The GutterBrush Blog

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.

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

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

It’s officially mosquito season and you know what that means: doomsday news reports about West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is most commonly associated with the Culex mosquito. Hot, dry weather and stagnant water are the two main ingredients that prized by the Culex.  As temperatures rise, we usually begin to see our first human cases in July or August.

“Now is a good time to get out and inspect your yard for items such as old tires and clogged gutters, where stagnant water can accumulate. These are the types of areas that provide the ideal breeding spots for the Culex mosquito,” said Paul Kuehnert, executive director of the Kane County Health Department. “By identifying problem areas now, you will be able to protect yourself later in the summer.”

Last year, five cases were reported in people in Kane County. In 2009, an unusually mild summer with cool temperatures, there were no human cases of West Nile Virus reported in Kane County. There were three cases of the virus reported in 2008. In 2007 there were 13, four in 2006, 17 in 2005, two in 2004, zero in 2003 and nine in 2002.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.

Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. Persons older than 50 have the highest risk of severe disease.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present.
• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
• Change water in birdbaths weekly. Properly maintain wading pools and stock ornamental ponds with fish. Cover rain barrels with 16-mesh wire screen. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Kane County Health Department’s website, the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website. People also can call the IDPH West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Source: Patch

Using good painting techniques is key to achieving professional-looking results. Another tip is to use enough paint. Get into the habit of going to the paint can often. Let the paint do the work, and you’ll save time and get the finish you want.

Using a Brush

1. Hold a brush near the base of the handle.
2. Dip half the bristles into the paint and tap on the lip of the can. Don’t wipe it on the side.
3. Paint with enough pressure to bend the bristles slightly — don’t bear hard on the brush.

Using a Roller

1. Roll the roller slowly into the paint in the tray. Then, roll it back and forth until roller cover is evenly coated with paint.
2. Roll onto the tray’s ridges to remove excess paint.
3. For smooth surfaces: Cover about a two-foot-square using the N pattern shown. Cross roll to spread the paint. Finish, with light roller strokes in one direction, at a right angle to the cross roll.

Painting Double-Hung Windows

1. For double-hung windows move each sash to the center of its track and paint the inside sash, starting with the crossbars. Then, paint the frame. Don’t paint the top edge of the inside sash; you’ll use it to move the sash. Next, paint the top half of the outside sash, starting with the crossbar, then the frame.
2. Close the sashes to within several inches of the closed position. Paint the rest of the outer sash and the top edge of the inner sash. Paint the window casing, then the sill.
3. Paint the check rails. Move both sashes down as far as they will go, then paint the upper rails. Once the paint is thoroughly dry, move both sashes up and paint the lower rails of the window.

Casement or Awning Windows

1. Open the windows and paint the top, side and bottom edges.
2. Finish with the crossbars, frame, casings and the sills.

Paneled Doors

1. First remove all hardware or cover it with masking tape. If paint does get on metal parts, wipe it up immediately with a soft cloth.
2. Start by painting the panels, working from top to bottom. For each panel, paint panel molding first, then the interior, using up and down strokes with your brush.
3. Next, paint the rest of the door, finishing with the outer edges. If the door swings out, paint the hinged edge. If the door swings in, paint the lock-side edge.

Flush Doors

1. Paint the edges first.
2. Then fill in the center area, working from top to bottom.
3. Finish with the frame and jamb.

There are a number of plumbing repairs that require immediate attention. Chief among these is a clogged drain. Everyone knows the inconvenience and mess that accompany a sluggish drain. Even so, many people wait until the drain stops completely before they take corrective action. Sometimes a clog can be cleared with a simple homemade remedy.

If you have a moderately clogged drain, try this homemade drain cleaner: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Be careful. The two ingredients interact with foaming and fumes, so replace the drain cover loosely. Let the concoction set for about three hours before running water.

If you know the slow drain is from grease, try this treatment: Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a teakettle of boiling water. Allow to sit overnight.

