Water often will build up in a clogged gutter, causing moisture problems with the roof edges and the soffits. When the problem is not remedied, the result may be rotted wood and decay of roof edges. Additionally, insects may infest these moist areas, causing problems with carpenter ants, termites and a variety of other wood dwelling insects. Mold and mildew may also become a problem.

Installing a gutter guard over the gutter system keeps leaves, twigs and other debris from preventing water flow to the downspouts. Water will drain through the gutter guard into the gutter and downspout, leaving the leaves and twigs on top, to be brushed off.

Cleaning rain gutters every year is not only tedious, but can be dangerous because it requires climbing a ladder and scooping out the buildup inside the gutter. If not done correctly, it can result in gutter damage. For many, climbing ladders is no longer safe, even after years of Do-it-Yourself home maintenance.

Gutter cleaning can be left to the experts, and there are many companies that will be glad to come and clean your gutters, for a price. The money you save by not paying someone to clean gutters could pay for the gutter guards that will best fit your system. Every system can accommodate gutter guards, no matter how old or from what materials they are made.

Not all gutter guards are priced the same, however, and it really pays to get gutter guards that are effective and affordable. Design and materials are important, as are installation costs. Many gutter guards systems are overpriced, but do the same exact job as the lower priced system.

Though we may be a little biased we know that you will find GutterBrush Gutter Guard’s simple design, price, do it yourself installation and effectiveness to meet your needs. We guarantee it.

The original gutterbrush simple gutter guard will save you time and you won’t have to worry about costly clogs in your downspouts. The product looks like a giant pipe cleaning brush and it sits in your rain gutter channel and acts as a barrier for leaves, twigs, seedpods and other debris while still letting water pass through freely and out the downspout.

Installation is simple and fast. The most difficult part is climbing the ladder up to your roof to set the original gutterbrush down inside of it. But that’s it…you’re done! More importantly they are easy to clean if you ever need to do so. All you have to do is climb back up that pesky ladder; pull the brushes out, remove the debris and put them right back into place.

Why spend a bunch of money if you don’t have to? Why spend a bunch of time cleaning something if you don’t have to? The original GutterBrush is very affordable and you can install it yourself in about an hour and a half and it lasts all year (studies have proven they can also keep your gutters from freezing in the winter). Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Don’t be fooled by imitations that are manufactured outside of the USA using sub standard materials. Insist on the original GutterBrush SImple Gutter Guard!

visit www.gutterbrush.com for more information about this great product.

Gutters perform one duty: controlling the water around your home. If debris keeps gutters from doing their job, you can wind up with some serious problems. By following these simple gutter cleaning tips, you can help avoid major and expensive home repairs.

• Leaking Gutters: Clogged gutters are the number one cause of basement water problems. When gutters are clogged, roof water overflows and accumulates around the foundation. If this happens, basement leaks may be moments away.
• Cracked Foundations: Clogged gutters can cause excess water against the foundation wall to weaken the footing and lead to foundation wall cracks. This is particularly true in the colder months when built-up water at the foundation freezes and causes a condition known as “frost-heave” which can cause severe cracks to foundation walls.
• Rotten Wood: Water backing up from clogged gutters will cause moisture damage to the wood fascia around the house. The rotted area will quickly get worse if the leak is not eliminated by cleaning the gutters.
• Leaking Roofs: In winter, ice dams can form on top of clogged gutters. Snow then builds up across the top of the clogged gutter and freezes. During the next thaw, water running off the roof is blocked by the frozen snow and backs up into the house. This can lead to major wall and ceiling damage.
• Slippery Sidewalks: Overflowing gutters can deposit water on walks and driveways where it can freeze and cause a tripping hazard. Avoid this problem by keeping gutters clean and the spouts extended away from any traffic areas.
• Cracked Driveways: Misdirected and clogged gutter spouts often cause driveways and walks to sag and crack.
• Washed Out Landscaping: Any newly installed plants, grass or trees can be killed by excess water from clogged gutters. Overflowing gutters can cause severe erosion and put an early end to young plantings.
• Wood Destroying Insects: Bugs love moisture. Keeping gutters free of clogs and keeping the soil dry around the foundation perimeter can force bugs to go elsewhere for a tasty snack of dampened two-by-four.

