Chris D asked:


I have a bow window in my living room. Last month i noticed water was coming in through the window as well where the trim meets the window. the problem was there was ice damming and the water was coming in through the roof. the ice damming was pretty bad, from the gutter about 3foot up and the total length of the window about 9 foot. so i called the insurance company and they came out to estimate the damages. i also got 2 contractors out and they sent her an estimate to fix the problem. today i herd from the insurance company and they will send me a check to replace the window minus my deductible. i am fine with that but i think that they should also pay to fix the problem which is ice damming and water coming in my house. i am afraid that after installing a new bow window that next winter i will have the same problem. one contractor said i would just need to keep the area around the window clear of snow and the gutters clean an i wont have a problem. i don’t have ice guard under the shingles and didn’t know that when i bought the house 6 years ago. the roof still has 10 years on it. i think the insurance should pay for whatever fix is needed to keep the water out in the future like ice guard or whatever. what do u think about this? thanks

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Mike Milliman asked:


Choking of rain gutters can have the rooftop water wash over the walls, windows, and doors, defeating the very purpose they were first installed for. Debris and rotting leaves peeping out of the rooftop gutter is not a very beautiful sight to behold. Hence, cleaning the gutters regularly is necessary. In most parts of the country gutters need to be cleaned at least three times in a year. However, their position and height above the ground make it no ordinary job for a layman. In addition, as time passes by overhanging ledges and rooftops become slippery due to moss and cracking of concrete and wood. It requires workmen and equipment to safely clean all the gutters and spouts on all the floors. Alternatively, installing a gutter guard or gutter cover is an option available to greatly minimize the yearly maintenance required.

Statistics have shown that the number of injuries at home are reported more during the “gutter cleaning” time of the year. These injuries can vary from being minor to fatal. However, with the advent of gutter covers there has been a drastic reduction in such mishaps. Manual cleaning is not restricted to a fixed time of the year. You may have to climb on to such precarious positions even during a thunderstorm because of the leaves, which flew in and blocked your gutters which were squeaky clean earlier in the day.

A gutter guard is always the better option. A gutter guard in general is an accessory for the gutters to prevent falling leaves, accumulation of dust, and other flying debris from entering the gutter system. Some are made of a sheet of metal or PVC with slits at regular intervals. While water flows along the edge into the gutter, the debris jumps over the edge directly to the ground below. Since all the debris fall off the roof, this eliminates the need for regular cleaning. The smooth surface prevents growth of moss and weeds and saves the effort required in plucking them off the concrete or wooden base. Wire strainers may also, be used to prevent large objects like leaves and pine needles from falling into the gutter. Others consist of a screen of small pores, which can be easily installed and removed for maintenance.

Some gutter guards may have clips, which hold on to the gutter edges and can be opened like a hinged door to enable cleaning at a suitable time. Hybrid gutter guards are completely covered by gutter shingles, and have a fine mesh covering to keep out smaller particles of debris. These guards keep out most of the debris, including buds and seeds, leading to almost no need for yearly cleaning. Besides gutter guards maintain the aesthetics of the home compared to an open and rather discoloured gutter system.

The choice of gutter guards depends on the slope of the roof, presence of trees nearby, type of debris that may fall on the roof top and average rainfall and snow experienced all through the year. Cleaning of such gutters can be done at a safe time of the year and without having to put one’s life and limb in danger. A gutter guard will definitely save you the trouble of climbing the rooftop at odd hours and face the worst of the elements.



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SCOTT S asked:


When it rains at one point in my soffit (where there is crack from one board stopping and another one starting) water is leaking. The leaks happen about 6-8 inches into the soffit from the gutter side. It is not doing it at the other soffit break points. I just had my house re-roofed last year. My gutters do not have drip guards on them. I recently cleaned out my gutters. Can anyone help me with this issue? Thank you.
When it rains at one point in my soffit (where there is crack from one board stopping and another one starting) water is leaking. The leaks happen about 6-8 inches into the soffit from the gutter side. It is not doing it at the other soffit break points. I just had my house re-roofed last year. My gutters do not have drip guards on them. I recently cleaned out my gutters. Also I took a water hose and sprayed the area that was leaking and now it won’t. leak there. Almost like I need a constant rain. I did take a shingle I had and put roofing cement on it and placed it over an area that looked a small gap was forming close to where the soffit was leaking. Can anyone help me with this issue? Thank you

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Sock Woodruff asked:


For years people have been exploring ideas on how to prevent rain gutters from collecting deposits of leaves and debris. Often driven by the desire to avoid the necessity of cleaning the gutters two, or three, or even four times a year, various different ideas have led to the creation of gutter guards, gutter covers, and gutter screens. All of these devices are intended to capture or divert leaves, pine needles, tree flowers, twigs, and other debris away from the rain gutter while freely passing the water into the gutter. So, what are the problems that make these devices less than perfect?

