutter cleaning services today can prevent these bigger expenses from happening at a later date.
2. Clean Gutters Will Protect Your Landscaping
When you have water pouring over your lawn indiscriminately it can cause a lot of damage to your landscaping. Not all plants need a huge amount of water and water pouring off of your roof onto these plants can damage or kill them. Then of course there is the problem of soil and dirt erosion that large quantities of flowing water will cause, which means you will have to have parts of your lawn built back up. This can all get quite expensive which is why it’s much smarter to be proactive and spend a little money today getting your gutters cleaned.
3. Clean Gutters Protect Your Home’s Exterior
Modern homes are built to be able to withstand the elements, as long as their exposure is within reason. The gutters on your home are designed to funnel water away from the exterior walls of your home which limits their exposure. What you have to realize is that even though your home was designed to be able to handle exposure to the rain, having it constantly bombarded with water will eventually cause things to wear down.

This can end up in having the paint or other exterior materials slowly become damaged, which can then lead to water getting into your home. All of this adds up to a good sized bill which is another reason you shouldn’t put off having your gutters cleaned out.
4. Clean Gutters Help Prevent Basement Flooding
Anybody that has ever come home and found that their basement has been flooded will probably be happy to tell you that it was a pretty awful experience. Forget about cleaning it yourself, you are going to have to hire a professional company to take care of it for you. They are going to have to remove the water then they are going to have to repair or replace any materials that have been soaked with water.

If this process isn’t done thoroughly then it’s virtually guaranteed that you are going to have a mold problem in the future. So if you don’t keep your gutters clean, and this in turn floods your basement, you are going to be given a hefty bill for your lack of being proactive. So do yourself a favor and don’t let this happen to you, call a gutter cleaning services company today.
5. Clean Gutters Will Protect Your Foundation From Damage
This is the big one. If you have ever heard about foundation damage from anyone you know they will probably tell you that it was unbelievably expensive. Your home sits on a foundation of concrete, if that foundation is damaged or becomes unstable somehow then the structural integrity of your entire home could be jeopardized. Fixing this problem is going to be a major project and you could easily end up spending tens of thousands of dollars getting it taken care of.

What causes foundation problems in many cases is excess water that has been allowed to saturate the ground around your home. When this happens your home’s foundation could shift or buckle, which is very bad news for you. Not only will you have to pay a lot of money to fix the problem, you also won’t be able to get away from it by selling your home. Any competent home inspector will find a damaged foundation and warn their clients to keep them from buying what could easily turn into a money pit.

When You Think About It Gutter Cleaning Could Really End Up Saving You A Lot Of Money

While the idea that paying money to a gutter cleaning services company can save you money may have seemed strange, hopefully now you see that there really is a lot of truth to this. Gutter cleaning services are not that expensive, they are even less of a financial burden when you think about how much money they could end up saving you. So unless you want to end up with a big repair or restoration bill later on, take the time to hire a company that offers gutter cleaning services today.

What are the Best Gutter Cleaning Tools?

A lot of tools have been made to help you clean your gutters more effectively. Gutter cleaning tools range from manual tools that can be used from a ladder to robotic tools that clean your gutters for you. For this list, we’re going to talk about manual tools for cleaning gutters, and we’re not going into detail about any of the fancier options out there.

What Gets Stuck in the Gutters?

To understand what kind of tools you’ll need for the job, you first need to know what you’ll be cleaning out of your gutters. On the bottom of your gutters, you’ll most likely find a small layer of silt. This is made up of small dirt particles, fine dust particles, and sandy particles. The silt layer collects underneath everything else and creates a thin layering on the bottom of the gutters, building up over time.

On top of the silt, you can find a lot of organic materials from plants around your area. If you have trees around, it’s very likely you’ll discover leaves or pine needles inside the gutters. Seeds from various plants may accumulate inside the gutters and start to sprout in the silt if they’re left long enough. Twigs and small sticks get caught up in the leaves as well. Organic materials cause most of the clogs in gutters.