If you think your gutters need a good cleaning, here are some important tips to follow:

Safety First: If you are not comfortable with heights or don’t use tall ladders regularly, cleaning gutters is not a job for you. Consider hiring a handyman to help. If you decide to do the gutter cleaning job yourself, watch out for hidden hazards like electric lines and bee’s nests.

Clean Gutters: Using a ladder, work gloves and a hose, clear the gutters beginning at one end and moving to the other. Always work from the ladder and not from the roof, where you could fall off. If you find any loose gutter sections, tighten them up as you go along. It may help to have a supply of long lag bolts to use when replacing loose or missing gutter spikes. Lag bolts won’t pull out like spikes, so you usually don’t have to do this more than once.

Spray Spouts: When you get to the end of the gutter where the spout is, spray the hose down the gutter spout to make sure it’s clear. If the spout is clogged, water will back up and cause problems. Clearing clogged spouts can be a chore. Try removing the debris from both ends and flushing out the rest with a hose. If this doesn’t work you may need to take the spout apart to clear it. Once the spouts are clear, make sure the discharge end is extended at least 4 to 6 feet away from the house to avoid problems.

Install Gutter Guards: Once the gutter system is cleaned and properly adjusted, consider installing gutter guards such as GutterBrush to avoid a repeat performance in the future.

There are many types of gutter guards available. Filter types work very well. Screens can be effective in the short run but eventually allow debris to get through. Clogs will reoccur and can be even harder to clear since the screens will need to be removed first. Leaf blocking guards, which look like a metal louver that is installed above the gutter, are a more costly but more effective option at keeping leaves off gutters. The louvers allow water to leak into the gutter while washing leaves over the side.

No matter what gutter product you choose, it is important that you check gutters periodically as well as be mindful of signs of clogging like over-flowing in a rainstorm.  Maintaining a clean gutter is the single most effective way to avoid a whole host of serious and expensive problems.

First, it is the easy installment feature of GutterBrush that curries favor with the ladies. Many women are not very interested in technical features and thus, they tend to get easily bored with most talk about complex gutter protection systems that require professional installation or routine maintenance. GutterBrush harnesses  a simple design of repelling/blocking debris while allowing water to flow right on through. GutterBrush is so simple, there is not even a need for a sales representative to explain how the product works and how the product is installed. It can be done simply and easily.

The second reason is that GutterBrush greatly reduces any gutter maintenance needed to keep them working properly.  Any product that does not require daily or weekly cleaning is likely to be appealing to everyone. Thus, a gutter protection product such as GutterBrush that barely needs maintenance once or twice a year is certainly an irresistible product to the do it yourself homeowner and this obviously includes a large population of women who fit that bill.

The third reason this product is so very appealing is the price. Both men and women are probably very interested in economical products and services in these challenging times and Gutterbrush fits the bill on both counts. Other systems can cost thousands of dollars to purchase and then have installed where GutterBrush can be purchased and installed for only a few hundred dollars for the average sized home. The bottom line is that everyone can benefit from GutterBrush due to its being simple, affordable and effective.

As always, whenever you start a home improvement or maintenance project safety must always be in the forefront of your mind. that’s right, safety first. Always.

So many homeowners make the mistake of ignoring their gutters often at a very high cost to themselves. Because most gutters are well out of sight, people may not pay it much attention until the damage is done. Poorly maintained and ineffective gutters can lead to leaky roofs, damaged walls and unsightly water stains on your property stains. You can improve your chances of  preventing these things from happening by keeping your gutters protected with a gutter guard — but not just any gutter guard will do. You need to do some research to see what the best one is for your particular application. The best gutter guards are easy to install, remove and re-install.

