Frequently Asked Questions

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Absolute not! Truth is, there is not a great deal of difference in the materials

being used from one company to the next. But there is a difference with the

quality of sealant on seams, the appropriate length & number of screws

& hangers used, as well as proper placement of downspouts and slope of gutter

runs,

THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS IN THE INSTALLATION.

Our installers are long employed, highly trained and courteous

Our crews have the expertise to hand tie miters for a clean, aesthetically pleasing

corner that will not leak today or tomorrow.

Our gutters are installed so there are no seams or joints except at corners and

where downspouts attach.

We use the highest quality sealant available, so all joints are made watertight

First and foremost, the number one concern is always safety. Be sure your ladder

is properly positioned and you are using it correctly. Always wear gloves to

remove debris from your gutters. If your drainage system involves underground

pipe, leading to a drain field, disconnect the downspout from the ground riser.

This will prevent any debris from plugging up your underground system when you

spray out your gutters with water.

Depending upon your environment (more trees more cleaning), you may need to

clean your gutters more or less often. It is best to check them after the fall leaves

have dropped and in the spring.

New technology is developing everyday to make your gutter systems easier to

keep clean. There are several different types of screens that can be attached tc

prevent larger particles from collecting in the gutter. In aid of cleaning, you may

find various tools at your local hardware store to help you clean out gutters from

ground level with the aid of water.

Washing down all the debris into their underground drainage systems, thus

plugging them up. Remember to always remove, by hand, the major amount of

debris that has collected into the gutter system.

There always comes a time when the old gutters need to be replaced. However,

many things can be done to give new life to your old gutters. When mitered

corners or end caps begin to leak, you can often solve the problem by cleaning

the old sealant away and replacing with a new sealant.

A "gutter guard" can be helpful in the prevention of clogged downspouts

depending on the amount and type of trees (conifer needles or deciduous leaves)

that may fall onto the roof and end up in the gutters. Downspout outlets in the

gutter system can also be protected by a mushroom screen, but keep in mind that

once in place it is mandatory to clean the areas where build-up will occur.

It costs a great deal less to protect against water damage and moisture

penetration than it does to correct unsafe, unhealthy conditions and structural

damage.

The cost of a new gutter system will vary depending on several factors such as:

* The type and color of gutter material used - aluminum, steel or copper.

The lineal footage of gutter required.

The amount and length of downspouts.

Number of mitered corners.

* Whether or not the fascia boards, which the gutters attach to, need to be

replaced or not.

Degree of difficulty is factored in,

* Pitch and material type of your roof.

Trim back tree brances that scrape against or overhang the gutters. Remember,

moisture, directly or indirectly, causes more problems in buildings than any other

single element. Almost every moisture problem can be either decreased or

eliminated by reducing the moisture level in the home or building

Rainwater harvesting (also called Roof-water harvesting) is the accumulating and

storing of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It involves collecting

the gutter system's rainwater run-off from your rooftop into a Rain Barrel in order

to store it for later use -- inside or outside the home.

There are many reasons why someone would want to do this. Such as:

Conservation - Manage Water Runoff - Save Money - Healthy Happier Plants

Rainwater collected from the roof-tops can make an important contribution to the

availability of drinking water, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where

ground water is the primary source of water on many of our islands. With island

population growing low aquifer levels create a potential for seawater intrusion.

If you're looking for ways to Save on your water bills and ensure that your lawn

and plants don't suffer in the drought, the old-fashioned technology of rainwater

harvesting not only Saves you money, but keeps your lawn green and your plants

healthy & happy with clean, oxygenated, chemically untreated water.

Puget Sound averages about 3-feet of rain per year, most of it falling between

November - March.

Having the downspout of your gutter system go into a Rain Barrel offers an easy

option for rainwater harvesting.

if you have a lot of plants to care for, consider linking several together to increase

your storage capacity.