While having your gutter cleaning during summer may not be the first thing on your mind when you think about the hottest months of the year, there are a few things you should consider before you get back to your backyard barbecues and beach trips.

Recovering from spring rains

Spring rains can wreak havoc on your gutter system. If your gutters are clogged as the spring rains hit, you could be in danger of having your basement flooded. Additionally, water around the base of your home can damage its foundation and ruin a beautifully landscaped yard. By the end of spring, your home’s gutters are sure to be clogged with dirt, debris and leaves or limbs that have fallen on your roof. Summer gutter cleaning is vital preventative maintenance for your home.

Guarding against summer storms

Summer storms and intense hot periods can put your gutters in danger. Your gutters are constantly being exposed to the elements. Keeping an eye on your gutters during summer is essential because extreme periods of heat have a way of making things shift around. Those frequent afternoon thunderstorms also come with high winds and can shake things loose from nearby trees, so there will be debris collecting in your gutters throughout summer. Keeping your gutters cleaned out will ensure that there’s never too much weight tugging at your gutters.

Preparing for fall

Cleaning and maintaining your gutters in summer is the best way to prepare your home for fall. When the leaves start falling, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your home is well-prepared for the added weight that will be deposited into your gutters. Once fall arrives, we recommend that you adhere to a regular cleaning schedule during early, middle and late fall. Ensuring that your gutters remain clear of debris is the best way to prevent damage to your gutter system, roof, and foundation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and we couldn’t agree more when it comes to the ongoing health of your gutters.

Ready to schedule a summer gutter cleaning?  Give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky with offices in Paducah, KY and Benton, KY at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us!

Gutters are there for a reason – don’t ignore the problems!

They might not be much to look at but gutters play a vitally important role in protecting your home from the elements and keeping it safe and secure. They direct water away from the walls, windows, doors and foundations. But, if any part of your guttering system is defective, you may not notice until it is too late.

Properly maintained gutters should last a minimum of 20 years, and while some issues may be apparent in dry weather, others may only become so during heavy rainfall. You should be checking your gutters at least twice a year for signs of wear and tear– once every Spring and Fall for instance. If you’re not sure what to look for here are the tell-tale signs you need to repair or replace.

1. Visible signs of damage

There are some obvious indications that your guttering is damaged:

• Cracks, holes or rust spots in the gutters

• Gutters sagging, separating or pulling away from the house, hanging down or leaning away from the walls (gutters should only be at a gentle slope to work well but not be leaning)

• Gutters are bent or dented

• Gaps between the gutter connections, junctions with downpipes or facia boards to which they are attached

• Nails popping or sticking out from the gutters

2. Less obvious outward signs of damage

There are other more subtle things that may indicate a problem:

• You find nails, screws or connectors on the ground

• Gutters are continually overflowing during rainfall

• There is standing water in the gutters even after it stops raining

• Water leaks from parts of the gutters where it shouldn’t or spills over from the gutters when the rain has stopped

• Things are growing out of the gutters or animals are nesting in them

• Icicles are forming from the gutters in cold weather

3. What is the house telling you?

There are also giveaway signs around your house and property that will indicate problems with the guttering:

• Water pooling around the foundations

• Exterior paint peeling or wood rotting or corroding

• Water stains, marks, mold or mildew on exterior walls or doors

• The basement regularly floods during heavy rainfall or has signs of mildew or mold

• Lawns or hard landscaping is regularly being eroded or cracked

Apart from the visible signs, you should also pay attention to the behavior of your guttering when it rains. Listen to how the rainfall is flowing through the gutters. If you can hear water hitting the ground then your gutters are blocked and not able to do their job properly. Over time leaves and other debris can collect in your gutters, but cleaning them is relatively straightforward so it is important to check for blockages regularly. Make sure you have measures in place to be safe, or hire a professional service like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky for that. But if the gutters appear clear and are still not draining properly, this is an indication of a more serious problem and you should call in the experts immediately.

It may seem obvious, but a well-maintained gutter system is good for your home. Regular checking and maintenance will help ensure your home remains protected and intact.

If it’s time to install new gutters, repair or clean existing gutters or perhaps you just want a professional gutter inspection, give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.  With offices in Benton and Paducah, KY, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky serves all of Western Kentucky for your complete gutter needs.

