Posts Tagged ‘gutter’

Selling something? Maybe trying to sell your house? Here is the fourth of our top 5 projects to boost your home’s value for resale.

July 28th, 2010

Have you already decided to move rather than remodel only to realize, like so many others in the same boat, you are still thinking about remodeling anyway? Why? To make your house more appealing to would-be buyers, cut the time it takes to sell it and maybe even get more cash in hand when you sell is why. While you’re remodeling that other part of the house why not tuck in a new master bedroom suite above the addition? You’ll get all of your money back when you eventually sell your house, right?

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 fourth project of five to potentially boost your home’s resale value is a mid-range siding replacement. This more modest variation our first ranked project (upscale siding) includes replacing 1,250 square feet of siding with new vinyl siding and trim.

Average payback: 95.5 percent of cost
Estimated job cost: $7,239
National average resale value: $6,914

The value of this project is in its immediate curb appeal: New siding cleans up a house quickly. However, vinyl may not be appropriate and could actually detract from a home’s value in historic neighborhoods or upscale areas where traditional wood siding is still the preferred material.


No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Summer chores need to get done. So paint and clean those gutters.

June 7th, 2010

As the weather keeps getting warmer, home improvement projects keep getting added to many people’s to-do lists. From cleaning out gutters to painting to cleaning the house from top to bottom, the project list seems never ending. Here are some new tools and tips to make the most common summer home improvement projects a breeze so you can enjoy the warm weather with family and friends.

1. Painting Projects

Once you’ve determined whether you are doing simple indoor touch-ups or completely changing the paint scheme outside of your home, you need the right tools to help make the job easier and mess-free.  For bigger projects use a ladder pail that makes larger painting projects a snap. Fill the pail with up to a gallon of paint and attach it to your ladder with a fixed bracket. This tool prevents you from making multiple trips up and down the ladder.

2. Gutter Cleaning

Cleaning out gutters can be an annoying task, especially when using all sorts of homemade contraptions that dangle from ladders or sit unsteadily on rooftops. Be sure to use a large spoon or specific gutter cleaning scoop to get the debris out. Use water to loosen up caked on dirt and use a gutter scoop to remove. Make sure to flush your gutters with water once you’ve removed the debris — it’ll help them flow during those inevitable summer showers! You might also want to consider using a gutter protection system at the time you clean out your gutters.

Finally, while you’re working on your summer home improvement projects, make it fun! Open the windows, put on some music, and let the warming sun motivate you to get through the tasks so you can enjoy doing something else.

3 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Water from the sky to be collected to use on the land. Genius.

April 20th, 2010

All of this rain gives you an opportunity to give your garden a nice hearty drink without chipping away at your efforts to conserve water and save money. Maybe it is time you consider a rain barrel and begin collecting the runoff from your gutters that would otherwise go to waste and even hurt your landscaping and cause leaking around foundations?

Although any old 55-gallon drum or keg will do, there’s no reason to litter your yard with these unsightly relics. Instead, give your local water department a call because many towns and municipalities now offer water barrels free of charge to local residents in an effort to increase sustainability and decrease public water supply usage. Those that don’t often hold workshops on other ways to conserve water, or offer incentives to citizens willing to secure barrels on their own.

If you are into DIY projects you can even make your own rain collection system  for very short money. Just be sure you correctly position them underneath your gutters’ downspouts to maximize the collection of runoff during the next rainfall. But remember, even if you filter it first, the water you collect is better suited for drenching thirsty garden than satisfying a thirsty throat.

If you’d rather just buy a rain barrel, there are some really neat ones available online at www.aquabarrel.com

Good luck!

collecting water from teh sky to be used on the ground.

Collecting water from the sky to be used on the ground.

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Moisture is the enemy! We must contain the enemy to the outside!

April 13th, 2010

We have seen a significant increase in finished basements being used as living rooms and bedrooms especially as families become more extended due in part to the current financial situation. Therefore, using this usually reserved storage space for living areas can result in problems that can be both annoying and uncomfortable humidity, but can also cause significant health problems for those who live and spend time in them. Mildew and mold can easily occur and flourish in damp areas as well as in carpets and upholstery. Completing a basement before taking the actual water issues, if any, present can easily lead to the creation of health problems and/or substantial damage to the building itself. Well then, where does the water come from?

If the area near the foundation is not level or slopes toward the house, it is most likely that the water will be directed towards the foundation and into the basement. Often the earthen floor next to the house’s foundation is filled without proper compaction and/or drainage plans. To correct this one needs to grade the earth around the house away from the foundation wall, not less than one inch per foot for at least six feet.

Gutters and downspouts are also very important to keeping water out of the basement living space. These systems keep the water from running down the side of the house and pooling around the foundation followed by seeping into the basement. It is important to keep the downspouts emptying far enough away from the home so that this water penetration is less likely to occur.  There are other components to keeping the basement dry but they fall outside of the scope of this author’s technical and practical skillset. However, you can find this information quite easily on the world wide web.  Stay dry this spring and keep your property protected as well!

3 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Oil prices are going up and up and up but GutterBrush pricing holds steady!