You can keep your drains clog-free and odorless by using the following homemade noncorrosive drain cleaner weekly. Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup table salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Stir ingredients together thoroughly and pour into a clean, covered jar. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain, and immediately add 1 cup boiling water. Wait 10 seconds, then flush with cold water. Flushing weekly with a generous amount of boiling water also works well.

Squirrels are wily little rodents noted for being able to outsmart just about anyone who tries to deny them access to bird feeders. Squirrels can walk on wire, jump almost 4 feet straight up, leap 10 feet across, and climb almost anything.

1. Contact a bird-feeding specialty store either in person, by phone or online, and ask about “squirrel-proof” bird feeders.
2. Purchase a recommended feeder.
3. Buy or make a squirrel baffle if you intend to mount the feeder on a post. A baffle is designed to foil squirrels that can jump or climb onto the feeder from the ground.
4. Mount feeder on post and add baffle according to instructions. Or,
5. Mount your feeder in the middle of a long wire that extends from your house to a tree in your yard.
6. String empty film canisters, empty plastic soda bottles, sections of hose, old vinyl records, spools of thread, or PVC pipe all along the wire. Use any objects that will cause squirrels to slip off the wire if they walk on it.
7. Try providing squirrels with their own feeding station if all else fails, and give them whole dried corn and seeds that they like.

Tips & Warnings

• One of the most successful squirrel baffles, the Pole Mount Cylindrical Squirrel Baffle, is made by ERVA.
• Putting grease or oil on poles sometimes prevents squirrels from climbing.
• Try enclosing the entire feeder in a wire cage that denies access to squirrels, but allows birds in.
• If you are bitten by a squirrel, seek medical attention immediately.

Ever wanted to spiff up your backyard with a nice wooden fence? Perhaps you need to keep your dog from wandering or the deer from eating your newly-planted flowers. Luckily, there are a ton of great videos available for free to teach you how to best install that new fence this Summer. Here’s some of our favorites!

When it comes to your safety, snow sucks. Sure it’s great to look at, take pictures of, ski down, and throw at friends and / or enemies. However, if you see that your roof has a foot of snow on it and it’s not melting… you may start to get concerned. Luckily, GutterBrush helps get the melted snow (water) safely and quickly down your drain. But what about when you don’t have GutterBrush (gasp!) or the snow is simply not going to melt anytime soon.

It’s Not Worth A Trip To The Hospital

There is a simple way to remove snow from your roof. It doesn’t cost much and you don’t have to climb up onto your roof. However, you should know that no amount of snow is worth a trip to the hospital so be safe out there. Use a ladder when necessary, to pull snow from hard to reach places, but only with the help of a friend or neighbor. Ladders are unsturdy; you should never climb one without someone below you holding it still. Safety is, and should always be, your first priority. Don’t take any  chances with snow removal. It’s simply not worth it.

Ready for the amazing trick? Here goes:

The safest way to clean snow from your roof is with a snow rake. It’s basically a long pole with a flat piece of aluminum attached to the end. A snow rake is ideal for hooking snow and pulling it from the roof. You can build your own by welding a long pole-shaft to a flat piece of aluminum at a ninety degree angle, but for the less adept person, one can be bought on-line or at a local hardware store.

If you’re looking for an already-made snow rake or other ideas on removing snow, there are places that sell snow rakes online like TheRoofRake and other places that actually blast off your snow / ice with steam. (We are in no way affiliated with these companies but wanted to keep you in the know.)

It’s Exhausting

Raking away snow from your roof is very exhausting work but can be made easier by following a few simple steps:

• Use a layering method (short strokes) when raking, pulling the first six inches to a foot of snow off.
• Gradually work your way back from the roof ledge to the center.
• Don’t allow the rake end to come off the roof when pulling the snow over the ledge. By keeping the rake on the roof, you save time and effort as you work.

To protect shingles, don’t use the blade to break up the ice by dropping it against the roof. Without snow cover, ice will melt and flow into the gutter. You don’t have to remove every flake of snow, just enough to alleviate the pressure and weight of snow on your roof.

What Do You Think?

We want to hear your experiences with any of the products mentioned or simply get your advice on how to remove snow from a roof. We have about a foot on ours right now and any advice helps. Thanks!