The GutterBrush Blog

Power Washing the House - Photo by J-Nellie

If you’re anything like me, you have a “hit list” of chores that you would do anything to put off. Besides being unpleasant and time consuming, some of the jobs I avoid most are the jobs that are tediously boring. I especially dislike cleaning work and for the most part, climbing ladders. However, I’ve discovered some quick fixes to help make sure that hard to reach doesn’t have to mean hard to clean.

If dizzying heights have kept you from dusting the cob-webs out of ceiling corners, you may be relieved to know that many household vacuums come equipped with extension tools that help you reach ceilings. Using these tools allows you to dust off ceilings, window ledges, fans, eaves and architectural overhangs. I’ve also found cleaning from the top down is most efficient because it allows dust to settle on the floor where it will be vacuumed last.

Exterior chores to the home can be a real challenge with high roofs, windows and gutters that require the use of the dreaded ladder. Even on the sunniest of days, trying to maneuver around safely while finishing a job can be a challenge. Plus, leaning the ladder against the gutters often damages them and makes the ladder unsteady.

I’ve come to really appreciate the garden hoses around my house. I’ve found hosing off higher places quickly removes dirt around my eaves, porches and overhangs. At my local Do It Best Store I purchased a nozzle for a few dollars which has several settings that allows me to spray at different speeds and strengths depending on my cleaning needs. For the extra hard to remove mold and dirt stains around my roof, I rented a power washer. In under an hour I was able to have my house looking like new again. I may have to spring for one of these babies.

Now, when it comes to gutter maintenance, I, of course, recommend GutterBrush Gutter Guard as the answer to any homeowner’s gutter clogging problems. Clean your gutters once, then a very quick installation of GutterBrush without tools keeps the stuff out of your rain gutters so you can avoid major gutter cleaning in the future with a clear conscience. Another item I discovered, and now sell, is the Ladder-Max. This standoff makes my extension ladder extremely stable and allows me to rest the ladder against the roof top avoiding damage to gutters. That feature alone convinced me to get add the Ladder-Max Stand Off Stabilizer to my garage.

If the thought of heights or tediously boring work still makes you cringe, I suggest you enlist the help of a friend or family member, or even hiring a handyman or handygal. While a safe and clean environment for your home is important, it’s always more important to stay safe.

Whether you’re an experienced handyman or have never picked up a hammer in your life, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which tools and equipment are necessary to own. Besides calling up Mr. Fix-It next door, home improvement stores and local rental centers now provide a full assortment of gear and tools to loan at a reasonable price. Though GutterBrush™ Simple Gutter Guard doesn’t actually require any tools for installation apart from a ladder, I’ve compiled a list of a few recommended items that I believe are required equipment for all homeowners:

