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Attention Homeowners!
By Dan Galvin
The most overlooked maintenance that every homeowner should know about!
It’s getting to be that time of the year when the leaves fall and gutters clog and if you’re like most people you don’t give much thought to your gutters until a problem arises. They say that the cleaning of the gutters is often the most overlooked maintenance issue on a home, and I can say that before I got into this business, I was one of those people who didn’t realize how important it was to have your gutters cleaned. Some of the damage I have seen because of clogged or broken gutters is incredible.
There are several reasons to clean your gutters and the number one reason is when they are clogged. How do you know if your gutters are clogged? When you see little trees growing out of them it’s a sure sign that they are clogged, or, if when it rains you see water spilling over the edge of them, they’re clogged.
Clogged gutters can cause damage to your home, foundation, basement and even your landscaping. Wood rot is the most common problem caused by clogged gutters and the first thing to rot is the facia boards which hold the gutters onto the house. Winter ice dams are another common problem in the New England area that you can help prevent by simply keeping your gutters clean.
Just an example…I had this one house that we did some work on that had been neglected for many years. The gutters were clogged which caused the facia board to rot, which then caused the gutters to come loose from the house, which caused the water to drain down along the outside of the house, which caused damage not only to the outside of the house but also a lot of hidden damage to the inside walls not to mention mildew. The repairs were in the thousands of dollars!
Besides damage to your house, the standing water left in clogged gutters is a breeding ground for all types of mold and mildew -- but even worse than that are the mosquitoes! With the ever heightened threat of EEE in our area, we need to do everything we can in the battle against EEE and the other diseases that mosquitoes carry. Simply cleaning your gutters can help stop the spread of diseases. WOW!
How do I choose a company?
As I have said many, many times, any contractor working on your home MUST have insurance! Don’t be afraid to ask, if they are a reputable company they will be more than happy to show you their Liability and Workers Compensation insurance coverage. You do NOT want to be responsible for someone’s medical bills because they fell off a ladder working on your house and they were uninsured, so please, always ask to see proof of insurance.
Hiring a professional gutter cleaning service like East Coast Powerwashing Inc. will help you prevent damage to your home and keep you and your family safe! You can rest assured knowing that East Coast Powerwashing Inc. will do a great job cleaning the gutters on your home. East Coast Powerwashing Inc. is insured, and has trained their employees on ladder safety. Don't risk your peace of mind and home by hiring one of those gutter cleaning companies you see on road signs or coupon clippers. Many of them are just trying to make some extra cash on the side and they usually don't have insurance or a Home Improvement License.
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