Believe it or not, rain gutters play a valuable role in your property as they protect your house from dampness, damaged foundations and garden erosion which leads to costly repairs and thus the devaluation of your home and nobody wants to deal with that kind of issues.

After several years a rain gutter installation can suffer the effects of nature and start showing leakage signs, this will depend on several aspects such as their material, the way they were installed and how frequent the maintenance is performed.

In the market, you can find plenty of gutter materials from copper to vinyl, but some of them are more long-lasting than others so the key is to choose the material that is affordable for you and, at the same time, provides you with superior quality.

Let’s find out the 5 most common causes of leaky gutters explained by our experts at Gutter Boyz:

 #1 – Cracks

This issue is very frequent to galvanized steel gutters, especially at the joints. When they are exposed to severe weather changes, they are more likely to crack at seams, braces or gutter nails.

#2 – Holes and Gaps

This is a problem that is very common when metal rain gutters are not frequently maintained and rainwater pooled in some areas along the gutter, rust is build up and, in turn, holes appear, causing severe dampness problems to your house. Gutters clogged by debris for a long time is also a cause for this terrible issue.

#3 – Loose Gutters

Sometimes, when you notice that your gutters have some leaks it may be a consequence of loose hangers. Rain gutters are attached to the fascia board of your roof by gutter hangers, whether internal or external and over time these accessories tend to get sagged especially when they have to deal with the weight of rainwater plus wet debris stuck along the gutter. Rainwater starts seeping through the loosen joints causing the leaks in your gutter system. To solve this problem, Gutter Boyz can remove all the debris and then fasten all the gutter hangers to the fascia board and make sure that all the system is perfectly working.

#4 – Improper Slope

Rain gutters need a slight downward slope to lead the rainwater towards the downspout and continue its way to the outlet on the ground. However, after the installation, everything looks great until it rains, and you notice that the water stays along the gutters forming small pools without reaching the downspout because the gutter is improperly sloped. When this happens, all this pooled water will add more weight to the gutters and will cause them to sag over time so you might notice water dripping from your gutters

#5 – Clogs

Clogs are the most common cause of leaky gutters in both residential and commercial rain gutter systems. When gutters are overlooked, debris from trees and the remains of dead animals build up and form a wet mass that blocks the gutter and pulls it down provoking overflowing. This issue can be prevented as easy as having a regular rain gutter maintenance at least twice a year.

Our Experts’ Advice

• Take care of your rain gutters, they are the best armor that your property has against dampness, erosion, foundation damage, and any other problem related to rainwater. The best and cheapest way to do it is avoiding any of the conditions that cause leaks.
• When it’s time to replace your gutters choose the material that fits your budget and provides you high-quality protection ensuring a long-lasting result. Seamless gutters are a great option. This design creates fewer opportunities for leakage which makes it very demanded by homeowners.
• Do not try to repair leaks by yourself. Remember that experts know best so whenever you notice signs of leaks look for professional help instead of worsening the problem trying to fix it on your own.
• Having leaky gutters, it’s a terrible headache for homeowners because they can make you spend a lot of money on repairs that can be prevented in advance. So be smart and keep your rain gutter system up to date with maintenance and install gutter accessories that help you keep debris away like leaf guards.

Does your rain gutter system have leakage signs? If your answer is yes, you should contact a professional rain gutter company right away. Luckily, at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, with offices in Benton and Paducah, KY are just a call away to help with installing, repairing, maintaining, and advising residential and commercial gutters across Western Kentucky.  Call us at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us!

As people continue to light off fireworks in neighborhoods, some homeowners worry about fire dangers.

While you cannot control what other people do in your neighborhood around the Fourth of July, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of fire at your home. Some may sound obvious, but firefighters said they could make all the difference.

