When it comes to homeownership, general maintenance is an unavoidable duty that some either find cringe-worthy or thoroughly enjoy. Nowhere is this more evident than cleaning and maintaining the gutters on one’s own home. If you’re someone that doesn’t mind rolling up your sleeves and tackling a roof guttering project head-on, this article may be of some interest to you. As you continue reading, you will be provided with information that can make this otherwise grueling chore easier than ever.
Inspections
Before doing any work, you will want to know what you’re up against, and the best way to accomplish this is by doing a visual inspection. Your inspection should include checking the rivets on the downspout of your gutters as they will, over time, loosen or completely fall out. So how do you resolve such a problem? It’s actually quite easy; you can refasten them with a rivet gun, which can be purchased from your local home improvement store for as low as $20.
Gutter Spikes
Spikes, which are anchored to rafters of your home, can eventually come loose; fortunately, this is also an easy fix. Homeowners can simply purchase new spikes and fasten them to their gutters. It should be noted, however, that they must be driven all the way through the gutters, fascia board, and rafters before they are deemed secure.
Leaks
Checking for leaks is another crucial part of your gutter inspection, especially since the original caulking can deteriorate over time. The best way to remedy this problem is to use a hammer and a chisel to remove old caulking material and apply new silicone. This will prevent water from damaging the gutters and the fascia boards behind them.
Gutter Cleaning
Now that we have taken a look at inspecting and correcting some of the more common gutter problems, let’s turn our attention towards gutter cleaning. It’s common knowledge, at least amongst gutter experts, that pressure washing is the best way to clean gutters. If you’re concerned about the cost of pressure washing machines, they are not too expensive. On average, they can be purchased for as low as $100 at most home improvement stores. It’s important to note that you should avoid shooting water at an angle since the high-pressure water could loosen the shingles on your roof.
When You Should Upgrade Your Gutters
If you’ve been following home improvement trends, you may have heard that aluminum and vinyl gutters are now the new standard. The reason behind this is that they are less prone to rusting, which, in turn, makes them less likely to leak. If during your gutter cleaning, you notice a significant amount of rust on your gutters, you may want to consider replacing them. Obviously, this is not a task that many homeowners would want to take on, which is why you’re encouraged to seek out the expertise of gutter experts in your area. These are professionals that can provide you with invaluable information on roof guttering and the right gutter for your home, should you choose to install a new one.