Gutters

What Causes Water To Spill Over Gutters?

April 15, 2015
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Q:   I noticed this morning, during the moderately heavy rain we had, that the rain was falling over the gutter (north side of the house, over my porch/sidewalk) in sheets. The ground below quickly became a little lake. What would cause that? Are there more “design issues” on the front that need to be attended to?…

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Understanding Ice Damming

March 5, 2015
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In late winter I get many calls from people asking me if I could put new gutters on their houses to solve their ice damming problems.  I have to be honest with them and explain that ice damming is a product of ventilation and insulation gutters won’t fix their ice damming problems.  It may not be good for business,…

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Buying from a House Flipper? Use Caution

March 4, 2015
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As a professional remodeler I see the good, the bad and the ugly.  Being an educated buyer is your best defense against inheriting someone else’s problem. Common problems that I see regularly are that low quality materials were used on house flipper projects and low quality installation practices were used.  This is not to say…

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Can Gutters be repitched?

September 18, 2014
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I receive at least one call a week from frustrated homeowners, house flippers or investors asking me to re-pitch poorly installed gutters.  Their thought is that it will be a cheap and cost effective way to make improperly installed gutters function well. They are mistaken. Here’s why: Gutters have a piece of flashing that is…

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Can a Gutter Be Repitched?

October 9, 2013
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This is a complex question I often get from customers.    The answer is both yes and no. You can pitch a gutter but you must first understand the anatomy of a properly installed pitched gutter.   A hanger hooks onto the front of the gutter and is attached in the back by tightening the…

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When is it time to replace my gutters?

June 12, 2013
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Sometimes it makes sense to replace your gutters, and sometimes it doesn’t.  Just like in the medical field, you first need to diagnose the problem in order to prescribe the right medicine. Here’s a list of times you DO need to replace them and times that you DO NOT need to replace them: Overflow:  If…

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Screws, Nails, Spikes and Hangers – A Guide to Long Lasting Gutters

January 7, 2013
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When choosing a gutter company, homeowners should be sure to ask questions about how their gutters will be attached to their homes. You should understand that one size does not fit all. The climate you live in will help you decide whether you need screws for your gutters or whether nails or spikes will be…

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Downspout Gauge is as important as Gutter Gauge

January 3, 2013
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Downspouts are one of the major parts of their gutter project that homeowners neglect. Even those who do a fair amount of research rarely understand that there are differences in the gauge of their downspouts. Unfortunately, most contractors will neglect to inform their customers what gauge they are using because of thinner, inferior products. Some…

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Ice Damming — Coping with the Problem

February 5, 2011
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Ice damming is becoming an increasing problem as freeze/thaw cycles have become more common throughout the winter. As a child I remember it getting cold in the fall and thawing in the spring. Now it is common to see several freezes and thaws in just one month. This can cause major problems. To understand the…

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Gutter Protection: Do’s and Don’ts

May 17, 2010
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Putting gutter protection on your home will save you a lot of unnecessary work. But before you jump into it, thinking that all gutter protection works equally, here’s a list of DO’s and DON’Ts for you. DO: DON’T Here in Wisconsin, Green Bay Packer fans mourned the loss of Packer great Max McGee.  McGee was…

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