Gutter Covers: What Makes Them Worthwhile Investments?

April 29, 2020/in Updates /by Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters LLC

Property maintenance contributes a considerable portion to your business expenses, especially tasks that require regular attention, such as gutter cleaning. You can reduce your maintenance burden by investing in long-term solutions that preserve the condition of your property.

Gutter covers, in particular, keep drainage systems working properly and protect commercial roofs. Although they require upfront costs, they provide you with savings in the long run by reducing the need for gutter repairs and replacements.

Below are three ways a gutter guard installation helps you save money.

1. Protects against rust and corrosion

Open gutters easily collect leaves and twigs. Wet debris that sit in your gutters for a long period can cause your drainage system to corrode quickly. When neglected, rusty troughs can compromise the structural integrity of the entire roof. And replacing an entire roofing system or even just the drainage can get expensive.

Save yourself from costly repairs by installing a gutter guard. This prevents debris from collecting in the troughs, allowing water to trickle down freely.

2. Prevents water damage and freezing

Apart from rust, soggy leaves in gutters can cause different types of water damage. Water that collects in troughs can freeze during winter, creating ice dams. The moisture from ice dams can seep into your roof, causing water damage on your commercial property. Plus, when the ice dams get too heavy, it can tear off the gutter completely from the roof.

Gutter covers can’t entirely prevent freezing, but they can significantly reduce the size of ice dams, making their weight bearable for the drainage system.

Apart from ice dams, clogged gutters can cause water damage to the foundation of your commercial property. The water can overflow and trickle down to your exterior walls, causing unsightly stains or cracking.

The water from your gutters can travel farther down, drenching your landscaping. Rainwater that flows to your garden unintentionally can flood the topsoil and drown your plants. Aside from gutter repair, a clogged drainage system can also cost you landscaping restoration expenses.

A gutter cover will keep your drainage clog-free, keeping the water flowing and directing it away from your landscape and commercial property.

3. Keeps away pests and critters

Finally, gutter guards prevent pests from building their nests in your drainage system. Possums, birds, bees, rats, and snakes can clog your gutters with discarded food and even carcasses, leading to costly flood damage.

When critters start nesting in your gutters, they can enter your building through spaces on your walls or roof. This pest infestation can turn away customers, endanger your staff, and affect your reputation.

With its many benefits, a gutter cover is a worthwhile investment that preserves the condition of your commercial property, reduces your maintenance expenses, and ensures smooth day-to-day operations.

Ensure the long-term value of your investment by trusting only experienced gutter cover installers.

4. Efficient Commercial Roofing and Drainage Systems

Upgrade your roofing system and invest in superior gutter protection. At Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters, we offer the durable, low-maintenance LeafLock ™ gutter systems, providing long-term protection to your commercial property while helping you reduce business expenses. Our team of installers works quickly, minimizing operational downtime.

Call us at 877-594-7449 today to get a free quote and assessment.

How Gutter Covers Can Change Your Life

April 16, 2020/in Updates /by Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters LLC

If there’s one chore all homeowners would rather avoid, it’s cleaning out their gutters. After all, it’s an extremely difficult, dangerous, and time-consuming job. Luckily, with gutter guards or covers, you never have to clean your gutters again. Protecting your gutters not only saves you from unpleasant maintenance, but also solves a number of issues you may not even be aware of.

If you’re still having second thoughts on the value and cost of having a roof and gutter leaf protection system in place, read on to know more about the fantastic benefits that come with it.

Reduces maintenance

Unprotected gutters require more frequent maintenance which means additional household expenses. And since gutter cleaning is not something anyone can do, you may even have to hire a professional to do the job.

With gutter guards, you can significantly reduce the amount of fallen leaves, pinecone needles and all sorts of debris that clog your gutter over time. Although gutter guards may also need occasional maintenance, they are easier and faster to clean than contaminated gutters.

Protects against premature rust and corrosion

The presence of wet debris in your gutter troughs increases the likelihood of premature rust and corrosion. Similarly, leaves and sticks can damage your gutter’s interiors, causing tiny scratches that can grow over time. Debris can also contribute to algae and mold growth which causes even more structural damage to your roof.

By stopping debris buildup, gutter covers can solve all these potential problems while extending the life of your roofing and gutter system.

Prevents ice dams

During winter, water that gets trapped in your gutter can re-freeze and cause ice dams. The weight of these compacted icicles can damage your gutter and roofing tiles. It can also hurt anyone who may be underneath once the ice breaks off.

Accumulated debris will only worsen the situation by blocking partially melted ice from exiting the gutter. Though gutter guards may not directly prevent ice dams, they can stop dirt buildup which in turn, reduces ice formation. Less ice residing in or around your gutters means less structural damage.

