Tips For Cleaning Your Gutters In Spring

Phil's Main Roofing 

26 Fitch Street, Norwalk CT

(203) 838-4545

www.philsmainroofing.com

When you think of your roof, what comes to mind first? Shingles? Flashing? Ventilation? Though these are all vital components of a roofing system, there is one other that many often overlook - that's your gutters. While your gutters and your roof are technically two separate systems that contribute to the design of a home, they are highly connected in several ways. Let's look at one specific example:

Clogged gutters are one of the most common causes of roof leaks. Since your gutters are meant to help water travel away from the roof, when they are clogged the water has nowhere to go and therefore, it tends to back up on the roof itself. From there, it becomes much easier for water to seep through cracks, even when they are relatively minor.

Since clogged gutters can be a source of damage when it comes to your roof, we encourage you to dedicate some time this spring to cleaning them out! Here are a few simple tips to help you before you get started:

• Wear protective clothing like rubber gloves to keep yourself safe. Although there probably isn't too much lurking in your gutter system, there could be sharp debris that you certainly don't want interfering with your skin.
• Check that your ladder is on sturdy ground before beginning the trek up towards your roof. And even when you are completely confident that all is well, check again and have a buddy stand at the foot of the ladder in case of an emergency.
• Rather than dump all of your mess onto your lawn, bring a bucket or a bag up that can easily be reached up. This way, you can place all of the debris in one place and make the cleanup process easier.
• After you've cleared away all of the debris, go back down and grab your garden hose to give your gutters a final cleaning. This will help you ensure that you haven't missed any spots and will confirm that water can flow freely through your system.

As one of Connecticut's leading roofing contractors, we understand how essential it is to have a functioning gutter system working alongside your roof. Did you know that we also provide gutter and downspout services for this very reason? For more information about how we can help your property have a successful spring, please visit us on our website or give us call at (203) 838-4545 today.

DIY Tips For Cleaning Your Gutters

Phil's Main Roofing 

(203) 838-4545

www.philsmainroofing.com

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

By definition, a rain gutter is a narrow channel on your roof system that collects and diverts rainwater from the roof. The main purpose of this system is to protect your home or building's foundation by directing water away from its base. Further, gutters work to prevent leaks in basements or crawlspaces as they keep water flowing away from the home. Since gutters are an extremely important component of your roof, it's important to know how to take care of them to make sure they continue to work properly. Thanks to the DIY Network, below are a few tips you can use to clean your gutters:

• Use a ladder and clean out the gutters by hand. This includes removing any leaves, branches, or other debris that may have collected over time. 
• Check that all the spikes that are supposed to go through the gutter, through the fascia and into the rafter are in place. Many times these spikes tend to completely miss the rafters simply because they have been displaced over the years. If you notice this on your home, make an effort to get new gutter spikes since they help to keep your gutter attached to your home and working properly.
• Look for any leaks that may be coming from holes in the gutters or cracked caulking in the seams. With an old chisel, scrape out any old caulking, let the area dry out, and then recaulk to keep water from going behind the gutter.
• If your budget allows, invest in a pressure washer to thoroughly clean down gutters once all steps have been completed by hand.

For more tips on how to clean and repair your gutters, click here.

At Phil's Main Roofing, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide quality roofing services to both the commercial and residential sectors. We know how important it is to have an effective drainage system, which is why we offer services that can assist you with your gutters and downspouts. To prevent water from entering your home and to make sure water is being shed from your roof properly, contact us at (203) 838-4545 today!