This gives you flexibility, especially if you will be installing the product yourself. The cost of materials and installation of gutter guards can be quite expensive, depending on the brand, size and manufacturer… and the location of your home. If you buy gutter guards based solely on which set has the lowest price, you may end up spending more money than you intended. Not all gutter guards are created equal and low quality gutter guards are likely to get damaged too easily.

If you select only the best gutter guard, you can be assured that what you are buying is durable and reliable. Because it is top quality, you know that your home is protected and that you don’t have to worry about frequent maintenance or replacement. In the long run, you can save a good deal of money simply by investing on the best gutter guards you can buy.The design of the best gutter guards makes roof maintenance easier. Gutter guards are all designed to filter larger debris such as leaves and twigs from getting into your gutters.

Because most gutter guards have openings (usually slits or holes), they will eventually let in minute debris. However, since they significantly minimize the need to clean your gutters, you not only save on time and effort, you also save money in case you hire someone to do the cleaning for you.The best gutter guards come with extras. If you select only the best gutter guards, you will be assured that they will come with an extra service. Manufacturers frequently offer a maintenance service that includes periodic inspection and cleaning of your gutters.

That means you no longer have to climb to the roof of your home in order to inspect and hose down your gutters to unclog and keep them clean. Someone else will do it for you. Protect your gutters!

Not so fast. While many home-remodeling projects are a great way to add value to your home, not all of them are ironclad cash-back guarantees. Before you invest a significant amount of your precious home equity into remodeling projects, it’s wise to do a little homework on what kind of payback you can expect for various home projects in your area.

A good place to start is the Cost vs. Value report published annually by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Remodeling magazine. The report provides a synopsis of the top projects, the average costs of the projects and their average rate of investment return at resale. It also gives you a city-by-city guide on what various home projects will pay back at resale. Real estate experts caution that these numbers can differ significantly depending on your state, city or even neighborhood. So use these numbers as a starting point, but consider getting the advice of a Realtor and/or remodeling contractor before you commit to a big home project. These experts can familiarize you with remodeling payback figures tailored to your state, city., or town.

The third project of five to potentially boost your home’s resale value is a minor kitchen remodel. This consists of giving a functional, but dated, kitchen a makeover. It includes new cabinet doors and drawers (with cabinet boxes left in place), a moderately priced wall oven, cooktop, countertop, sink and faucet and resilient flooring.

Average payback: 98.5 percent of cost
Estimated job cost: $14, 913
National average resale value: $14,691

Along with bathrooms, kitchen updates are almost always among the smartest remodeling projects for resale value. Home buyers seem to gravitate to the kitchen first when they’re looking at a house and even appraisers give extra credit to houses with updated kitchens. However, homeowners can go too far. For example, they might put granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless-steel appliances in a very modestly priced house. Those improvements aren’t going to help the home’s value in the long run, and the owner definitely isn’t going to get their money back when they sell.

Not so fast. While many home-remodeling projects are a great way to add value to your home, not all of them are ironclad cash-back guarantees. Before you invest a significant amount of your precious home equity into remodeling projects, it’s wise to do a little homework on what kind of payback you can expect for various home projects in your area. A good place to start is the Cost vs. Value report published annually by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Remodeling magazine. The report provides a synopsis of the top projects, the average costs of the projects and their average rate of investment return at resale. It also gives you a city-by-city guide on what various home projects will pay back at resale. Real estate experts caution that these numbers can differ significantly depending on your state, city or even neighborhood. So use these numbers as a starting point, but consider getting the advice of a Realtor and/or remodeling contractor before you commit to a big home project. These experts can familiarize you with remodeling payback figures tailored to your state, city, or town.

Our first suggestion in the list of the top five projects to boost your home’s value for resale is to do an upscale siding (new fiber cement) replacement. Here is what you can expect this project to cost and yield:

Estimated job cost: $10,393 for 1,250 square feet
Average payback: 103.6 percent of cost
National average resale value: $10,771

Siding makes a huge difference in a house’s resale value, because it’s one of the first things you see. It really defines the condition of the home.  If other houses around you have old aluminum or vinyl siding and your siding is nicer and newer, buyers will notice you. With this project, you make your house more attractive — you’re not just improving your insulation value.

