The damage water can cause your home if not handled properly can become costly: water damage claims amount to $11 billion dollars per year, they are the second most often filed insurance claim in America, and 8% of that damage is caused by weather. One way to protect your home from the seasonal weather surges that winter brings is to keep healthy, clean gutters.

Keeping your gutters clean and unclogged has its own dangers and costs: climbing ladders to tend these gutters has resulted in more than 500 thousand related injuries per year. Yet leaving them unkempt can lead to water damage to your home’s foundation, wood rot to your attic, leaks, insect problems, and more. Where lies the answer? Gutter covers and other gutter protection systems can offer the solution you need.

The Wreckage Water Wreaks

One-way water can be problematic is if it has excess minerals within it, known as hard water. This water issue can be harmless when drinking the water or bathing in it, but can present problems when washing laundry or in your sinks and plumbing. Hard water has minerals like limestone, magnesium, calcium, and iron inside it in heavy amounts. This can cause problems when these minerals build up around drainage areas like sinks or toilets and within the plumbing lining the walls of your housing structure. Much like having clogged gutters, this too can cause infrastructural concerns for your home.

Water damage from unclean gutters can impact different areas of the home in varying ways. The water from clogged gutters can pool around the foundation of your house and cause cracks, creating potential for collapse and infrastructural damage. Other structural aspects of the home at risk are ceilings, walls, and the roof itself. It harms any wood and wooden structures associated with the gutters, and causes destruction in the landscape surrounding your home. Clogged gutters are also a risk unto themselves; when water from rainfall accumulates with leaves, needles, and other debris in the gutters they are liable to fall and cause damage that way.

The Utter Solution To Your Gutter Problems

Gutter guard products are the solution to your gutter concerns. They prevent destruction in a variety of ways, to you and to your home. For your home, they prevent the clogs from building up that result in water damage to your home’s foundation, fascia, walls, and landscape. For you, they diminish the need for the risks that climbing perilous ladders to scrape your gutters clean by hand present.

Gutter guards, screens, covers, prevent debris like leaves, needles, and other organic material from gathering in your gutters. This way when those cool winter days bring heavy rainfall to your home, the water goes right through your gutters as it’s supposed to instead of getting caught in a clog and being rerouted to your home’s foundations or walls. This means that the risky annual maintenance of gutters by climbing rickety ladders is no longer necessary. By result, you have lessened chances at the possibility of a ladder related injury. And with these things in mind, you can relax at home listening as the rain pours without concern for water damage.

Perhaps you are considering gutter guards, need your gutters cleaned or perhaps need new gutters on your home. Give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us!

Well, it was bound to happen! We have already had our first snow of the year. Perhaps you went to the store for milk and bread to prepare. But, did you think to prepare your home for the effects of snow?

While it is important to acknowledge the wrath that heavy snowfall can bring on a large scale, it is also significant to magnify the equally problematic aftermath of snow at the micro level. If snow can freeze highways, imagine the damage it can bring to your homes.

The downpour of snow and ice on your roof might make your homes look nice. However, the snow and ice mixture that covers your roof and lands on your gutters can cause unfortunate damage.

Gutters capture the water that hits your roof. During winter, water comes in the form of snow and may cause denser clogging. Gutter repair can be costly and foundation repair is far more expensive. To keep the snow and ice away, and keep the costs at bay, be sure to use only the best gutter guards available. Gutter guards can help keep the weight of the snow off of your gutters.

With its narrow slit, a gutter guard prevents natural substances like snow from entering your gutters. The slit then leads the snow down to where it should be.

Gutter guards are now more widely available. Companies like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky are professionals at making sure your gutter guards are of the best quality and installed correctly.

If you are ready to take a look at gutter guards for your home or office, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today for a FREE estimate. You can reach us by phone at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.

