Category: Gutter Cleaning

Why would you need to consider gutter cleaning as part of your spring cleaning routine? Sure, it’s Vancouver and it rains a lot, but a little extra rain never hurt anyone…right? Wrong. Especially when it comes to gutter cleaning in Vancouver, it’s important to keep your gutters working properly to avoid a large list of property issues. From heaving driveways to allergic reactions, some of the most unsuspecting symptoms can be traced back to the lack of regular gutter cleaning. Here’s how it works: Gutters protect your roof, wall and foundation from erosion due to rainfall. When your gutters are clogged, not only do you lose that protection but you’re inviting mold, pests and rodents to take place and grow in your gutters. An urban jungle above your head, crowning your property like a mold-green tiara. No, thanks. Not only do clogged, moldy or broken gutters look terrible, but they’re a source of many other issues that plague property owners. Here are 3 symptoms you may not have considered. Water Damage Clogged gutters can’t do their job, which means that rain will seep through the sides of your home, causing water damage and potentially pooling in your basement. Flooded basecamps can be a very real issue during the rainy season. (If you haven’t noticed, it’s almost always rain season in Vancouver.) Water that settles at the base of your property can lead to foundation issues, which can cost upwards of $10,000 to fix. The threat doesn’t just affect the base of your property – it starts at the top. Weak shingles result in shingle grit, which can clog up your gutter. Clogged gutters result in backed up rainwater, which will weaken surrounding shingles. Notice the cycle? From your roof, to sidings and even your foundation, water damage is the #1 reason you should consider gutter cleaning in Vancouver. Curb Appeal Broken gutters will break off the top of your property, jutting out like a loose straw on a pop can. Not to mention the mold and the mildew that accumulates due to rainwater. Expect the value of your real estate to fall when you’ve got foundation issues, mold and mildew – all stemming from your gutters. We’ve seen “gutter gardens” sprout from clogged gutters, an ecosystem of plant life taking place from the broken-down organic material in gutters. Can you imagine the damage to your property with a mini-garden growing in your gutter? Faulty gutters can also affect your driveway. Puddles that naturally build up around your house due to clogged gutters, will attract nearby trees to take root near your property. Have you ever noticed heaving highways and roots that grow under the asphalt? Your local tree, which graciously supplies the leaves that clog your gutter, is literally taking root under your property. It doesn’t just look bad – serious damage will hurt your property value as well. Pests, Plants And Rodents It turns out that fallen leaves make a cozy home for rodents and the mushy, rotting organic material is a great place for insects. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and pests, while mold can result in allergic symptoms for some. Gutter cleaning is a necessity in Vancouver, and even if things “look fine” right now, you may not see the long-term signs of property damage until it’s too late. We recommend gutter cleaning at least twice a year, depending on your location. Having trees nearby will greatly affect how often your gutters need to be cleaned. When cleaning your gutters – do yourself a favour, and avoid doing it yourself. Gutter cleaning done improperly is not only ineffective – it can be dangerous. We use industrial gutter vacuums to ensure the job gets done properly, and our professionals are 100% trained and insured. If you’re looking for gutter cleaning in Vancouver, contact IMAGINE today at (888) 835-0008.

Gutter cleaning isn’t rocket science, all you need is a ladder, a bucket, a pair of gloves, and a comfortability with heights, right?  The truth is a the outset, gutter cleaning does appear to be quite simple. One doesn’t need a specialized set of skills such as plumbing or electrical, however gutter cleaning is one of the more dangerous home DIY tasks you can do. This article will examine the two most popular cleaning techniques to determine the best method for cleaning gutters. Lets discuss age-old question in a fight to the finish! ROUND 1  – Safety Ladders, while useful have their obvious drawbacks and cannot access tricky or hard to reach areas such as multi-tiered or recessed rooflines and dormers. Often what happens is homeowners stretch the use of the ladder past its intended design and that’s when accidents occur. Gutter vacuums, with many feet of extended reach can safely access these tricky areas often from the ground. A company that utilizes gutter vacuums is promoting a safe work environment. WINNER – Vacuum ROUND 2 – Price This is a tricky subject and it depends how you choose to look at it. Upfront, that guy with the rusted 1980s truck might have a rock bottom price, but he likely doesn’t have insurance, a huge no-no in hiring a contractor as you can end up liable for their personal injuries or damages. Also, if he’s not professional enough to have insurance, its likely that extends to other areas of his business such as handling deficiencies, showing up on time, or returning phone calls. As customers, we all pay for the experience we receive. In the words of Red Adair; “If you think its expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.” There is often more to the cost of a job than low price, perhaps that extra 15-20% might be considered peace of mind. WINNER – Vacuum ROUND 3 – Results If a ladder can’t reach an area of the roof, how is it going to get cleaned? Is the uninsured cleaner going to climb up your roof and risk a fall or skip that spot? Either choice is not acceptable. Further, hand cleaning is only good for the big stuff: Leaves, moss, and twigs. After time soil forms in the gutter, and the roofing shingles shed their granules that pile up in the gutter. This micro-debris is very hard to fully remove even with gutter spoons. Only a vacuum can guarantee full removal of this debris and ensure proper drainage of your gutters. WINNER – Vacuum And the winner by unanimous decision – The gutter vacuum comes out on top as the superior gutter cleaning method.