Beyond the normal organic materials, you may find inorganic materials like tennis balls or toys. This is more likely if you have kids in your household or around the neighborhood. Otherwise, you can also find bug nests, animals nests, and roofing materials from a failing roof.

How Do You Clean Out Dirt and Debris?

To get rid of each of the types of dirt and debris caught in your gutters, you’ll need different types of gutter cleaning tools. For the silt layer, you’ll want something that can scoop it up and breaks up the dirt layers, so that the rest can be easily washed down. For other, larger materials, a claw-type tool is useful for working out large piles of debris.

What Are the Best Gutter Cleaning Tools?

Some of the best tools to use are handheld cultivators, trowels, pressure washers, vacuum tools (like leaf vacuums or leaf blowers), and manual weed removal tools. A mixture of a few different types of tools will help you make sure you get everything out of your gutter, and you end up with a clean system at the end of the day. Garden hoses are generally useful at the end of cleaning, to make sure you get all the little leftover pieces washed out.

Do You Need Separate Tools for Downspouts?

If the downspouts are dirty, you may be able to flush the debris out with a pressure washer or garden hose. But, if there’s a clog you’ll probably have to take the gutters apart at the top and push the clog through to the bottom, or to the next seam that you may also take apart for convenience. If you don’t know how to do this safely and without damaging the gutters, you may want to call in professional help.

Gutter cleaning tools are nothing special, and most people already have these types of things sitting around their sheds or garages for other uses around the house. Grab your trusted cultivator or pressure washer and head up the ladder to get the gutters cleaned this season. If you would rather enjoy your weekend and let the pro’s handle your gutter cleaning for you, then get a quote for gutter cleaning here and go grab another beer. 

How Do Gutter Cleaning Pressure Washers Work?

Cleaning gutters is a notoriously annoying job. Getting up on a ladder and scooping all the gunk out of the gutters doesn’t make for a great afternoon. But, this method isn’t just unpleasant, it’s also difficult and potentially dangerous if you have a taller house. Using gutter cleaning pressure washers, you can safely clean out your gutters without having to climb up on a ladder.

Cleaning the Gutters on a Taller House

It’s recommended that you call a pro if you have a house that’s taller than 1 story. This is because it takes 2 people or special equipment to easily clean out the gutters of a multi-level house. Even with a gutter cleaning pressure washer, you may have trouble seeing the dirt to know if you did a good job or not. While pressure washers are great for home use, you still might want to consider professional help for a taller home.

If you don’t have any experience with pressure washing gutters, you also might think about seeing how the pros do it before you decide to get your own. It’s not a complex process, but a demonstration can be helpful for you to figure out exactly what you should be doing to clean your gutters with a pressure washing attachment. At very least, it could save you from making some common mistakes.

Using a Gutter Cleaning Pressure Washer

Gutter cleaning attachments for pressure washers will help you get the job done in less time without having to use a ladder. You can stand on the ground and walk the pressure washing attachment down the line to clean out your entire gutter system. The only thing you’ll need a ladder for is checking if you did a good job or not!

To use this type of attachment, you need to have your own pressure washer. You can’t use an attachment like this with a plain hose, because it won’t be able to get the water speeds you need to really clean the gutters. Along with a pressure washer, you’ll want an extension wand that will bring the attachment all the way up to the gutters. Some attachments come with these extensions, but not all of them. For the most part, the gutter cleaning extension is a rigid or flexible piece that’s cured at an angle to spray downwards into the gutters from the ground.

To use the attachments, assemble your gear on the ground and get your pressure washer ready. You should be able to point the attachment straight into the gutters from some comfortable standing point on the ground. Once you turn on the pressure washer, you should be able to walk along the ground and spray the gutters clean as you go.

Gutter cleaning pressure washers are a great addition to your cleaning arsenal. They can save a lot of time and will keep you from having to climb up the ladder But, if you have a multi-level house or you’ve never used a pressure washing attachment before, you may want to call in the pros at least once to see how it’s done before you start using your own. That is where Clean Pro comes in hand.  If you simply would rather not fool with it, we can provide you with a quote for gutter cleaning in minutes.