As a homeowner, you have a long to-do list of necessary upkeep and projects for your home. Gutter cleaning should be a routine part of this list just as lawn care is. In actuality, it is more important since rainwater runoff caused from poorly managing your gutter system can damage your home and foundation. A gutter cleaning service can assist with the maintenance of your gutter system.

Gutter Cleaning Factors:

Surroundings:

Trees are the worst for jamming up your gutters. When leaves and sticks land in your gutter, they can cause large obstructions and make a big mess. In some cases, when their seeds land in the dirt in gutters they can begin to grow. Weeds building up in your gutter are a major warning sign to the health status of your gutters.

Areas that deal with dust are also at risk. Dust creates a layer on the bottom of the guttering that can add weight and may increase the number of leaks and cracks in the system. Silt and dirt shouldn’t be left long, therefore evaluating the system as a whole is important to be done a few times a year.

Weather & Seasons:

Depending on your location, the various seasons it experiences will greatly influence the need for gutter cleaning services.

Winter and springtime in particular can bring various problems. If you are in a location that has cold winters, scheduling a gutter cleaning prior to the first freeze is vital. You do not want debris lying in your gutters come spring. Springtime tends to be the time of year with the most amount of rainfall. The clogs will prevent the water from moving through your guttering. And worse yet, those blockages may cause damage to your gutters, downspouts and foundation if water pours over the system.

Gutters and downspouts won’t fix themselves. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company such as Gutter Boyz of Kentucky that just do gutters to evaluate the effectiveness of your gutter system is the best solution to these problems. We have the expertise to evaluate your system and make sure that they are working efficiently. We can recommend the best plan on quickly getting your gutters in top working order.

If you are experiencing any issues with your gutters or want to help prevent damage to your gutter system, give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.  With offices in Paducah, KY and Benton, KY we serve almost all of Western Kentucky.  Call us today at (270) 906-3055 for a FREE estimate or CLICK HERE to contact us today!                   

Gutter cleaning is one of those tasks most homeowners dread. Many avoid it and end up with clogged gutters that overflow every time it rains. Those who understand the importance of clean gutters but don’t yet have rain gutter guards often call professional gutter cleaning companies like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky. If you have a gutter cleaning company come to your home twice a year, you may wonder how they do the job so quickly and efficiently. Here’s more about how they get the job done.

Using the Right Tools

Generally speaking, professionals like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky will clean your gutters more thoroughly and effectively than you might. But that’s to be expected, since they’re charging for the service. Their cost includes the tools they’ve invested in. This may include industrial-strength vacuums with gutter-sized attachments, or extremely strong power washers to blast clogs out.

Some companies utilize what is known as “wet/dry technology,” which allows workers to alternate between power washing and vacuuming to remove all types of debris. And, last but not least, gutter cleaning pros will pick up all of the cleaned-out debris and put it into containers for disposal.

Gutter & Gutter Guard Installers

Some gutter cleaning companies like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky also install gutters and gutter guards. They may inspect your gutters and recommend repair or replacement. If you have noticed that your gutters are failing, new gutters will benefit you; however, you will still need to clean them if you don’t invest in gutter guards. If the cleaning company tries to sell you on gutter guards to prevent the need for future cleanings, make sure they’re installing a proven and high-quality product.

Are Gutter Guards Better Than Gutter Cleaning?

That depends. Although the cost of hiring a gutter cleaning company really adds up over time, choosing inferior gutter covers won’t benefit you much. You may find that you still need occasional gutter cleanings or cleaning of the gutter covers themselves.

Talk To A Gutter Professional

Why not call Gutter Boyz of Kentucky instead? We can give you the best advice on how to keep water flowing away from your home. For more information or a FREE ESTIMATE, give us a call at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us today!

Have you ever driven by a home with gutters full of leaves and debris? Clogged gutters look bad and, when it rains, can allow water damage to the home. Rain gutter guards stop clogged gutters, keep your home looking great and prevent costly repairs.

