Expert Tips from Mark Franzoso of Franzoso Contracting
With trees shedding their leaves, it goes without saying that fall is here and it’s prime season for maintenance on your home’s gutters. Cleaning them out to keep them un-clogged and free flowing should be done twice a year, with spring the other time. Clearing them more frequently is advisable if your home has a lot of trees surrounding it. If there are pine trees, it’s advisable to clean them every three months.
Now that the schedule of gutter maintenance is set, all you need to do is get up there and start cleaning the gutters of leaves and any other wet debris that could clog them, right? Wrong! Gutters are too integral to the integrity of your home’s exterior to treat it as a do-it-yourself project.
It’s a job best handled by professionals, such as the experts here at Franzoso Contracting. Set aside the valuable time and few dollars you will save; the much bigger concern is safety!
That’s where we come in, and we start with our insurance. This is the simplest way to explain, other than taking a chance and doing it yourself: Most folks who have a landscape service have them clean their gutters. BIG mistake! Landscape, Gardener or Handyman insurance (if they have it) does not cover the employee above the 3rd rung of the ladder. No one wants anyone to fall and get injured, but it’s the chance you take. If the company says that it has insurance, great, but ask to see the entire policy, and do not accept a 1-page document that lists you as “additional insured.”
By reviewing the entire policy, you will be able to see where all the exclusions. If you find it tough to understand, send it to your insurance broker to review. We recommend this to all our prospective clients, primarily for Roofing and Siding projects.
Remember: You can’t put a price on safety!
Now that we have that step out of the way, when you hire a company like ours, in addition to the gutter and leader service, we provide a comprehensive 10-point roof inspection, which is always included. We also carry three types of gutter protection, if the interest is there to just eliminate the problem. Please keep in mind that we also have two Polar Vortex steamers if the need arises to eliminate Ice Dams the professional way.
We have heard and witnessed too many times when our area is hit with large snowstorms, followed by ice dams and leaks from gutter backup where homeowners panic and hire anyone to get up on the roof and remove the ice. Methods used are hammers, hatchets and ice picks, which destroy roof shingles and damage gutters, which amounts to unnecessary repairs and replacement in the spring.
Another dangerous risk that clogged gutters pose is the collection of standing water, which attracts mosquitoes that in certain situations can carry deadly diseases. And standing water is not the only problem. Water dripping behind the gutter will damage fascia trim boards, leading to rot and higher repair costs. If rainwater runs off the roof because the gutter is clogged it could damage not only the home’s siding but its foundation as well, and quite possibly leak water in your basement.
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10 Tips for Gutter Maintenance
- Periodic Inspections – at minimum, in spring and fall
- Gutter Cleaning – maintains cleanliness, prevents blockages and water damage
- Flush out Gutters with Water – we use a garden hose to thoroughly remove sediment and small particles (important note to disconnect leaders that go directly into a drain field)
- Check Proper pitch – gutters should be angled toward downspouts to prevent water pooling
- Check for Loose Gutters – they can cause faulty water drainage and damage
- Repair Leaks and Holes – prevent water from escaping
- Use Gutter Guards (optional) – prevents debris from collecting
- Clean Downspouts – same service as the gutters, rid all obstructions to steer drainage away from home (water test)
- Extend Downspouts – should be minimum four feet from home’s foundation
10.Hire Professionals – Contact Franzoso through Franzoso.com