Here are five easy steps to take to protect your home:

• Clean your gutters. Firefighters said this is the most important thing you can do to prevent a fire from spreading to your roof. Think of how quickly a spark could ignite dry leaves, pine needles, or brush in the gutter.
• Put a sprinkler in your front yard and back yard.
• Remove dry brush from around your home and any outbuildings. Firefighters call the dry debris ladder fuels because a spark could ignite dry brush on the ground that would spread upward to your home or shed.
• Water bark around your home. Firefighters said this is one people often do not think about. If a spark lands in bark, it can smolder for two to four hours before catching fire and spreading underground toward your home. Firefighters call this tunneling.
• Trim trees. If a tree catches fire and the branches are touching your house or hanging closely to your roof, firefighters said it can spread quickly to the house.

Need help cleaning out your gutters?  Give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.  With offices in Paducah and Benton, KY, Gutter Boyz is ready to help you with all of your gutter needs.

Did the recent storms leave damage to the gutters or fascia and soffit of your home or business? Gutter Boyz, with offices in Paducah and Benton, has multiple teams in the Western Kentucky area ready to help you with the storm damage to your home or business. Call us today for a FREE QUOTE at (270) 906-3055.

In our line of work the most common question we hear is “do I even need rain gutters on my home?”

The answer to this question is “yes.”

The following factors should be taken into consideration:

1) Existing Water Diversion / Stream Formation

If water from your roof naturally collects into a couple streams, it’s possible to manage that runoff with water diverters or ground features that keep your foundation safe.  That is, if you live in a very dry climate where it seldom rains.  If you live in an area where there are regular “heavy rains”, you roof is not capable of diverting the amount of rainwater you receive far enough from your foundation to make it effective.

2) Roof Overhang

We’d suggest that a minimum roof overhang of 6 feet is necessary if you’re considering going without gutters.  Remember, the purpose of gutters is to divert water away from the foundation of your home.

3) Ground Slope

Houses are typically built in a manner that gives them some degree of slope intended to divert water away from the foundation. However, on its own this is generally not sufficient to divert enough water to make rain gutters necessary. Assess the natural water flow around your house – if pools of water form near the house, rain gutters are needed.

4) Ground apron and drainage

A concrete or gravel apron can be an effective means of diverting water from the house’s foundation into a drainage system (natural or manmade) however this option is far less practical and more costly that installing gutters on your home.

5) Average Rainfall

A huge factor in whether or not gutters are necessary for obvious reasons. If you live in Southern California, you are definitely toward the lower end of the spectrum where rainfall could be manageable if all of the other factors are also in your favor. However, most regions of the United States receive enough rainfall that gutters are a must.

To sum up, all of the above factors need to be lined up clearly in your favor if you’re considering whether going gutterless is an option. Certainly, none of these on their own are sufficient to make gutters unnecessary.

If you are looking for an expert to answer your questions about gutters, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky is here to help.  After all, gutters are all we do!  Give us a call today at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.

There are a multitude of reasons why gutters are important to the longevity of your steel or metal building. Here are three of the top contenders:

You Will Save a Ton of Money. Let’s just start right out with the big guns. Money is always a top priority. In fact, it’s often the reason why people skip the gutters in the first place. One less thing to pay for, right? We assure you, however, the relatively minor investment of gutters will pay for itself over and over again in terms of the maintenance nightmares gutters will prevent throughout your building’s lifetime.

Installing gutters may be one of the most cost-effective things you can do to protect your building in the long run. By now, you are probably aware that steel and metal are two of the most durable building materials out there. Their weakness, however, is moisture. Once a protective coating is penetrated, you run the risk of rust and corrosion that will quickly compromise your building’s structural integrity.

Once the building’s structural integrity is compromised, the dollar signs start mounting. Leaks have to be repaired, whole sections of foundation, wall panels and/or framing materials may need to be replaced. Interior possessions and finishes may need to be repaired or replaced, and you will have to re-coat the compromised exterior components more often than you ever would have if a good water drainage system had been implemented.

Prevent Widespread Moisture Damage. Yes, steel and metal buildings can be built with incredibly durable coatings. However, rainwater and snow melt are often laden with environmental toxins that react with the protective coatings, no matter how tough they are, and this will eventually lead to their breakdown and the infiltration of moisture. Installing gutters and downspouts will keep this water moving down and away from your building it never has a chance to do any damage.

Your building isn’t the only thing that can be compromised by moisture. When water isn’t directed where you want it to go, it chooses the path it wants to take. That path often leads to oversaturated soil around your building’s foundation. In addition to compromising your foundation, this water can flood your home or business. It is also more apt to cause erosion, which destroys landscaping and leads to sediment and debris that clog storm drains and can destroy the local environment.