Gutter screens are not like the window screens you use to keep out flies and mosquitoes. These screens have large, open holes, such as the diamond-shaped holes in units made from expanded metal, and pass water very easily. The water will continue to flow in a deluge reminiscent of Noah’s flood. However, some small pieces of organic debris will pass through the relatively large holes. Although this debris is relatively small and is more likely to be washed on out of the gutter by heavy rainfall, it can still collect in the rain gutter over time. In addition, leaf stems, maple seeds, and twigs can start to enter the holes and get stuck. If you live in an area with many trees, one debris layer forms in the gutter, the other on top of the screen.

One of the secondary problems with gutters is that if debris does form some kind of dam in the gutter, thereby creating small pools of standing water, mosquitoes will seek out this water to lay eggs, creating swarms of new mosquitoes right there in your yard. The mosquitoes have no difficulty passing through the big diamond-shaped holes of these screens. If there are any gaps between the screen and the edge of the gutter, or where the ends of screen sections meet, bees, hornets, and wasps can also find their way in. Ultimately, you find you have the gutter-cleaning problem to deal with again. So out comes the ladder and up you go. Now you find that the screen sections complicate the process because you have to remove them to get to the gutter. You also have to pick all the stuff stuck in the holes out of the holes. In addition, in the process of handling the screens, there is the possibility of damaging them, which can also happen if something—like the limb of a tree—falls on the roof and the gutter, or as you grab the gutter as your ladder falls over. Some designs include hinged screens or covers making access a bit easier, but still requiring handling and manipulation.

Screens with smaller holes trap more small particles on top. Sometimes fine dust is blown up into the air and comes back down inside raindrops, coating everything. As it dries it can act like an adhesive, gluing leaves and debris to the surface of covers or guards. These guards and covers do nothing to discourage insects and are susceptible to the same kinds of physical damage from trees and falling branches. While these devices are effective in keeping much of the debris out, none of them completely avoid all these problems; they just make the requirements for maintenance less frequent. So what about gutter filters? What are they and how do they work?

The GutterFill Gutter Filter is made of durable outdoor open cell foam that fits snugly inside your existing gutters. It is formed into four-foot long sections. It is available shaped to fit twelve different gutter size/shape configurations. The block of foam completely fills the gutter (well, not quite; there is an open section at the bottom of the gutter to enhance horizontal water flow). Water passes through the foam like a sieve. The top of the foam block is level with the top of the gutter. All that organic debris is stopped on top of the foam. After the rainstorm has passed, the debris will dry off and blow away. What is this foam made of? It is called polyether-polyurethane. It includes a U.V. stabilizer that enhances foam strength and durability for exposure to weather and sunlight. It probably won’t last forever, but it comes with a 20-year No-Clog Guarantee.

What about the other kinds of problems? Where there is moisture, fungus and mildew often form. To deal with this problem the foam includes a BioCide, which stops the growth of bacteria, moss, mildew, mold, and seeds for the life of the product. Because the foam blocks expand to fill the gutter there are no gaps to allow mosquitoes, bees, wasps, or hornets a way in. The foam is easily installed into existing gutters, whether K-style or half-round, minimizing labor costs. Installation requires no nailing through the existing roof. Moreover, the foam is compatible with roof deicing systems. In addition, unlike products made of aluminum, steel, copper, or other solid materials, the foam can’t dent, crack, or bend. The GutterFill Gutter Filter may not be an absolutely perfect solution—after all, it is only guaranteed for 20 years, but compared with gutter guards, gutter covers, and gutter screens, a 20 year No-Clog Guarantee sounds pretty darn good. Go to GutterSupply.com for further information, pictures, and price information.

Sock Woodruff is founder and partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading manufacturer and distributor of gutter supplies, gutter machines, gutter covers, and related tools and equipment



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Smit Mathur asked:


Roads with no safety measures are prone to accidents that might cause fatal blows to those driving. Road safety products are vital to put-off the accidents that can wrap oneself in the lap of death. With the fast-changing technologies, we are seeing some innovative and high quality Armco products that have been designed to dole out fun and a sense of security while driving on busy roads, especially on highways. 