Keeps away pests and insect infestations

Pooled water caused by accumulated leaves can attract insects and mosquitoes. Stagnant gutter water can even be a breeding ground for mosquito-borne diseases. Similarly, debris in your roof cavity can serve as nesting material for rats, mice, snakes, possums, birds and other pests.

By reducing waste buildup, gutter guards can prevent pests from taking up residence in your gutter. At the same time, they can block any entry points in your roof cavity where pests might squeeze their way into.

Maximum gutter protection

Tired of cleaning your gutters? Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters ensures you never have to clean your gutters again! With over 30 years of experience in the Minnesota and Wisconsin areas, we provide you with top-grade gutter protection systems designed to uplift your home’s structural integrity. As LeafLock-trained installers, we use advanced tools to give your gutter premium protection from corrosion, pest infestation, water damage, and other common issues.

Your Gutter Needs Spring Cleaning, Too: Preparing Gutters for the Spring Rain

February 20, 2020/in Updates /by Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters LLC

Spring is round the idiomatic corner—by mid-March, the weather will begin to warm and the icy ground will begin to thaw, all signs that spring is nearly upon us. The season marks flowers blooming, animals coming out of hibernation, and the weather becoming sunnier.

It also means spring showers and, sometimes, heavy rain. With your property just having gone through the harsh effects of winter, it requires some work to protect it from damage that heavy spring rain may bring.

Preventive maintenance of your roof and gutter system ensures that they’re ready to protect your home from any damage brought by rain. If you’re not sure where to begin, our metal roof specialists at Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters are happy to give you tips on how to prepare your gutters for the spring rain.

Spring Maintenance for Your Gutter

Your gutter is your first line of defense against the rain. It catches rainwater sliding off the roof and redirects it to a designated location, preventing water from leaking into your interior and creating costly damage. Your gutter system also prevents mildew and mold from forming inside your house, making your home more comfortable.

When gutters aren’t working properly, the leaks can damage your home through soil erosion, which results in damage to the foundation of the property. When not properly maintained, the gutter itself will sag or warp, affecting the appearance of your home.

Checking Your Gutter System

Before spring starts, do a visual check of your roof and gutter system to identify issues such as:

Accumulated Debris: The winter weather could have caused dirt and grime to accumulate in your gutter.
Leaks: Excessive snowfall and ice that collected on your roof over winter can corrode, crack, bend, or cause your gutter to sag.
Overhanging Trees: Any branches from overhanging trees can damage your roof and cause gutter clogs.
Security: Gently tug on your gutter to make sure it doesn’t move. The gutter should be tightly secured to the side of your home so that it doesn’t come loose during a torrential downpour.

While you can check for issues on your own, using a ladder to do a visual check, safety is always a consideration. For safety purposes, and so that you get a thorough assessment, you may want to hire specialists to do a complete inspection of your roof and gutter system, instead.

Spring Cleaning Your Gutters

Once you’ve identified the issues of your gutters, it’s time to conduct preventative maintenance on them.

Clean Out Debris

Head up your roof to remove foreign objects like branches, pine needles, sticks, and other forms of debris. Again, for your safety and a more efficient cleaning process, hire a professional to clean the debris and trim overhanging trees, as necessary.

Upgrade Your Roofing System

If your roof and gutter look worse for the wear, it’s time to replace them. Choose metal roofs since they can withstand harsh conditions, from heavy rain to hail. It is also a more cost-efficient option, in the long run, since it typically can last from 30 to 50 years with minimal maintenance.

Upgrade Your Gutter and Roofing System Before the Spring Showers

Upgrade your roofing system and get seamless gutter protection before the start of spring rains. At Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters, our team of installers gets the work done without disrupting your daily activities at home.

To get a free quote and assessment, call us at 877-594-7449.

How Gutters Help Protect Your Home’s Foundation

February 20, 2020/in Updates /by Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters LLC

Some people think that a roof gutter’s only purpose is to make a house look better. In reality, a roof gutter serves a much more important purpose other than being a decorative element for your home.

Roof gutters are there to direct rainwater off your roof, and away from your home’s foundation.

Rainwater’s Effect on Your Home’s Foundations

If rainwater from a heavy downpour isn’t channeled away, the water can become a powerful surge that pummels the ground right beside your home’s foundation. Rainwater doesn’t have to come in a heavy downpour—even gentle rain showers can damage your foundation if they happen frequently enough.

If a lot of water pools at the base of your home often, the soil around your foundation becomes saturated. The wet soil then exerts pressure on the foundation, causing it to buckle inward and eventually crack. After the soil dries, the pressure is lessened. When these differences in pressure happen enough times, your home’s foundations will shift, crack, and become uneven — or all three happen. Once the foundations are compromised, your home could become flooded by the next rainfall or literally fall through the ground.

Signs of Foundation Damage

Signs that your home’s foundations have been affected may not show until some time, depending on how much and how often rainwater pools around them. Some signs include mold growth in your home’s interior walls, flooding of the basement, warping, cracking or buckling of basement walls, and misalignment of doors, chimneys, or floors.