1. Extension Ladder
   An extension ladder will come in handy for many jobs around your home. Accessing roof, rain gutters, ceilings and other high locations in your home, a stable and reliable extension ladder really can’t be beat. When an overthrown Frisbee lands on the roof or a burnt out light bulb creeps up in middle of the day, nothing is more convenient then going to your garage and pulling out a dependable ladder. To further the safety and purpose of your extension ladder, we recommend the Ladder-Max Standoff / Stabilizer. This ladder accessory makes just about any extension ladder significantly more stable and allows you to set your ladder against your roof rather than against your gutters, avoiding expensive damage. Frankly, anyone who has an extension ladder should really have a Ladder-Max to go with it.
2. Hammer
   Of all the tools in the world the lowly hammer is probably the most useful around your home. Choose a hammer that feels “right” in your hand in terms of weight and swing. I recommend a hammer with a straight claw over a sharply curved claw.
3. Pliers
   A small assortment of pliers will be invaluable around your home. Hardware stores often have packaged sets of pliers that include straight pliers and needle nose pliers. Needle nose piers have long nose that tapers to a point at the end. They are great for grabbing small objects in tight spots. A set of pliers will also include wire cutters. Many needle nose pliers include a wire cutter as part of the tool as well.
4. Screwdrivers Set
   Screws are one of the most commonly used attachment devices both inside and outside the home. Everything from computer equipment, children’s toys to outlet covers, use screws. Having a set of decent set of manual screwdrivers is a must with so many devices and materials using screws. In addition to this set of manual screwdrivers I also recommend an electric screwdriver. I guarantee you will find so many uses for an electric screwdriver around that house that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one.
5. Wrench Set
   Like screwdrivers, wrenches and come in various sizes and are commonly needed to fasten or loosen nuts and bolts around the home. Wrenches are designed to give the extra torque to fastening agents when hand strength is not enough. I recommend a small set of SAE wrenches from ¼ inch to ¾ inch.  You could consider a set that includes metric wrenches as well; however, unless you’ll be working on your car, metric sizes aren’t often used around the house.  Many hardware auto stores offer wrench sets that package both SAE and metric sizes in one kit. These kits often include Allen wrenches and a socket set that could also prove handy around your home.
6. Level
   From hanging pictures to balancing your washing machine a level sure beats eyeballing it. I recommend a simple straight level that is at least 12 inches long. I’d say avoid the laser levels. The simple torpedo level is often enough tool for just about any job around the house.
7. Power Drill
   Of all the electric power tools to invest in, this is the absolute necessity. With a driving attachment, usually a drill bit, secured to a motorized power source, drills can create holes in a multitude of surfaces. Plus they can also be used to drive screws.  You may be surprised to realize how many times a common fix-it or repair job needs will need a drilled hole as part of the project. Having a well-made drill that will cut through metal, wood and numerous other materials is a wise investment for any household. Though a cordless drill can be convenient, I recommend it only in addition to a good corded drill. I’ve often had to resort to my corded drill when I find that my cordless batteries are dead right when I need to use the drill. When buying the drill make sure that you also pick up a set of drill bits from 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch along with a few screwdriver bits. Again most hardware stores sell kits that include a combination of common drill bits that are helpful around your home.
8. Vise Grips
   Vise grips are like duct tape, there are perhaps a million uses for these locking pliers. I recommend having at least one pair of vise grips.
9. Tape Measure
   Even if you’re less inclined to be making repairs around the house, you’ll still find a tape measurer useful. Lengthier, more pliable and usually easy to carry, the tape measure is more advanced than a common ruler. Being able to measure around corners and high places is needed for a range of things from furniture placement to cutting plywood. In my house, the simple tape measure has proven itself so handy to all members of the family that I often can’t find it when I need it.  Now I have three.
10. Circular Saw
    From cutting a 2×4 to trimming a piece of plywood circular saws are very helpful and definitely preferred over a hand saw. Like the drill I recommend that most homeowners consider a corded circular saw over the cordless models.

One thing that should not be in your garage is GutterBrush Simple Gutter Guard. It should be in your rain gutters where it can keep debris from clogging your gutters reducing time spent on home maintenance. Something else you should know about GutterBrush is that apart from an extension ladder, GutterBrush doesn’t require any tools for installation. It’s simple and effective design can be easily installed by just sliding the brushes into your rain gutters from end to end. The GutterBrush bristles work to keep rain gutter clogging debris out while allowing rain water to enter the full width of the gutter without overflow that is common to many gutter cover systems such as Gutter Helmet®.

Wear and tear on a house is bound to happen. Depending on the age and condition of a home, there are many repairs that should be considered. These problem areas can become costly and time-consuming chores if not addressed early, but by thinking like a handyman homeowners will be able to save money and avoid catastrophic problems.

Unlike contractors, who are typically experts in specific areas, a handyman has general knowledge in a broad range of fields. From screwing in a light bulb to cleaning the gutters, to fixing drywall, their skills can be useful inside and out of a home. Homeowners can also adapt and take pride in the work they accomplish around the house.

A good handyman also knows that there are certain jobs to that should be tackled early on to avoid the potential for future problems and expensive repairs. Having the foresight to see what expenses can result from a leaky faucet or buildup of debris in the rain gutters; handymen are always on the look-out for what can be improved and what can be avoided with preparation. Homeowners should do the same and take inventory of their home; looking for potential hazards or dangers they can repair now to avoid pricey fixes down the road.

A good example lies in your rain gutters. From the soffits to the foundation clear rain gutters go a long way in protecting you home from serious water damage. So, thinking like a handyman would not only have you getting those rain gutters clean, it would also have you thinking about how you can avoid a messy gutter buildup for years to come. After cleaning the gutters, installing GutterBrush gutter guard will keep debris from clogging your gutters for years to come.