Physical Comfort. Finally, there is an immediately impactful reason to install gutters: they prevent your building from turning into a Niagara Falls attraction. Kids may think it’s fun to run in and out of the sheets of water that pour from your roof line and down to the ground below, odds are you and your customers will not. These sheets of water can last for days or weeks depending on the climate in your area. They make entrance and egress to and from your building a nightmare.

The resulting water from these downpours will flood your home or business’s entrance, making it difficult or impossible to navigate. If your business has hard surface flooring, a lack of gutters will create more water on your interior floor surfaces, which puts you, employees and customers at greater risk for slip and fall accidents. Gutters are a one-stop solution to this, diverting the water from even a mild rain storm away from building entrances where runoff is never a nuisance.

“But, wait,” you say. “We designed a nifty roof line that carries moisture runoff onto the side of the building and into channels/drains/perfectly sloped grading that directs it elsewhere…”

While we commend your ingenuity and thoughtfulness to future water runoff, these solutions aren’t enough. Odds are, there is still too much water penetrating the ground directly adjacent to your building and this is bad news for your foundation and your steel building components. Are you prepared to maintain the “perfect” slope and drainage required to divert the water where it needs to go? Can you control the work neighboring developers or builders do on lots adjacent to you? While these types of water shedding systems are effective in theory, they cannot compete with a well-built gutter system.

Have questions about the gutters required for your metal building? Give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky with offices in Paducah and Benton, KY a call today at (270) 906-3055  or CLICK HERE to send us a message.

When people think of gutter cleaning or replacement, they often view it in terms of how much money it will cost them to do it. But they don’t realize the potential cost savings that well-maintained gutters provide for a homeowner. Here are six examples of how gutters actually save you money.

Foundation repair. This is the mother-of-all repair costs that a homeowner wants to avoid. Without a properly-working gutter, rainwater tumbles down to the base of the home near the foundation. Over time, the excessive moisture can cause the foundation to buckle, crack, or shift. Foundation repair bills rarely come in under $5,000 and can run as high is $40,000 – and it’s nearly impossible to sell a house that has a compromised foundation.

Flooded basements. If that runoff water collects near your basement, it tends to find a way inside through wall spaces or windows (path of least resistance). Then it can start doing some real damage – to your basement walls, ceilings, flooring, furniture, and appliances. Those costs could run as high as $10,000 – after you shell out up to $5,000 to have the standing water pumped out and your basement dried out.

Flooded landscaping. That beautifully-ornate landscaping near your home? It can dissolve or be washed away if enough runoff water is permitted to fall into it. If you pay a landscaping service to repair it, you’re looking at a bill that could run up to $7,000 in some cases. But no amount of money will replace the hard work and sweat that you spent getting the landscaping just the way you wanted it.

Exterior damage. If your gutters are either clogged or leaking, the water may start to seep out of them and into your home’s exterior. That could lead to rotting fascia boards and siding, as well as peeling or chipping paint. To fix these problems, you’ll need to replace the decaying wood and/or repaint areas of your home – which could cost you as much as $5,000.

Mold and mildew. Water that is misdirected may not stop at your home’s exterior. If moisture penetrates your roofline or your basement, it could seep into your ceilings, attic, or crawl spaces and facilitate the growth of mildew and mold. It only takes several days for these toxic substances to form, and it’ll cost up to $3,000 to eradicate this health hazard.

As you can see, installing and maintaining gutters is actually a valuable investment on your home or business.  If you are in need of new gutters, gutter cleaning or gutter repair, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today at 270-906-3055 for a FREE quote or CLICK HERE to send us a message.

Gutters are a critical component of a home’s drainage system, and like many exterior features, they’re subject to wear and damage. An important item on your spring maintenance checklist should be to examine and clean out the gutters. Regular cleaning and maintenance will go a long way toward getting the maximum lifespan out of your gutters.