What You Should Do

Now that you know the importance of your roof gutters, make sure to have a complete system of them, and that they work. Your roof gutters should completely divert all the runoff from your roof away from your home and into a working drainage system. These are the measures you should take to ensure you have a first line of defense in protecting your home’s foundations:

1. Add Any Missing Gutters to Your Roofline

Install gutters all along your home’s roofline—make no exceptions and leave no gaps. Never forget that rainwater can not only seep into the ground and affect your home’s foundation, but it can also wash away your landscaping. And depending on the damage, this could cost a lot for repairs.

2. Maintain Your Gutters

Be sure to replace any bent or broken sections of your existing gutters. Any part of your gutter system that spills water on the ground will eventually cause the destruction of your home’s foundation. You must make sure that your gutters don’t get clogged with fallen leaves or other debris; clogged gutters are like having no gutters at all. Check your gutters regularly, and remove any dried leaves and debris that get into any of them. Clogged gutters can also attract pests. To prevent clogging, enhance your gutter system with a roof gutter leaf protection component.

Never take your gutters for granted; they’re your cost-effective first line of defense against foundation damage. Don’t put off repairing them or cleaning the accumulated debris off of them, or protect them from clogging with our special add-on system. Having and maintaining an effective roof gutter system is cheaper and less of a hassle than repairing your home’s foundation.

Protect your home with the best gutter protection systems from Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters, LLC. As LeafLock-trained installers, we can seamlessly install new gutter protection systems over your full-sized gutters to prevent clogs. Let us help you avoid costly damage to your home, with our durable, worry-free, and maintenance-free LeafLock gutter leaf protection system. Call us today!

The Price Is Not Right: The Costs of Having Damaged or Clogged Gutters

January 28, 2020/in Updates /by Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters LLC

Gutters don’t only redirect rainwater off your roof. They do much more than that. And it’s the latter that makes the stronger claim for why you should have working gutters all the time. ;

Rain gutters serve as an important protective measure against water damage, which could incur expensive repairs — or medical bills. Learn the issues and costs of having damaged gutters, clogged gutters, or none at all.

Pests

If your home has conventional gutters, leaves, dirt, twigs, and other debris can accumulate in them. The bunched-up debris can then host a variety of pests like rats, venomous spiders, venomous snakes, wasps, fleas, ticks, bats, termites, and bees.

At best, these critters can be a minor annoyance. At worst, any of them can send you or a member of your household to the ER. For example, if anyone in your home gets stung by a bee and they happen to be allergic to bee stings, you’ll have to rush them to the ER if you don’t have an Epi-pen handy. The cost of their treatment will depend on whether they have medical insurance.

With medical insurance, bee sting treatment can cost nearly $2000; without medical insurance, treatment can go as high as $12,000, like in the case of one woman in Florida. Don’t forget that whether you or anyone is stung or bitten by these pests or not, you still have to call a pest control expert. Depending on the pest, the severity of the infestation, and their location pest control services could cost anywhere from $250 to $1000.

Soil Erosion

Apart from potentially harboring pests, a clogged gutter can cause water to drench your landscaping. Rainwater that flows to your garden unguided can remove the topsoil and drown your plants and flowers. If you fail to de-clog your gutters, you’ll have to call in a landscaping expert periodically to redo your landscape. Replacing the washed-off topsoil and the damaged or dead plants and flowers could cost you $50 to $100 an hour for labor, and another $4 to $12 per square foot. If the landscaping damage is extensive, you could be looking at $3000 to $15,000 with an additional $200 per hour for labor and materials on top of that. Landscaping costs due to clogged gutters is no laughing matter.

Home Repair & Renovation

Effective gutter protection systems keep water away from your roof shingles. Should your gutters fail in that, water can end up standing around your roof’s shingles, then eventually find its way into the roof support structure. The water can then seep into the attic, pool in your ceiling, and leak through it. Water damage and mold will surely follow.

During winter, a more serious issue can result from a clogged gutter: ice dams. Ice dams happen when warm air rises from your heated home and melts the snow on top of your roof. The water then freezes again when it reaches the outer shingles. The ice dams result in similar damage as standing water on your roof.

Gutters that fail to redirect water to drains can also cause water to pool in your basement. This is dangerous as the water will not only damage heating systems but also destroy the very foundations of your home. Depending on the severity of the damage, home repairs can cost you about $4000 to $18,500. You can get a more exact estimate here.

Our advice is for you to get gutter protection systems from Bruce Andrews Seamless Gutters. We install gutters onsite and match our gutters with your home color. You have the option to get a gutter protection system to prevent debris from falling into your gutters.

Rest assured that with our product, you’ll never have to worry about clogged gutters again. Avoid the huge costs of hiring pest control and landscape or home repairs. Contact us today and get a free quote.