While a handyman may be more likely to try new things, a handyman also tends to be methodical and apply his experience by taking on each project just one-step at a time. To many people envisioning every step involved in a project can become overwhelming; however, by concentrating on each step in the project one at a time, handymen are able to be thorough and efficient resulting in a completely finished job. If a project seems too big to consider, think like a handyman by starting at the beginning and look at the project just one step at a time. Evaluate each step in the project from the perspective of whether or not you want to take on that step yourself or perhaps hire it out. Even completing just a few of the steps yourself can save a lot of money and enable you to get more done within your time and budget. This brings us to the next point.

Lastly, homeowners should take advice from the handyman who knows how important it is to set limitations. Giving a job to someone else can often be the correct one, since a poorly executed home improvement project can cause problems for years to come. Taking all of these qualities into account, it’s easy to understand why handymen don’t just rely upon their ability to hammer a nail or screw a bolt. Thoughtful planning and careful consideration are the true tools in a handyman’s chest that any homeowner can learn from.

If you’re interested in learning more about GutterBrush Simple Gutter Guard please visit http://www.GutterBrush.com or call us at 1 (888) 397-9433 for more information.

If you’re a handyman interested in adding GutterBrush Simple Gutter Guard installation as a value-added service to your business, please visit our web site or call 1 (888) 397-9433 to learn more about our contractor program.

Being a homeowner is more than just choosing a place to live, it’s also about committing to a long-term investment. Just like an investment in a stock option or a retirement plan, homeowners will have to invest money into their home to maintain its value. However, they’ll also have to spend time and energy on their home’s maintenance and upkeep to sustain the investment. While many necessary home repairs are unavoidable and potentially expensive, proper care of your rain gutters can go a long way in securing a home’s value with little investment.

Rain gutter installation has become a staple in home construction, and most modern homes offer rain gutters as a standard feature. Since they’ve become so common place, rain gutters often go unnoticed. These frequently overlooked roof attachments are actually very important, not just for the safety and longevity of the roof, but to the entire integrity of the house. Rain gutters serve to redirect water down and away from the surface of the roof, preventing exterior damage that water can cause as it soaks down the siding of a home. Without a sufficient and clean rain gutter system in place, rain water can seep into the interior of the home, including the basement, resulting in cracked and unstable foundations and walls and soffits. Repairs to these types of damages become quite costly, and a homeowner who is unable to correct the problem will see a devaluation of their home.

The best and most efficient method to ensure a home stays intact and valuable is to prevent problems before they start. Properly installed rain gutters are the first step, but it’s also equally important that rain gutters stay clear of debris that could clog up the gutters and impede the flow of rain water. Frequent gutter cleaning may seem like the only option, but GutterBrush Gutter Guard offers an alternate solution. By simply placing the GutterBrush Gutter Guard into your rain gutters from end to end, pesky leaves, debris and pests will be unable to form clogs stopping the flow of rain water through the entire drainage system. GutterBrush Gutter Guard’s bristles simply prevent debris from entering the gutter system allowing the natural weather cycles to blow the debris off the roof. GutterBrush Gutter Guard keeps your gutter clear and flowing to prevent damage and reduce the horrible task of gutter cleaning on an annual basis.

Affordable and easily accessible, GutterBrush Gutter Guard can be purchased in numerous national retailers as well as online. Complete with a satisfaction guarantee, GutterBrush is a risk-free product that avoids hassle some gutter cleaning while still protecting and safe-guarding a home’s most valuable assets.

As hurricanes become a reality for more and more people (the east coast was just hit hard, including your pals over at GutterBrush), it’s always good to know exactly what essentials you need in case of emergency. Luckily, you already have many of these things in your house or apartment right now! Here goes:

1. Clothes

Remember that bag of clothes you’ve been meaning to donate to Goodwill? Pull them out and have them ready in case you need a fresh shirt or an old pair of pants to wade through possible flood waters. Store up old sheets and blankets to keep warm or to cover broken windows.

