What are the most important things to keep in mind when having gutters installed?
Invest in an adequate system, make sure it’s installed correctly, and get a good warranty. As far as installation goes, there are three huge points that you need to look at when you are investing in a gutter system. The first two are standards that many companies do not follow. Your supports should be two feet apart, and the back of the gutter should be behind the roof flashing so that water does not leak between the gutter and the fascia board. Finally, always use oversized downspouts.
What features or upgrades do you recommend on a gutter system?
Whether you have an old system or you are buying a new system, the huge plus for gutters is oversized downspouts. I cannot talk about them enough. Water weighs around eight pounds per gallon. Even if your gutters are clean, you’ve got a lot of weight in them during the rain. Excess weight can cause gutters to sag, pull away from the house, or become bent. Oversized downspouts drain much faster and don’t clog as easily.
Some people worry that they will be big and ugly, but standard downspouts are two inches by three inches, and oversized downspouts are three by four. They are only an inch wider each way, but if you do the math, you are doubling the square inches of outlet.
Some people worry that they will be big and ugly, but standard downspouts are two inches by three inches, and oversized downspouts are three by four. They are only an inch wider each way, but if you do the math, you are doubling the square inches of outlet.
Homeowners can be notoriously neglectful of their gutters. How often do I really need to clean out my Gutters?
People ask us that all the time and here is how we explain it: If you clean your gutters today and blow the leaves off of your patio or yard, the next time you see leaves out there, there are leaves in the gutters again. So people should clean their gutters as often as there is debris in them. It wouldn’t hurt to have them cleaned out by a professional once a year, because the professional can look for other issues like leaking corners or a loose gutter.
If I want my gutters to be as maintenance free as possible, what should I invest in?
If you have trees, you just want good leaf protection. So when you really want to cut your maintenance down to a minimum, look at some decent screen choices. There are some screens out there that have a no-clog warranty. Beyond that, look into solid-top technology. Those have a curved bullnose, so when the water reaches that nose, it will actually wrap around due to surface tension and go into the opening, while the debris falls to the ground.
Question 4
