Many people, especially first-time home buyers, may be unaware of the amount of work and number of responsibilities that accompany home ownership. Some responsibilities, like making sure lawns are cut and watered, can be accomplished with a little bit of hard work on the part of a homeowner. Other responsibilities, such as ensuring that a septic system or water main is functioning correctly, carry significant potential financial components, as well as an investment of time and a commitment to master, often new, information required to understand given situations.
In Search Of The Perfect Home
Given this, it is not surprising that, to some, the ultimate goal of all home improvements appears to be to create a completely maintenance-free home. However, is this truly an attainable, or even desirable, goal? Worry-free rain gutters Sterling Heights MI based, and through the nation, might not be possible, given the unpredictable nature of the natural environment.
For example, American Roofing and Vinyl offers seemingly complete service installing “rain gutter covers, screens and leaf protection.” It is noted that American Roofing and Vinyl is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, with whom it carries an A+ rating.
Guards And Screen Require Maintenance
The problem with gutter covers and screens purporting to offer protection from blockages is that it is possible for the covers and screens to become blocked, causing water to sit or flow incorrectly. Like rain gutters themselves, covers and screens need to be checked and cleared periodically to ensure peak performance. In many cases, solutions to make rain gutters worry free are effective, though they require maintenance comparable to what is required to properly maintain the gutters and downspouts they are protecting.
Next to ensuring that rain gutters work to allow water to flow freely and direct it away from the building, the next most important step homeowners can take toward achieving worry-free gutters is to start right, with seamless steel, aluminum, or copper stock.
No Seams Means No Leaks
Some do-it-yourself kits offer gutter made of vinyl, seen as an inferior choice, as well as aluminum and steel. Almost all DIY gutter kits include pre-cut lengths of trough, necessitating seams at regular intervals along long runs. This increases the difficulty of achieving a consistently downward-sloping pitch, as well as introducing seams, which increase the chances of leaks.
A seamless gutter system, protected with covers and screens, is likely among the most worry-free solutions available, with the caveat that, in most instances, it will not be completely maintenance free. Regular inspection of gutter systems, particularly during a rain storm, or by simulating one with a garden hose, can save potentially thousands down the road in water damage. Watch to see if water is flowing smoothly from the roof into gutters, around the entire house, and that the amount of water exiting downspouts is consistent with the amount flowing from your roof. Disparities should be investigated; water not flowing out from downspouts could be entering your home and causing unknowable damage.