2. Water Bottles

Before the recycling truck comes this week, dig out those leftover water bottles, give them a good wash and fill them up with tap water. Store in the fridge until after the storm. Having fresh water on hand for drinking and bathing will be crucial if the storm knocks out your water.

3. Canned Food

It goes without saying that hoarding those non-perishable soups, green beans and baby peas is a great idea for during and after a storm. Plus, if you don’t use them after the storm, you can always donate them to a shelter (or just keep them stored in case of a future emergency).

4. Batteries

You’ll need extra batteries for a radio, flashlight or any other emergency device. If you’re running low on batteries, borrow a couple from non-essential devices such as remote controls or alarm clocks.

Bonus: If you’re planning a shopping trip before the storm, invest in a solar-powered cell phone charger. It could be a life-saver if you’re without power post-Irene.

5. Tools

In times of high stress, we tend to forget the essential tools we need. Set aside a wrench to turn off your water heater and gas. Bring out the can opener to use if you have to break into those tin-wrapped foods, and have a lighter on hand for candles. Keep in mind common problems that can arise during and after a storm and prepare accordingly (think: jammed doors, broken glass, heavy debris).

6. Books

No electricity, no television, no problem! Pack some reading material in a dry place to fight the inevitable no-power boredom. This will comes in handy especially for kids, whose favorite book may calm their fears during a rumbling storm.

7. Tents and Camping Supplies

Now that three-person tent and mummy sleeping bag can be used more than one fleeting weekend of the year. Get the rest of the family on board by promising some scary stories over warm can of pinto beans!

If you don’t live in an area affected by the hurricane this week, you can still make a difference by donating to a charity program such as the Red Cross.

It’s nearly July 4th and that means millions of us will be firing up our grills to celebrate with friends and family. However, some of us may have not turned on that grill in the past year or so. Never fear, GutterBrush to the rescue! We have a step-by-step guide to cleaning and getting your grill ready to handle all that you throw at / on it.

1. Remove cooking grates and set them in warm soapy water to soak.
2. Fill a small bucket or pan with warm soapy water.
3. If it’s a charcoal grill then remove the coal grate and brush out the insides.
4. If it’s a gas grill, remove briquettes, lava rocks or metal flame shield to expose burner.
5. Clean out ash and residue from around burner, careful to make sure the burner is in place when you are done.
6. Use a stiff wire brush and a little soapy water to gently scrub the inside surfaces of the grill.
7. Remove any particles from grill and reassemble.
8. If gas, brush off briquettes or lava rocks or wash metal flame shield in warm soapy water.
9. Remove cooking grates from water and brush clean with the wire brush.
10. Coat inside surfaces and cooking grates with cooking oil or spray.
11. Put grates back on grill
12. Allow the whole grill to air dry.
13. Allow an extra five minutes of heating time the next time you grill to make sure any cleaning residue has burner off.

Tips:

• Keeping grill surfaces lightly coated with cooking oil or spray will make clean up much easier.
• If the gas jets are clogged, consider replacing the burner or carefully clean them with a soft wire brush.
• Regular cleaning makes the job much easier.

Source: About.com

It’s summertime and that means more time outdoors. My wife recently developed a pretty painful and itchy case of poison ivy over the last few days and we’ve been trying to figure out the best way to treat it. We’ve come across some pretty helpful tips and wanted to share.

STEP 1

Stay outside. If you know you’ve been exposed, avoid going indoors so you can prevent the spreading of urushiol

STEP 2

Clean your skin immediately. If you do this within 10 minutes, you may be able to get the urushiol off before it penetrates your skin. Clean the skin with rubbing alcohol first, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.

• Don’t scrub or use hot water on your skin. This can draw the urushiol deeper into your pores.
• Don’t use soap until after you’ve rinsed off your skin with just water. Soap can pick up the urushiol and move it around to other parts of your body.
• Don’t go anywhere near urushiol-containing plants that day; the alcohol will make your skin extra vulnerable to it.
• Don’t forget to clean under your fingernails; you may have scratched off some urushiol and could redeposit it on other objects or areas of your skin by accident.
• Since urushiol is an oily resin, it binds to proteins in the skin and, after this process is complete, is nearly impossible to remove.