All homeowners want to better the appearance and function of their home, and a home’s gutter system is one way to do this. Gutters that are in good working order permit rainwater to drain easily away, but this requires an investment in a quality gutter system and the best gutter guards for metal roofs (or whatever material your roofing system is made of). Often homeowners think of gutter leaf guards as being too costly when, in reality, they save a great deal of money over time.

Potential Problem Areas

When your gutters run clear and funnel rainwater and melting snow away from your home, you’ll save money. In addition to the savings of time or money, there are other savings you could potentially see by installing rain gutter guards.

• Flooded basement – If your home has a basement, gutter backups can lead to water seeping in through walls and windows. This can cause a variety of damage to walls, flooring, furnishings and anything else in your basement. Plus, you’ll have to pay for water remediation and dry-out.
• Wet crawlspace or slab – Homes on a slab or crawlspace aren’t immune to water issues. Wet crawl spaces can lead to deterioration of wood footings, moisture damage to flooring and even movement in the foundation. Homes on a concrete slab may suffer foundation damage which leads to sinkholes and cracks throughout the home.
• Exterior damage – Leaky gutters can cause damage to siding and fascia as water drips and splashes over the exterior. For wood siding, this leads to dry rot and peeling paint. Other types of siding may develop staining and mold growth. If you allow your gutters to become completely clogged and the weight pulls them away from your home, it may damage fascia, siding or even break a window if the gutters fall off.
• Damaged landscaping – When gutters clog and water spills over, plants and shrubs on the ground take the brunt of the water’s force, which can lead to damage. You may also experience soil erosion or washed-out mulch.
• Roof damage – If your shingles sit in water because your gutters are clogged, they will deteriorate faster than they should. This can lead to a roof leak or, at the very least, the need to replace the shingles at the roof’s edge

Gutter guards from Gutter Boyz of Kentucky can help you prevent damage to your home.  We would be happy to talk more with you and answer any questions you may have.  For more information or a FREE ESTIMATE, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us today!

Gutters are the unsung heroes of real estate. They don’t earn compliments like a property’s gorgeous landscaping or the rustic tile selection of your master shower will. But without them, a home’s structural integrity is at risk.

Every day 14,000 homeowners face water emergencies while 37% have claimed losses due to water issues. Meanwhile, home owners insurance companies pay out $2.5 billion in water damage losses every year. Gutters serve the critical role of pushing water where it needs to be: away from the house to avoid foundation erosion and roof leaks.

“When I go out to appraise a property for a lender, they will almost never lend on a property that doesn’t have gutters and downspouts that are functional,” said Robin Harper, a home appraiser with a decade of experience.

“In this instance, I would be required to provide a ‘cost-to-cure,’ which is an estimate to install or repair gutters and downspouts. The cost-to-cure figure can then be subtracted from the overall home value.”

So, do gutters increase home value? Not exactly, because they’re like the tires of a car: buyers expect a property to have them in good working condition, or they’ll pay less for it. We’ll help you get up to speed on homeownership and gutters with insights from top appraisers around the country who explain:

How gutters shield the house from ice dams and foundation problems

Gutters as guardians of the house: Protecting against ice damming and foundation erosion

Imagine you’re sitting in your living room on a chilly winter day watching television, when suddenly you feel a drop of water on your head. And then another, and another. You look up to find a wet patch spreading out on your ceiling just above you.

Or, picture this: It’s been a stormy few days with lots of rain. You go outside to clean up after the storm and to your horror, find that some of your foundation has washed away—but only in one spot that should have been difficult for the water to reach.

The culprit in both situations? In most cases, bad gutters. Properly constructed and clean gutters are essential to preventing water damage to your home.

The first scenario likely due to an issue called ice damming on the roof, where the water melting from a warmer part of your roof can’t escape. This typically happens when gutters haven’t been cleaned out properly, the water freezes, and then the ice accumulates under your shingles, melting and damaging the attic or ceiling in your home.