The products that are enormously bringing safety and security on roads include guardrail (Armco), wire rope safety barrier, crash cushions and guardrail terminal. Some other road safety products viz. steel buffas, workzone barriers, pedestrian fencing and motorcyclist barriers also bring effect of safety on roads. These road safety products are put to roads after getting through rigorous crash testing to fetch optimum desired results. These testing make sure that the users get well-equipped by way of the highest standard of safety barrier systems on road. Besides being put to be used on various road ways, the Armco products are also extensively employed in the world standard sports racing events. 

The Formula one race is held on the track with the ideal Armco products to stave-off dangers that might come to haunt the participants and spectators. Guardrail also features among the road safety products and produced with the top-quality steel and other materials. Guardrail boasts of extremely high resistance to impact and puts off hazardous pocketing. At the same time, their use lessens the ride down acceleration sensed by the vehicle and its users. 

The Armco products contribute heavily to accident free roads as guardrail leads the pack with a bang. Guardrail sports high visibility that brings added confidence to the driver driving with speed. At night or while driving under smoggy conditions with reducing lights of surroundings, the first-rate visibility of guardrail brings forth essence of safe travel in a true way and lessens dangerous centre line crowding. 

Armco products are specifically designed to put drivers amid the safest possible condition. Guardrail goes one step ahead in doing so and brings the maximum road safety with the help of the perfect designing. Guardrail acts amazingly well by reducing wheel snagging and the far-reaching effects of vaulting or rollover. The perfect designing of guardrail makes them the most fitting option for raised medians and gutters. Thus, we see that Armco saves life from getting stuck into any unwanted happenings on the roads. 

With technology extending its help to avert the unfortunate, it is only wise to go for the appropriate road safety products on our roads and gain sense of security with speed. 



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Gary Wells asked:


Spring-cleaning does not have to be restricted to indoor chores. If you own your property or are renting a home, it is a good idea to inspect the outside of your house and perform the annual maintenance chores that will keep it in good shape. One of the most important tasks facing you is cleaning your gutters. Don’t let fall leaves and wind-blown debris pile up in your gutters, because when the spring rains hit, there could be a backup that might cause excessive dripping, especially after winter thaws. This drainage can trickle under the roof and become a leak in your ceiling, or make a path down the side of the exterior and leach into your basement to cause damage there. It may be hard to believe, but a handful of clogged leaves or twigs or an out-of-place bird’s nest can create major problems requiring expensive repairs.

The best time to clean your gutters is in early spring, but any time during the year is fine. Plan your work for a good-weather day. Check the forecast and start early in case it starts to rain later. Assemble your tools and equipment first. You will need a sturdy stepladder, a trowel, a hand-held leaf blower or a rake, along with gloves to protect your hands.

Secure the ladder in a stable, level area near the house. Check to make sure it won’t slip. Wear sturdy shoes that will help to keep your balance while on the ladder. Take the rake with you and climb as far as you need to in order to reach the gutter. Use your hand-size rake to gently loosen mud, debris, and leaves from the gutter, taking care not to push too forcefully, which could cause breakage. Use your leaf blower as needed to scatter collected foliage. Remove as much as you can. Then carefully descend the ladder, move it a few feet to the right or left, and repeat the process until you have cleaned all the gutters along the roof.

Aim to spill the debris into a central pile below, on the ground, if possible. You might want to lay out a large, disposable tarp for this purpose. Then simply wrap it up when you are done, and discard it in the trash. Or you can use a permanent, re-usable tarp by gathering the debris with a shovel or rake and bagging it for the trash or transporting it by wheelbarrow to the compost heap, if you have one. Then clean off your ladder and tools, putting them away where you can easily find them the next time a task of this sort comes along.

If several tall trees overhang your roof, you may need to clean the gutters several times a year to prevent leaf and twig buildup. Those who are wary of heights or who lack the proper tools should hire an experienced worker to do the job for them. It’s not worth having an accident if you are uncomfortable with heights or lack suitable equipment.



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Terry Edwards asked:


Now that it is fall, like me, your mailbox has probably seen its fair share of ads all telling you to install gutter covers or gutter guards to keep the falling leaves from clogging your rain gutters. But, are these guards really necessary? More importantly, are they cost effective? Here’s a closer look to help you discover the truth.

There is no doubt that gutter cleaning is important for any homeowner. Leaves, dirt, twigs, sediment and other items can clog your gutters and downspouts and create other expenses if left unchecked.

This is where companies have stepped in with gutter covers and gutter guards that will supposedly prevent you from having to ever clean your rain gutters again. That sounds like great news until you discover the sky high costs of these systems.

It can easily cost anywhere from $1500-$2000+ for the average home to have these gutter covers installed on their roofs.

I will say that if you are a do-it-yourselfer, you could install wire screens over your gutter system for less than $250 on the average home.

