Articles By Syndicated Columnist
Dan Thomas
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Improvement Inside And Out
Inspecting Your Gutters
Inspect your gutters frequently, depending on the amount of
leaves and tree seeds in your area.
They should be cleaned at least in the
autumn after all leaves have fallen and again in the spring, If you have heavy
rains and lots of trees in your area, you will want to clean them more
frequently to avoid a buildup of debris.
When inspecting flashings for leaks, use roof cement to patch any thin
spots or gaps along a flashing joint, at a chimney or along a valley. This
will prevent major repairs.
Use a ladder tall enough to reach the gutters, but take care if you prop
your ladder on the gutter – it could bend the gutter out of the shape,
causing low spots where pools of water will collect when it rains. Clean
gutters by hand using a whiskbroom to remove leaves. Remember to wear gloves.
Then hose them down after you have removed the debris. This flushes out the
debris remnants and gives you an opportunity to observe the flow of water and
check for low spots or improper pitch.
When cleaning gutters. Inspect each hanger for bent straps and popped nails
as you work your way along the gutter. If the house has a fascia board trim,
check the gutter’s alignment with it. The gutter should rest firmly against
the fascia for maximum support.
Check the nails and screws in the straps holding the downspout to your
house. These can work themselves loose with use and or age, or when a
downspout has been used as a ladder support.
To keep downspouts clear, flush them frequently with a garden hose. If
necessary, remove stubborn clogs by forcing the running hose down the
downspout.
For best wear and protection, paint the outsides of gutters with oil-based
exterior house paint, and coat the insides with asphalt roofing paint, which will make them resistant to rust. When
painting galvanized gutters, you will first need to neutralize the zinc coating. If you do not the paint will quickly peel.
While commercial washes, are available, an inexpensive and effective home remedy it to mix 50/50 solution of warm
water and white vinegar. Apply at least three coats of this solution to the gutters, allowing for drying time between
coats and rinse thoroughly before painting.
If you are replacing only a section or two of gutter, take a
cross-sectional piece with you when buying a new one. You will need an exact
match of shape and material. Using spray-on auto undercoating is a quick
and easy way to repair your rain gutters. If you notice any gaps in the
gutter, simply spray. If you have to patch a small hole, put a piece of screen
wire over the hole and then spray on the undercoating.
When installing a new gutter, get someone to help with lifting the gutter
sections. Positioning long sections cannot be done by one person.