The second scenario could be thanks to a broken gutter or a missing downspout—the water is dumping down onto your foundation instead of getting pushed away from the house.

“You need to have gutters because you’re going to start affecting your foundation significantly if you don’t direct water away appropriately,” said Brock Young, a top-selling agent in Kentucky. “It’s not an option out here, honestly. If you’re buying a house that doesn’t have gutters on it, it’s probably because it’s a bank sale home and it’s all beat up.”

No gutters (or gutters in poor condition) will detract value from your house

Not only will a lack of gutters or ones with issues hurt your home and affect the sale, it could also actively lower your home’s value.

Whether you don’t have any gutters or the ones you have are dirty, broken or improperly attached, you’re compromising the longevity of the home by leaving it open to other problems. And those problems will have an effect on the appraisal when you’re trying to sell.

Gutters in poor condition could detract between $500 and $2,000 from the value of an average-sized house with a straightforward installation by a professional.

Gutters are part of the real estate, but there’s not a specific adjustment line for gutters.  If the lack of gutters is ruining something, you’ll detract from that item.

In some cases, the missing or damaged gutters can even end a sale before it begins.

Good gutters will attract buyers but don’t necessarily add value.  All that being said, gutters themselves typically won’t increase the value of your home. They’re standard, especially in areas with a lot of rain, and having them isn’t anything special.

People don’t just normally install gutters for the aesthetics of the gutters.  If you needed them and didn’t have them, it would detract value. But having them won’t add value.

You can, though, add overall perceived value to your home based on the gutters themselves. Our experts at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky shared some tips on what to do to make your gutters work for your home sale.

Make sure your gutters are installed properly.

There are two important pieces to this equation. Proper gutter installation means making sure the water is being diverted far away enough from the house so no damage is sustained around the foundation or on the siding.

But you also have to make sure they’re level—meaning no water is left to pool up in them with nowhere to drain. If that happens, they can start to draw an accumulation of mosquitos and other nasty bugs or cause ice damming.

Match your gutters to your home.

Just like any other part of your property, including outbuildings, shutters, garages, and even gazebos, you’ll want to make sure the color and size of your gutters are appropriate for your home.

For the color, typically the gutters will be the same color as the outdoor trim. As far as sizing, the standard size used to be four inches, but now it’s up to six inches—so get the larger ones.  But, if your house is a bit smaller and the large gutters would look out of place, then stay with a smaller size.

It’s also critical to have enough downspouts. The general rule is one downspout for every 35 or so feet of gutter.

Stick with seamless gutters

Seams are out. If you want gutters that will bring value to your home, skip them and go for a seamless option. It looks tidier and more professional.

Get gutter guards

Gutter guards are covers that go over your gutters to stop junk from building up inside them. These are your first line of defense if you live in a heavily wooded area or have a lot of trees near your house.

They’ll stop leaves and sticks from getting in, and will keep squirrels and their seeds out—so you don’t have to worry about looking up one day to see a patch of sunflowers sprouting from the edge of your roof. As a plus, having gutter guards could add value to a home appraisal.

Whatever your gutter needs, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky is here to help.  With offices in Paducah, KY and Benton, KY, we serve a majority of Western Kentucky.  For a FREE estimate, give us a call at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us!

You know you have gutters on your house and you know you have to clean them every once in a while. What you shouldn’t do is leave them until they’re already clogged up before you clear them out. It’s important to make sure all that debris is gone before winter arrives. Here’s why you should make sure those gutters get cleaned out every fall, no matter where you live.

Leaves Collecting in Your Gutters

The first signs of fall are unmistakable—the air gets a little crisp and the leaves on the trees begin to change color. It’s a gorgeous sight, but it’s also a sign of a whole lot of work ahead. After all, those leaves will soon fall off those trees and many of them will end up in your gutters.