Now, consider what it will cost to have a gutter contractor or company come out to have a gutter contractor or company come out to clean your gutter every year? In most cases it is $75 - $100 for the job. Let’s say you need it done twice a year. That’s $200 per year versus spending $2000 or more on gutter guards.

Next, beyond the expense factor, consider whether these covers or guards will actually work? The only system I’ve seen that really does what it advertises to do is the Gutter Helmet. Unfortunately, the cost is out of reach for most people with prices of $18 - $20 per foot being the norm.

Why do gutter covers or gutter guards fail? Because, while they all block off large twigs and leaves from getting inside the channel, the smaller debris seeps in and begins to settle, eventually clogging the gutter.

Gutter covers are a great idea and you may want to have them installed on your home, but for most people you may be better off getting them cleaned each year and saving your money.



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Sock Woodruff asked:


Just about every house is equipped with rain gutters. They hang there below the roof eaves, just waiting for rain to fall so they can collect the water and direct it away from the walls and foundation of your house. You probably don’t think about them very often…unless you don’t have a gutter protection system installed. Then you have to clean out the gutters now and then—sometimes two to four times per year. If your gutters were properly installed, they were sloped so that the water that comes in would run to and down the downspout. After a rain, the water runs out and the moisture remaining on the surface dries out. Often the gutter system includes some form of gutter protection system. What does that mean? It means gutter guards, gutter covers, gutter screens, or gutter filters that prevent leaves, pine needles, twigs, tree flowers, seeds, seed pods, and other debris from getting into the gutters.

However, if you have no gutter protection system, or if some sections of the covers or screens have become dislodged or damaged, some (or maybe a lot) of debris has been getting into your gutters. Once there it may pile up and stay there, until you get up on a ladder, or hire someone else to get up on a ladder, and clean all of that stuff out. So what? Well, a level of organic debris, whether shallow or the entire depth of the rain gutter, is an invitation for various kinds of things to move in and make it home. If you were aware of the presence of these unintended house guests, you might decide you don’t want them living there with you. If you have debris in the gutter, it can form a little dam inside the rain gutter. After the rainstorm is over this little dam allows a small pool of water to remain standing in the gutter. A pool of still water, whether small or large, is exactly what mosquitoes are looking for.

Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, or they can be dangerous. Those nasty female mosquitoes that want to suck your blood need the nutrients in blood in order to produce eggs, which they lay on the surface of standing water. Each one will lay several hundred eggs. The eggs hatch in 24 to 48 hours into mosquito “wigglers.” They swim around for 7 to 10 days, turn into pupae, which then hatch into new mosquitoes, and there you are, in the yard below the rain gutter, just waiting to be bitten. That crop of mosquitoes will probably not be very welcome at your evening yard party. In addition, they can be dangerous. Mosquitoes are carriers of many kinds of diseases. Malaria is one of the most infamous, although this problem has been practically eliminated in the U.S. However, West Nile Virus (WNV) has been a recent concern. Birds often carry the virus. Mosquitoes bite birds and get infected. Mosquitoes then bite humans and infect us, and we get sick. In 2007, the CDC reported 3,630 cases of human WNV in the U.S. Of those who got sick, 123 died. That doesn’t sound like a terrible problem—unless you or a loved one was one of the 123. Moreover, no one knows what disease mosquitoes will cause us to share next.

Another group of flying pests who might decide your rain gutter is just the home they have been looking for are the various kinds of bees, wasps, and hornets. If you don’t know they are there, it can be a real surprise when you go to clean out the debris in the gutter. They think you are trying to invade their home (which you are) and they don’t understand that they have already invaded your home. Their way of telling you to go away is to sting you. Did you ever see someone try to run when they were standing on top of a ladder? Not a pretty sight—nor is it a very safe one if you are the person on the ladder. In addition to the flying pests, other living things may take up residence. If the rain gutters are full of debris and water, some of the water is going to spill over, possibly wetting down the fascia board behind the gutter, or the wall of your house or foundation. This moist surface could be the perfect place for fungus, mold, mildew, or moss to start growing. The long-term presence of moisture and basic life forms like lichen (a kind of fungus) causes granite rock to gradually break down. Imagine what a permanent layer of moisture and growing stuff can do to your paint, siding, and foundation.

Clean out the rain gutters and installs an effective rain gutter protection system on your house. Go to GutterSupply.com, review the options, and decide what kind of system will work best for you, whether gutter guards, gutter covers, gutter screens, or gutter filters. Then get to work, or call a contractor to get this project going.

Sock Woodruff is founder and partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading manufacturer and distributor of gutter supplies, gutter machines, gutter covers, and related tools and equipment.



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