Next up on out list is a mid-range bathroom remodel but that will have to wait until the next time we meet here.

Making Spring Chores More Fun With The GutterBrush Guys, Ltd.

The GutterBrush Guys, Ltd. (www.gutterbrush.com) enjoy being outside and completing important home improvement/maintenance projects very much. But we are also always mindful of the safety of ourselves and those around us. Take a moment and consider taking health and safety precautions when raking the lawn, cleaning gutters and performing other outdoor chores. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) taking a few simple steps and precautions can keep you from becoming injured while out of doors doing chores this autumn. “Many people work vigorously in the yard during the spring season, and it often takes a toll on your body,” AAOS spokesman Dr. Laurence Laudicina, said in a news release from the academy. “Raking the lawn and cleaning out the gutters are popular seasonal chores that can lead to falls or strain to your back and upper body.” In 2008 in the United States, about 617,000 people suffered injuries caused by rakes, other outdoor garden supplies and ladders, the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission noted.

So to help everyone avoid becoming one of those statistics we wanted to pass along some of the tips presented by the AAOS:

•Warm up for at least 10 minutes with some stretching and light exercise before beginning work in the yard.

•Use a rake that’s comfortable for your height and strength. You can prevent blisters by wearing gloves or using a rake with a padded handle.

•Make sure that hats or scarves don’t block your vision, and watch out for large rocks, low branches, tree stumps or uneven surfaces.

•Vary your movements and alternate your leg and arm positions often. When picking up leaves, bend at the knees, not at the waist.

•Wear shoes or boots with slip-resistant soles.

•Don’t overfill leaf bags, especially if the leaves are wet. You should be able to carry bags comfortably.

•Don’t throw leaves over your shoulder or to the side. That kind of twisting motion places undue stress on your back.

•Inspect ladders for loose screws, hinges or rungs, and make sure it is free of mud, dirt or liquids.

•Make sure all ladder legs rest on a firm, level surface. Don’t use ladders on uneven ground or soft, muddy earth.

•Always face a ladder when climbing and descending.

•Confirm that the ladder is fully open and locked before you climb it.

•Angle ladders about 75 degrees from the ground.

•Don’t sit or stand on the top of the ladder or on its pail shelf.

•Use the right ladder for the job. Step stools or utility ladders are good for working at low or medium heights, while extension ladders should be used outdoors to reach high places.

Super Bowl ratings poised for all-time high this year!

Super Bowl XLIV may be one for the record books as some early estimates from CBS show the viewership from the game Sunday night rising from last year’s all-time high.

The New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts showdown drew a 46.4 overnight metered-market household rating and an impressive 68 share. That set of measures is up 10% from the household rating of last year’s Pittsburgh vs. Arizona epic battle, which was seen by a record 98.7 million viewers. In fact this Super Bowl could be the first sports program ever to eclipse the 100 million viewers threshold in the USA. If last night’s sporting event sets a new record, it will likely rank second in viewership only to 1983′s final episode of “M*A*S*H,” which holds the title of the most-watched TV event of all time with 121.6 million viewers.

In Los Angeles, CA all new homes, larger developments and some redevelopments will be required by law to capture and reuse water runoff generated by any rain producing storms. This ordinance will require such projects to capture, reuse or infiltrate 100% of runoff generated in a .75″ rainstorm or to pay a storm water pollution fine that would offset the cost of funding  low-impact public developments. This is an interesting and novel approach to offsetting the negative effects of large scale urbanization by minimizing runoff at its source with small, cost-effective natural systems instead of large and very costly treatment facilities. The process of reducing runoff improves water quality and recharges groundwater while in Los Angeles it will prevent 104 million gallons of polluted urban runoff from ending up in the ocean. The quality of the runoff water can be greatly increased by utilizing gutter protection systems that also act as filtration systems such as GutterBrush simple gutter guards. Clean runoff water can be used in ways that greatly reduce the usage of fresh water. Will the splash in LA be enough to carry over to other states, cities, and towns?