While it’s still dry out, the leaves won’t cause much of a problem. However, as soon as you get your first heavy rain storm, the problems will start to pop up. If your gutters are filled with leaves, the rain can’t drain out properly. When this happens, your gutters will overflow and the water could cause water damage to walls, soffits, fascia, siding, basements, and even your foundation.

If water does back up in your gutters, the debris and pooling water can start to eat away at the gutter materials, which can cause holes and leaks. Once you have holes, it might not be a simple fix—you could end up having to replace your gutters entirely.

On-going Maintenance for Healthy Gutters

As you may have guessed, gutters are not cheap to replace. This is why regular gutter maintenance is so important. A small investment of time and money now will save you a ton in the future.

How often you clean your gutters depends largely on where you live. If you live in an area without any trees around, you can probably get away with cleaning your gutters just once a year, since they aren’t filling up with leaves and other debris as quickly. Of course, if there is a tree close to your house that does lose its leaves, you might have to clean them more often.

Gutters Clogged With Leaves

If you live in a place surrounded by plenty of lush, green trees, you’re going to need to clean your gutters a whole lot more often than those who live in desert climates. Most leafy trees lose leaves in the fall, which makes a fall cleaning essential. The type of trees you have nearby also makes a difference—if you have trees like pine or any tree with needles, you might need to clean them 3 or 4 times a year. If you have a tree with falling blossoms, you might need an extra cleaning in spring.

Winter is Coming

The risk of clogged gutters doesn’t end once the leaves have fallen off the trees. If you don’t clear them out before winter, all that debris and water sitting in your gutters can freeze when the temperature drops. When it’s frozen, any water from melting snow has nowhere to go, and can seep through your roof, causing water damage.

When the water and debris freezes, it also gets heavier, which could cause the gutters to sag. The extra weight can also cause the hardware that secures the gutters to the house to pull away from the house, or even come loose completely. In this scenario, your gutters could completely fall down, which would mean you will need to replace them or at least reinstall them.

If you want to ensure your gutters last a long time, keep up with a regular maintenance schedule. Fall is the perfect time to clean them, no matter where you live. So make sure you add gutter cleaning to your fall to-do list!

If you are dreading climbing up on the ladder to clean your gutters, you don’t have to. Maybe you have gutters that leak?  Gutter Boyz of Kentucky provides complete gutter service.  From installation of new gutters, gutter guards, gutter cleaning, Gutter Boyz is here to help. Give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, with offices in Paducah and Benton, KY a call today at (270) 906-3055 of CLICK HERE for a FREE QUOTE.

Failing gutters can be a serious problem. Don’t ignore the warning signs! Look for missing shingles, shingles that curl up at the ends, gutters that are pulling away from your home, excessive staining or mold on your home and other warning signs. It is important to stop the problem, before it becomes a very expensive one.

Ask yourself the following questions?

#1 Do you see any visible cracks on the surface of your gutters. Cracks will lead to water leakage, which will lead to water damage on your home. If not dealt with small cracks can lead to larger cracks.

#2 Paint flaking or peeling prematurely in areas near the base of the home or on the gutters themselves? Peeling paint is a huge indicator that your gutters are leaking water, causing the paint to peel.

#3 Look for water marks located directly below the gutters. Why? Well as water pours over the surface of your home it is absorbed. As the dun dries the water you can see watermarks left behind.

#4 Are your gutters clogged? Are there certain spots in your gutters where leaves and debris seem to continually get caught? This can be caused by debris collecting in a crack in your gutter. Call a gutter specialist to have them access the issue.

#5 Are your gutters pulling away from your home? Or are the downspouts disconnected from the gutter/home? If so it might be time for new ones.

