Construction & Contractors Blog
While many homeowners know they should clean their gutters periodically, it can be hard to take care of the task when you have a busy week ahead of you. However, hiring a professional makes getting those gutters spic and span fast and easy. Here are three things you should ask about when you schedule residential gutter cleaning and why.
1. Downspout Cleaning
While most gutter cleaning services come along with removing debris from the gutters themselves, it's also important to check your downspouts for clogs and hidden debris. Some gutter cleaning services come with downspout cleaning, where the actual downspouts themselves are suctioned or flushed to remove leaves and other debris. Ask your gutter cleaning representative if that is something they do and if it's included in the cost of your original bid or if it's billed separately. If downspouts will be cleaned, ask how they handle buried French drains. In some instances, significant clogs may require digging into the ground to replace sections of drainage pipes.
2. Caulking
When gutters become damaged, they can leak, which can allow water to drip onto the sides of your home and your windows. Over time, leaks can even cause unsightly rust stains or discolorations from dirt and debris, so it's smart to have your gutters checked for leaks.
Ask your gutter cleaning service if they can seal holes or leaks with waterproof caulk after the cleaning. If they don't offer sealing, ask if they can let you know if they notice areas where leaks are present so you can seal them yourself.
3. No-Clog Guarantees
To keep their customers happy, some gutter cleaning companies offer things like no-clog guarantees for a set amount of time, such as three to six months. If your gutters become clogged during this time, the service may be notified to come back out and remove the clog for free or for a low, preset price.
If your gutter company offers this service, ask how much notice they need to come back out to remove clogs. Also, ask them how often other customers experience clogs after the initial cleaning. Sometimes, businesses do such a great job cleaning gutters that their customers may not need to make good on the guarantee.
Before you schedule the service with anyone, check to see if they are bonded, licensed, and insured, just in case they experience any incidents when they are cleaning your home gutters. Try to schedule the service before springtime so that rainy weather doesn't cause problems.
Contact a company like A-1 Seamless Gutters Inc to learn more.
Share11 February 2021
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