Don’t get caught up in the hype before you read this important article. Gutter cleaning is my favourite task, said no-one, ever. So it comes as no surprise that a host of solutions in the form of guards and screens are advertised to prevent your gutters from clogging and save you from what could be a dangerous household task. However not everyone agrees they are worth the time, cost, and effort to have them installed. Gutter guards and screens are sold on the premise that they will perform three jobs for the homeowner: 1. Keep leaves and debris out of the gutter. 2. Catch all the water. 3. Be able to be maintained easily by homeowner   Gutter guards fall into two categories: gutter covers and screens. Screens are wire mesh, nylon or foam, cheap to install. Screens do help with the necessity of cleaning but some debris is small enough to pass through the screen. This material decomposes while holding moisture in forming a sludge that after time causes blockages.   Covers sit onto of your gutters and limit water flow because they cover the gutters. during heavy rain these systems are shown not to catch the water, but cascade over the edge onto the ground below. In mild to heavy conditions virtually all guards and screens fail to do all three tasks effectively. Pros of using gutter guards: • Prevent birds and rodents from nesting • Eliminate need for frequent cleaning Cons of using gutter guards: • Can be expensive. $700-several thousand dollars. • Not 100% foolproof. Require additional cleaning • Some systems practically ineffective, shop carefully • Leaning a ladder (as in hanging Christmas lights) against a guard will dent and reduce effectiveness – Homeowners shouldn’t expect that gutter guard systems will be maintenance free, and some guard systems are harder to clean once clogged. In some cases the cost of the gutter guard system can cost more than several years of professional gutter cleaning. Depending on your situation, such as the height of the home or amount of trees around the home it may make more sense to hire a professional cleaner.

Out of sight, out of mind. It can be easy to forget about gutters, but don’t ignore this important task for fall home maintenance. Fall is well underway here in Vancouver which means a host of tasks for homeowners as they prepare for the wet and cold months ahead. One of the most important – and often overlooked tasks is inspecting and cleaning gutters for drainage The Lower Mainland receives 1200mm to 2400mm of rain annually. That’s up to 8 feet of rain! When functioning properly, gutters protect your home from water damage by draining water away from the roof and away from the house. When they become plugged, the buildup of water can easily lead to a host of expensive problems to repair such as damage to the roof, fascia, soffits, siding and landscaping. The easiest way to determine if your gutters are functioning properly is to wait for a rainy day to see if water is emptying from the downspouts. If you observe a slow trickle, or water overflowing then there is debris clogging the gutters and/or downspouts. The hardest part of gutter cleaning is safe access to the work area. Before you jump up on the ladder, take a moment to familiarize yourself with basic ladder safety. If you have a multi-tiered roof, or recessed dormers take extreme caution if you need to climb on the roof as wet roofs are an extreme slip hazard and should be avoided. Professional gutter cleaning services often use long-reach vacuums to get these hard-to-get areas.Depending on the landscaping around your home, you might need to do this a few times throughout the fall season. This simple task will save you thousands in unnecessary repairs from rot, flooding, or landscape damage. If you’d prefer to save your weekend, call us we’d be happy to take this dirty job off your hands.

Use this checklist before you tackle your DIY gutter cleaning. At its best, gutter cleaning is a tedious and dirty task. At worst it can be downright dangerous. A slight misstep or over-reach and you could end up with more than a bruised ego. Consider that falls are among the leading causes of unintentional home injury and death; with nearly 1500 deaths per year according to a 2003 Statistics Canada report. “Knowing how to use household tools and equipment safely should be the first thing you consider before starting any project if you are going to do it yourself,” said Al Johnson, WorkSafeBC’s Regional Director for Construction. If you are unfamiliar with correct ladder usage take a moment and familiarize yourself with the basic steps for safe ladder use. DO • Asses your home. The challenge for every cleaning project is access. How will you get to all the areas? Do you have multiple or inset rooflines? Dormers? Is your home on a slope? • Have the right equipment. Wooden ladders, and step ladders are not recommended because they are often wobbly. Opt for extension ladders if possible. • Wear gloves. Protect the hands from scratches  and exposure to bird & animal waste. • Rake off the roof. Clear the valleys first otherwise in the next rainfall this material will end up in your gutters. DON’T • Over reach from the ladder. You’re won’t save much time by reaching for that extra six inches. Climb down the ladder and reposition. • Walk on the roof. As tempting as it may be, roofs can be slippery. • Use metal tools inside the gutter. Scraping the gutter can introduce the area to rust. • Lean the ladder on the gutter it will cause dents. Use ladder bumpers and set against the roof. Hire a Pro Hesitant on doing this yourself? Consider a professional gutter cleaner. get three estimates but don’t go for the cheapest one. The guy with the 1980 pick up truck and a rock bottom price could possibly do a good job, but might not have insurance. RULE #1, make sure whomever you hire has insurance. If someone takes a tumble off a ladder and is not covered, you as the homeowner are liable.

If hiring a pro is not in the budget or you just want to tackle the job yourself, this article is for you. Gutter cleaning is a job many would love to ignore, but is an all important twice-a-year ritual all homeowners need to adopt. There are many ways to clean gutters, but most methods involve getting on a ladder. If you’re not comfortable working at heights you’re better off calling a professional. Required equipment: – Gloves – Safety goggles – Gutter spoon (optional) – Rake – Proper size ladder – Bucket with a ladder hook Before you begin, familiarize yourself with basic ladder safety. 1. Rake the roof. First you’ll want to remove as much of the leaves from the roof and valleys without damaging the shingles. Hose down the rest. 2. Remove debris. Maintaining three points of contact with the ladder, scoop out the debris and place in bucket attached to the ladder. Don’t over-reach from your ladder position, climb down and reposition your ladder. 3. Rinse. Flush gutter towards downspout, use a sponge & detergent to clean the exterior of the gutter, removing green algae stains. 4. Maintain. Install leaf strainers at your downspouts to cut down on clogs. Check for leaks when it rains and mark with a marker so you can patch holes when its dry.