So remember, there are very obvious signs that your gutters are in need of repair or replacement. They are as follows:

• No gutters on home
• Water in basement
• Water in home
• Seams leaking or dripping
• Overflowing gutters

However, sometimes the signs of faulty gutters can be subtle. These issues are ones that if treated immediately can save you money. Have a qualified gutter specialist like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky come and inspect your home for these not so obvious signs. They include:

• Spike & ferrules pulling away from the gutter where you can see the nail head popping out
• Lines in your landscape below the gutter
• Mold in areas below where gutters are, or should be
• Rotting deck boards, windowsills, garage doors, and regular doors below where gutters are, or should be
• Erosion in landscape or mulch beds
• Cracking or upheaval of sidewalks, patios, driveways and stairs
• Dips or back pitch in gutters

If any of these sound like your home, you are in the market for new gutters, please contact us at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.  We have offices located in Benton, KY and Paducah, KY and serve a majority of Western Kentucky.  You can reach us today by phone at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us for a FREE ESTIMATE today!

Without properly installed gutters, the water from rain that runs off your roof falls directly into your foundation. Over time, the water can cause many issues including:

Water damage to your foundation.   Non-structural water damage refers to water seeping in small holes into the basement. Left untreated, it can lead to mold and mildew buildup resulting in costly repairs and an unsafe place for your family and pets to live. Structural water damage is another result of untreated “non-structural” water damage. When this happens, your entire home can shift and sink under its own weight resulting in extensive repairs.

Bugs and insects infiltrating your home.    Another by-product of water damage can include insect infiltration. When water damages the foundation, it creates holes that allow bugs to get inside. The standing water also attracts water-loving bugs such as cockroaches and silversides. Both of which can be huge nuisances and cause further damage.

If you suspect water damage has already affected your foundation, call a professional immediately. The next step is to call Gutter Boyz of Kentucky at (270 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.   With offices in Paducah and Benton, we serve most of Western Kentucky.  We will come out, give you a FREE estimate and properly install gutters to keep this from ever happening again.

Clogged Gutters Damage Your Home

There are few things worse than clogged gutters. Why? The costs of repairing damage stemming from clogged gutters far outweigh the cost of simply maintaining them well. At Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, we care about the health of your home.

Clearing away of summer storm debris

If you haven’t had your gutters cleaned before the beginning of fall, now is the time to take action. You’ll want your gutter system clear before the leaves make their way down. Summer storms bring plenty of rainwater and debris, and these storms can also damage your gutters.

Repairing any damage

Regular gutter maintenance will ensure that any damage your gutters incurred will be repaired quickly. If your gutters are damaged, you’ll want them in good shape before the full force of fall brings leaves and added weight to your gutter system. When your gutter system has damage, it’s critical to get the damage taken care of before putting added stress on your gutters–they can only support so much weight before they fail, whether they fail by leaning or even falling down!

Taming the leaves

Your gutters are only functional when water can flow through them. Keeping the leaves at bay is an important objective in fall gutter cleaning. Leaves, once wet, can weigh down your gutters and potentially damage the fascia on the side of your home. An obstructed flow can cause issues like water pooling around the base of your home.

Protect your foundation and home

Your gutters divert water away from your foundation. When water pools at the base of your house, you can incur foundation damage which isn’t easy to repair, and you also run the risk of your basement flooding. Keeping your gutters unobstructed is the best thing you can do to prevent this kind of damage. Additionally, make sure your underground drains aren’t clogged. A clogged underground drain can also lead to flooding your yard and allowing water to pool near your foundation.

Winter is coming: be ready!

As fall fades into winter, you’ll want to be sure that your gutters are clean and in good shape. The cold winter months can bring winds, precipitation and debris into your gutter system. Ice can also cause tree limbs to break and land on your roof. Keeping your gutters in good condition moving into the year’s coldest months will ensure that they don’t get weighed down by additional fall debris remaining in your gutter system once snows fall.

At Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, with offices in Paducah, KY and Benton, KY, we are only a phone call away to help you with all of your gutter needs. Give us a call today at (270) 906-3055 for a FREE QUOTE or CLICK HERE to contact us!