April 5th, 2010

Oil prices surged to the highest level in a year and a half recently, after data showed the United States added the most jobs in three years, boosting prospects for economic recovery in the top oil consumer. However, The GutterBrush Guys, LLC. are able to hold their prices steady for the very important and active gutter protection Spring and Fall months.

1 comment »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

We hope you find this spring cleaning checklist helpful.

March 24th, 2010

We hope you find this spring cleaning checklist helpful.

Home cleaning and maintenance is an essential rite of spring, like adjusting your clocks one hour ahead. Preparing a checklist for spring cleaning puts you in a forward-thinking mode, letting you both enjoy your home in the present and enhance its future resale value.

The GutterBrush Guys hope that the following ideas help you get started with both your outdoor and indoor spring cleaning.

OUTDOORS

  • Roof: Check for any damage incurred during the winter season, such as loose, broken or missing shingles. Arrange for a roofing professional to perform a thorough inspection and make any necessary repairs.
  • Gutters and downspouts: Remove any leaves, dirt and debris left over from winter. Make sure that water drains away from your home to protect the foundation.
  • Siding and foundation: Repair any broken masonry or lifting siding. Fill in or caulk any areas where insects could get inside the house to nest. Power-wash siding yourself or hire a professional to give it a thorough cleaning.
  • External water taps: Hook up the garden hose and turn on the tap to make sure everything’s running properly and to check the water pressure.
  • Outdoor lighting and landscaping: Test all outdoor light fixtures and replace light bulbs. Sweep away winter debris and dead leaves. Rake the ground (take care around newly sprouted plants and flowers) to aerate the soil. Prune shrubs and tree branches as needed.
  • Porches and decks: Check for peeling paint, broken masonry and splintering or rotting boards. Rent a power washer for a thorough cleaning. Apply sealant, re-stain or re-paint as needed. Bring out and clean patio furniture.

INDOORS

  • Windows and doors: Wash the windows until they sparkle and replace storms with screens.
  • Air conditioners and humidifiers: Install individual room air conditioners or, if you have central air conditioning, hire a professional to clean and service it. Test all equipment to make sure it’s running smoothly. Turn off all humidifiers.
  • Air ducts and vents: Vacuum your air vents to keep them clear of dust and debris. Consider hiring a professional to thoroughly clean your air ducts.
  • Faucets and plumbing: Check for any leaking pipes or dripping faucets and have them repaired or replace washers where necessary. Remove calcium deposits from faucets and showerheads.
  • Cabinetry and drawers: Tighten loose knobs and wobbly doors. Repair or sand down drawers that stick.
  • Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: Test to ensure all detectors are operating properly and replace all batteries.
  • Kitchen and medicine cabinets: Take inventory and discard any canned, jarred or packaged goods and medications that are past their expiration dates.
  • Mattresses: Rotate and flip your mattresses to help prevent sagging and increase their life span.
  • Rugs and carpets: Send area rugs out to be dry-cleaned. Have carpets cleaned professionally or rent a machine and do it yourself.
  • Clothing: Pack away winter clothing and dig your summer clothes out of storage. This is also a perfect opportunity to prune your wardrobe. Get rid of items you haven’t worn in the last three years. Donate them to charity or organize a neighborhood yard sale.
  • China, glassware and silverware: Set aside half a day to clean, wash and polish those unused dishes and glasses that have been sitting on shelves collecting dust.

Spend some time cleaning now and you will be able to enjoy a carefree spring and summer!

5 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

While Passengers Must Pay $8 for Blankets and a Pillow on American Airlines The GutterBrush Guys, LLC. Are Keeping Prices At 2009 Levels!

February 9th, 2010

So now passengers must pay upwards of $8  for a blanket and pillow on American Airlines? An interesting business strategy would be to lobby the TSA to prohibit passengers from bringing their own blankets and pillows to drive revenue from this new plan. While charging for what used to be included in the price is becoming the norm in many industries it is good to be able to hold our pricing here at GutterBrush Guys, LLC. to 2009 levels. Perhaps the airlines could learn a thing or two from us. Unlikely seeing that American Airlines announced, without any fanfare last week, that it would eliminate free blankets in coach and sell an $8 packet that includes a pillow and blanket starting on the first of May this year.

Why would a company that does business in an increasingly reviled industry make this type of move? It seems that American Airlines predicated its decision on consumer surveys. Wait. We are supposed to believe that customers said they were in favor of this added charge in an an increasingly less than enjoyable consumer experience on the airline with the worst-in-the-nation on-time performance, deplorable acumen in baggage-handling or the grotesque state of its fleet of aircraft? Forgive me but I remain skeptical.

While other airlines also charge for various items to make flights more comfortable it seems that no one is asking the consumer what they want. If they did they would likely find out what we have discovered. People want to be treated fairly and with honesty as well as getting the product they were promised. There is no room for deception or taking advantage of your customer base and their disposable income pool. Perhaps when more customers abandon those companies that deliver a less than stellar customer experience those that do will have a chance to shine brighter than ever before. Until then enjoy your $8 blanket and pillow.

7 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

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

February 8th, 2010

Super bowl

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.

1 comment »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Making a splash in Los Angeles by capturing and reusing rainwater runoff.

February 1st, 2010

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?

3 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags: