What’s New in the Gutter Biz?

Have you toured any model homes lately? If you look closely you may notice a couple of new exterior items as you approach the house. Some builders now include a rain chain near the front door because it’s more aesthetically appealing than a downspout. In addition, you may spot a rain barrel on the property. Many home owners are concerned about water conservation and they realize that it’s beneficial to water plants with rainwater instead of tap water.

Alloy Gutter Company often gets calls asking if we install both rain chains and rain barrels…YES we do! There are many different styles of rain chains and rain barrels available. For this reason, we ask that you provide the materials. As long as you have these items on site we will be happy to hook them up for you as part of your gutter installation. You can also have us add them to your existing gutter system.

Alloy Gutter Company can take care of any of your gutter needs including minor repairs, complete gutter installations and adding the extras like rain chains and rain barrels…make us your first call to install it all!

The Price You'll Pay For Leaking Gutters

Who enjoys spending money on gutters? Not me. I would much rather spend money on the “fun stuff” for my house; things that people will actually notice and compliment me on.  However, new gutters are not as expensive as most people think and you don’t want to spend a much larger amount on repairing a water damaged home.

I was watching a home remodeling show where the homeowners had ignored an overflowing gutter. As a result, their basement started to develop a musty smell that they chose to ignore. The brick and trim on the home’s exterior started turning green from moss growth. The water pouring down along the foundation of their house was causing more damage with every rainfall.

A few years later they decided to remodel their basement. Once demolition was underway their contractor found several unwelcome surprises. The cement block basement wall was ruined in several spots and the front porch brickwork needed extensive repairs. This was the result of ignoring an overflowing gutter.

The time had now come to pay the price for the deferred maintenance. It was going to cost several thousand dollars to fix the water damaged areas. They were told that these repairs had to be completed before any other work could be done.  Of course these dollars were not in the budget and the scope of work for the basement remodeling project had to change.

Don’t let this unpleasant surprise happen to you. Make sure your gutters are working properly so that your largest investment is protected. At Alloy Gutter Company we are experts at preventing costly water damage. We can install new gutters or even repair your existing gutters. Call Alloy Gutter Company for a free estimate and be assured that costly water damage issues are not in your future.

For Great Curb Appeal – Start at the Top of Your House

Every spring we see advertisements that encourage us to freshen up the exteriors of our homes.  It’s so easy to get excited about adding beautiful flowering plants and fresh mulch to our landscapes. Everyone wants their home to have great curb appeal.  However, few people realize how important gutters are to maintaining the curb appeal of their homes.

Spring showers are great for greening up your landscape but if your gutters are leaking, those beautiful foundation plantings are taking a beating.  Make sure you look up during those rain showers to be sure your gutters are not overflowing and are draining the rain water away from your home’s foundation.   Stop any water erosion by having your gutters cleaned, repaired or replaced.

Gardening is hard work and we want our efforts to pay off for many years to come. Don’t let the rain wash away all your hard labor.  I have learned this lesson the hard way; one of my spring projects is to add soil and grass seed to an area where the soil eroded due to an overflowing gutter. Don’t let this happen to you.

Spring Is Here…Now What?

We have had a long, cold, snowy winter, but hopefully that is all behind us and we can look forward to spending some time outside and enjoying the spring weather. Now is also the time to get outside and inspect the havoc that was wreaked on your home during the snowy, icy winter.

We nearly set a record in Metro Detroit this season, receiving over 76 inches of snow this winter (while our average is only 44 inches!) Grand Rapids, Michigan also experienced a much snowier winter than usual, receiving over 101 inches of snow this season (while their average snow fall is around 60 inches). Given the crazy amount of snow this year, it makes sense that our homes may need a little more exterior upkeep this spring – as snow and ice are hard on roofs and gutters.

Many home inspection experts will encourage you to get outside and check for any loose or hanging gutters. We had an extensive amount of calls this winter for ice & snow dam issues, which could very possibly have resulted in damage to gutters and downspouts. It is very important to get those issues fixed as soon as possible. When the “April Showers” arrive, you want your home to have proper water management, keeping water away from your home’s foundation and protecting your landscaping.

What’s The Deal With Ice In My Gutter System?

Have you seen the pictures on the news of fountains that have frozen mid-flow? How about Niagara Falls freezing over?

Are you wondering how your gutters or downspouts can be frozen? Think about it this way. If something that is draining straight down can freeze (i.e. Niagara Falls), can you see how water can freeze in your gutters and downspouts? It is the same concept.

“But there’s not any ice on my roof!” Even if there does not appear to be any ice on your roof, there can still be ice in your gutters and downspouts. If you feel like your downspouts are not draining correctly, a good way to tell if there is ice in your downspout is by tapping on the downspout and listening to hear if it sounds like it is solid or if it has a hollow sound.

Thanks to the Polar Vortex and the sub-zero temperatures, we receive many calls about gutters overflowing. The reason for this appearance of overflow is because even if you can’t see it, there is a good chance your gutters are filled with ice.  Anything that comes on top of your ice-filled gutters would appear to be overflowing, but really there is just not any more room in your already-full gutters. It would be similar to having a full cup of coffee and then trying to pour more into it. There isn’t any room for the new coffee, so the cup would overflow.

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done about the frozen gutters & downspouts until the temperatures rise, and we have a good, old-fashioned thaw. At this point, your gutters and downspouts should start draining properly, and the melted ice (water) should flow out of your downspouts per usual. If, after a thaw, your gutters & downspouts are still not draining properly, then it would be time to have your gutters & downspouts inspected and cleaned out of any non-ice related debris (i.e. – leaves, twigs, miscellaneous debris that was not cleaned out in the fall before the snow and ice).

We hope that this information lends more insight into what is really going on in your gutters during the winter. Stay warm!

Protect Your Home From Pesky Leaves This Fall

Why Do Homeowners Need Leaf Protection?
When your gutters are clogged, water is no longer being directed away from your home. One of the biggest concerns resulting from clogged gutters is that water will pool at the foundation of your home. Over time, this can weaken your foundation, causing cracks that will widen in the winter months when water freezes and expands.

Other concerns include: water leaking through the roof, water causing exposed fascia board to rot, and water getting behind siding, causing separation and water damage.
So although many people may not give thought to the condition of their gutters, neglect and disrepair of gutter systems can lead to very dangerous problems and costly repairs.

Alloy Gutter Company proudly carries three types of leaf protection to prevent all of the above listed problems, as well as many others! We are also able to install other types of leaf protection upon request – we have simply decided to  carry these products because we find them to be the most cost effective as well as efficient in their protection from leaves and debris.

Seamless Gutter Replacement: What are Your Options?