STEP 3

Recognize the symptoms. If you didn’t get the urushiol off in time, an allergic reaction may follow within 48 hours. First, your skin gets red and itchy. Then a rash follows, usually in a pattern of streaks of patches. Eventually the rash turns into red bumps or large oozing blisters. The rash will appear wherever you came in contact with urushiol, although it may take longer for the rash to appear on parts of your body where your skin is thicker. It doesn’t spread, however, because there’s no urushiol in the blisters. Once the urushiol is gone, the rash will go away.

STEP 4

Wash clothes and anything else that may have come in contact with a poisonous plant (gardening tools, pets, sports equipment, sheets). Don’t underestimate the power of urushiol; it can remain active for over a year.

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

• Take antihistamines. They can be taken orally or applied topically, or both. Unfortunately, these types of products only treat the itching symptoms but do not help the rash heal more quickly . Antihistamines, generally offer only mild relief from the symptoms of poison ivy, but if taken before bedtime their combination of anti-allergy and drowsiness-inducing effects can help you get some rest.
• Try hydrocortisone cream. However, some people find that hydrocortisone cream makes the symptoms worse in the long run. While the ingredients work for several hours, these creams tend to moisturize the skin at a time when drying provides longer-lasting relief.
• Apply calamine lotion. As the Coasters said in their immortal song Poison Ivy, “You’re gonna need an ocean / of calamine lotion.” Calamine lotion can ease the itching and soothe blistered skin. Apply regularly and liberally.

Did you know that one of the most dangerous Do-It-Yourself projects is climbing a ladder? Good thing GutterBrush helps you stay OFF that ladder when it comes to cleaning out your gutters. This year 43 million homeowners will take on 57 million home improvement projects. Of those intrepid folks, one in five will be injured, according to the Home Safety Council. Here are five of the most common do-it-yourself mishaps—and how to avoid them.

Climbing a ladder

Falls from ladders and stools sent over 246,733 Americans to hospital emergency rooms in 2009 (the last year for which full statistics are available) according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Experts from the CPSC, HSC and Consumer Reports recommend the following:

• Use the right ladder for the job. Always select a height that doesn’t require you to reach up or out in a way that destabilizes the ladder; keep your belt buckle centered between the rails.
• Set up your ladder on a firm, level surface. With an extension ladder, the base should be one foot away from the wall for every four feet the ladder reaches up.
• Use your stepladder only in the open, A-shaped position and lock the spreaders.
• Don’t step above the labeled maximum height. Beyond that point, the odds of an accident increase significantly.

Mowing the lawn

Lawn mower-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms totaled 86,000 in 2009. The most common injuries were caused by debris, such as rocks and branches, being thrown by the mower’s spinning blades. Here’s what to do:

• Send the kids into the house or well away from the area you are mowing.
• Check the lawn for debris (twigs, rocks and other objects).
• Wear sturdy shoes with sure-grip soles, never sneakers, sandals or bare feet.
• Never refuel the mower when it is running or while the engine is hot.

Using power tools

Home power tools resulted in 83,204 emergency room admissions in 2009. The most common injuries involve cuts, especially to the fingers and hands. The Power Tool Institute recommends.

• Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry that could become entangled in moving parts.
• Unplug the power cord before you change a part or do any trouble-shooting on a tool that is jammed or won’t start.
• Wear safety glasses with side shields.

Working with paints and other chemicals

Accidents involving paints, solvents, lubricants and cleaning agents caused 53,907 emergency room admissions in 2009. Injuries often include chemical burns and breathing problems. Here’s how to avoid mishaps:

• Store and use pool chemicals according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Gasoline is dangerous inside a home or garage—vapors can explode with just a tiny spark.
• Keep chemicals and cleansers in their original containers and don’t mix them.
• Wear gloves, goggles and masks if the product’s label says to do so.

Using a chain saw

Chain saw accidents sent 26,593 to the emergency room in 2009. Kickback—where the tip of the saw snaps up and back toward the user—is involved in one in four injuries. Cuts to hands, fingers, legs and feet are typical and usually require multiple stitches. Here’s how to stay safe.

• Wear eye and ear protection, gloves, tight-fitting clothing, cut-resistant leg chaps, boots, and a hard hat with a protective face screen.
• Grip the saw with both hands and keep both feet firmly on the ground.
• Saw only tree limbs you can reach from the ground while holding the saw below your shoulders.
• Avoid sawing with the tip of the chain and bar, where kickback typically occurs.

