Gutter Tips and Tricks

Maybe you do not have rain gutters yet and really need someone to show you How To Install Gutters

I will be the first person to tell you that I am thankful for all gutter work that we get. We have run out of work before so I try and always be very appreciative of any work we get. Sometimes this is most difficult with people who refuse to get screens. Instead of having our entry level screens installed and having a cheap once a year maintenance run they would prefer we come out twice a year and clean out gutters with young trees beginning to develop because the gutters are so full. This makes us more money in the long run by a lot but seems so unnecessary. Lecture here is over .... save yourself some money in the medium to long run and get some screens.

Method: For many years the only way we have cleaned out gutters was by hand. Sometimes we would wear gloves (mostly when it is wet) mostly we would just use our hands and get them very dirty ! If your gutters are not growing trees (or maybe even if they are) then I would recommend you try out a leaf blower. We will still clean out gutters by hand when the situation calls for it but using a high powered leaf blower can really speed up the job. It requires a little more time on the ground cleaning up all the leaves that came down from the gutters but it sure is nice to save time and keep your hands clean !

Alternative: If this does not sound fun to you and you want to elimanate the need to do it or how often you do it then please consider one of the leaf screening options below.

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Many people wonder if they really need leaf screens at all? Go outside and look around your house. Think of how far a leaf can travel (pretty far in windy conditions) as you look around your house are there and trees within 300 feet of your house? If there is are they larger than 30 feet high? Are there alot of young trees that wont clog your gutters now but will in the future? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then you may need leaf screens and the sooner you get them the lower the chance that damage will be caused to your house. Or if damage has already been caused this will limit how much damage there is. I will review all the types of screens that I offer as I continue to develop this site. Its good to know that if you have gutters installed and they are full of leaves get them cleaned out now and add leaf screens if possible.

Our entry level screen is called roll lock and does a few superior job over the lifetime of your system than anything available at the big home improvement stores in my area (central and south Texas). Aluminum mesh screen that is similar to this is not recommended because it is to weak. With minimal debris build up you risk having the back of the screen collapse on itself and fill your gutter system up with roof debris. The next type you see is steel mesh screen which is much sturdier than the aluminum mesh but over time will rust out and lose integrity, Eventually failing in much the same way as the aluminum mesh filling your gutters full of debris. Our Roll lock screens are steel mesh (for strength) and coated with a PVC plastic (to prevent rusting) for ultimate screen durability. Their use to be two varieties of mesh screen on the commercial market that were very similar except one had holes that were much smaller than the other type. Fairly recently everyone has switched over to only the smaller holes which offer better protection against leaves and other roof trash. For many homeowners this is a great choice to limit how often your gutters need to be cleaned out.

Installation procedure: These screens are designed to be installed with the lip (rolled part of screen) to be "snapped" on the front the gutter (when standing perpendicular to the gutter the back would be the part screwed to your house.) and the back of the screen designed to be slid underneath your shingles. One side of the screen is notched to make for an easy overlap with the next piece of screen to insure a clean looking install job. We secure each 4 foot section with a two painted zip screws to ensure that high winds will not send your screens flying. The manufacturer does not recommend the screws and as a result many companies do not include them. Over the years we have learned that they are needed for a correct install so if you are having these screens installed and don't want to be picking them up during the next wind storm make sure your gutter installer secures each side. Remember if your in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex the easiest way to get these installed professionally will be to go to www.817gutters.com and request a free estimate. My dad will take great care of you.

Blake Gallagher

The step down screen is a perfect option for many metal roofs. When installing rain gutters systems on metal roofs your space to install screens can be very limited due to the overhang of the metal roof. This type of screen "steps down" in back to allow for an easier application. The back part of the screens that "steps down" then sits on the hidden hangers or gutter spikes depending on what was used to install your gutters. If your spacing is too far out between your hidden hangers or gutter spikes then you may need to use screws or brackets on the back part of your gutter to give the screen a surface to rest on. These can be tricky to install depending on how much space you have to install them and how far away your spacing on your hidden hangers but the important thing to remember when installing all screens is to be patient and try not to force anything. If the screen is not sliding or going where you want it is snagged on something and you should take care to find out what it is and not just give into your anger and try and force it in. The material and effectiveness of these screens are similar to the "roll lock" variety with some functionality sacrificed for the ability to install it in places that you can not or should not install the roll lock.