If, however, your gutters are showing signs of severe wear—cracks, holes, and leaks, for example—or if they’re sagging or pulling away from the house or have numerous missing, loose, or bent fasteners, it may be time to look into replacement gutters. Experts like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky often point out that water damage to the roof, fascia board, decking, or rafters is a sure sign that gutters are due for replacement. Most ordinary gutters last about 10 to 15 years.  Dangerous water leaks and overflows can cause tremendous damage to a home, sometimes before homeowners are even aware of the problem.

There are many types and styles of gutters on the market today, with the primary materials being aluminum, copper, steel, galvanized steel, zinc, and vinyl. At Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, we primarily utilize aluminum for our seamless gutter systems.  Aluminum is the most prevalent gutter material and offers several advantages over other types. Aluminum is lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and available in a wide range of colors—and it’s also often the least expensive option. Aluminum gutters offer the best combination of style, durability, and price.

When the time comes for you to replace the gutters on your home or business, give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.  We will be happy to discuss all of the options available to you.  For a FREE estimate, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call at (270) 906-3055.  With offices in Paducah and Benton, KY, we serve all of Western Kentucky with the highest quality gutters available.

There are a lot of things to like about spring: mild weather, beautiful blooms, longer days and outdoor gatherings. On the other side of the coin, however, spring also brings allergy flare-ups, abundant rain and gutter problems. While there’s not much you can do about allergens or rainfall, you can address the gutter issues that go hand-in-hand with spring. Here are five of the most common ones.

Problem #1: Damaged Gutters

Gutter sections that have cracked or separated from the fascia or each other due to the weight of winter ice or snow.

Solution: Separated gutters often require nothing more than a few fresh screws to reattach them to each other or the fascia of your home. Small cracks can be sealed temporarily using a waterproof caulk or sealant, but if your gutters have large cracks or are otherwise too damaged to be reattached, you’re better off replacing the gutter section entirely.  That’s when it’s time to give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.

Problem #2: Clogged Gutters

Gutters that are full of pine needles, twigs, leaves and other tree debris that have either fallen from overhanging branches or been washed into the gutters by spring rains.

Solution: It’s not rocket science … It’s time to clean out the gutters! If the debris is dry, you can either use a leaf blower or an outdoor vacuum to blow or suck everything out. Packed-in or wet debris may require the old tried-and-true (albeit dirty) method of scooping it out by hand. If this chore is too off-putting or cumbersome for you, call Gutter Boyz of Kentucky with offices in Paducah, KY and Benton, KY.  We will clean your gutters out for you at a reasonable price. To prevent clogs in the future, consider installing gutter guards to keep out debris and eliminate gutter blockage.

Problem #3: Clogged Downspouts

Downspouts that have been clogged by gutter debris.

Solution: Unclogging downspouts is an important part of any gutter cleaning job. Start by feeding a garden hose up into the bottom opening and spraying water upward to free up any low clogs. You might also need to do the same from the downspouts’ upper opening. For stubborn clogs, a plumber’s snake can be fed downward from the top; this will usually break them up enough that they can then be flushed out.  Don’t have the time or energy to do this?  Don’t worry.  Gutter Boyz of Kentucky is here to help.

Problem #4: Bent Gutters

Bent, buckled or separated gutters that have been damaged by tree limbs dislodged from overhanging trees by heavy winds or rain (or even a late snowstorm).

Solution: Give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.   We can repair gutter damage and help protect your home with proper drainage.  To prevent this from happening in the future, cut back overhanging tree limbs to about three feet beyond the roofline – or have a tree-trimmer take care of this for you.

Problem #5: Animal Problems

Pesky critters like squirrels, rodents, possums, birds, bugs and even snakes taking up residence in your gutters.

Solution: For insects, spiders or worms, a good gutter cleaning will usually take care of the problem; just be sure to drain or soak up any standing water, which can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Gutters are also a favorite place for birds to build their nests, which may need to be gently relocated. As for larger creatures, if the destruction of their habitat doesn’t scare them away, live traps on the roof might be necessary. Avoid placing poisons in your gutters that could get washed into the yard and into the sewer system during storms.  Need someone with experience to help you take care of these issues?  Give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky. 

No matter how good your gutters may be, they’re not going to perform to their full potential if they’re clogged or damaged. To take advantage of the best gutter products and services for your home, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today at (270) 906-3055.