You’ve got a few extra minutes so you grab your watering can and dump a bunch of water on your dry flowers. Simple enough.

Or is it? If you water your annual and perennial flowers badly, you’ll waste time – and have sickly plants. Water them well and you’ll save yourself time and be rewarded with healthy, beautiful blooms.

1. Water early in the day. Watering in the cool of morning (even before dawn) minimizes evaporation if you’re using a sprinkler. It also allows foliage to dry off quickly, preventing fungal diseases.
2. Avoid wetting the blooms. Some blooms close up if wet or fall off in a hard spray.
3. Water occasionally and deeply rather than often and lightly. You want water to soak in as deeply as possible, encouraging the plant to send down deep roots. The soil should be moist to the bottom of the plant’s roots when you insert your finger into the soil.
4. Learn to look for signs of dryness before flowers wilt, including a loss of sheen on leaves and hard soil surrounding the plant. Never let flowers wilt. This weakens them and makes them more prone to a host of diseases.
5. Check flowers in containers once or even twice a day, since they can need watering that often in hot, sunny or windy weather.
6. Let technology help you. If you have difficulty keeping up with watering needs, check out your local garden center’s supplies of soaker hoses, drip emitters (including some for containers), and timers to connect to your outdoor faucet. Or try adding water-absorbing polymer crystals to your containers – the crystals can cut watering needs significantly.
7. Mulch. Not only does this suppress weeds, but it keeps the soil around your flowers cool and moist, minimizing the need for water.

Helpful Tips

• In optimum (loamy) soil conditions, most plants need 1 to 2 inches of water per week.
• As you design and plant your garden, try to cluster plants according to watering needs.
• Avoid planting flowers whose watering needs will be difficult to keep up with. If you live in New Mexico, for example, it’s silly to fight nature by planting water-guzzling plants. Source: eHow.com

Storms are a natural part of summer. After a storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, take stock of your home and repair any minor damage caused by the storm. Repairing minor problems quickly can help ensure they don’t evolve into major headaches.

The home improvement and maintenance experts at Lowe’s offer some guidelines for assessing and dealing with storm damage:

Checking the roof

Your roof and gutters will often take the brunt of a storm’s power. After a storm, check out roof shingles by walking slowly around your home and inspecting from the ground. Use a good pair of binoculars to look for lifting or missing shingles around the edges, valleys, plumbing and furnace vent pipes and the chimney.

You can also inspect your roof from inside the attic. Discoloration of the decking or plywood surface of the roof could signal problems. And if you can see light coming in around plumbing vents or the chimney, it means the flashing needs to be repaired or replaced.

Roof repairs can be difficult and dangerous for homeowners, even if you’re an adept do-it-yourselfer. So be careful when climbing on your roof to inspect damage, especially after a storm when damage is unknown. Ask for professional help at your local home improvement store if you have any doubt about your abilities. You can also visit www.Lowes.com/roofing for more information about patching or replacing your roof.

Maintaining your gutters

Clogged gutters and downspouts can keep water from being carried away from your roof. Follow this gutter health checklist for obvious signs of failing gutters:

• Gutter hanging off the roof
• Downspout disconnected from the gutter or house
• Missing gutters
• Water in the basement or elsewhere inside the house
• Leaking or dripping gutter seams
• Overflowing gutters

Gutter damage usually takes one of three forms – holes, cracks or sags. You can easily repair minor sags or pin-sized holes yourself. If careful inspection reveals a pinhole, use an abrasive pad to clean the area. Then, cut a piece of material – the same kind as the gutters – that is 1 inch larger than the hole on all sides. Using a stiff brush, spread a bit of gutter repair compound on the area around the hole and place your patch over the top. Cover the patch with another layer of compound to ensure a good seal.

To repair minor sags, simply add a new hanging bracket to the sagging area or replace an existing one if it’s old or damaged. Screw in the bracket until the gutter is back in proper alignment. Be sure to use hanging brackets that are designed for your type of gutter system.

Cracks or more serious gutter damage may require professional help.

Read more of this terrific article over at the Bonners Ferry Herald.