Importance of Gutters

Kylie Wiser • March 9, 2018

One of the natural elements that can create havoc on anyone’s house is rainwater. How can you maintain the magnificence of you house if you encounter heavy rain water which you know can eventually damage any part of your house in one way or another. If you want to have a house that is in good condition, start minding the gutters.

Gutters are devices that collect water which comes off the roof. Building officials, in recent years, across the country acknowledges the importance of having gutters. In fact several municipalities around the country are requiring gutters on all new residential constructions. Gutters direct water away from your home and its foundation.

Gutters serve many purposes, and there are reasons why you should need these for your home. For example, regular gutters cleaning ensures that leaves and other debris do not clog the gutters.

Aside from this, there are other key reasons why having gutters at home is relevant. Here are some of them.


AVOIDING FOUNDATION PROBLEMS
When it is raining, it is normal for water to move toward the foundation of your home. This can be avoided, fortunately, if you have protective gutters which can deflect falling rain from your roof. Consequently, you can prevent having wet ground and stop any damage to your house. Foundation problems caused by rain include personal respiratory infections due to breathing in the mold, cracking of molds and weakening of foundations.

PREVENTING FLOODING
Aside from affecting the foundation of your home, rain water can also leak into the basement resulting in flooding. Basement flooding results in as much as $3 billion in home insurance claims every year, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. Repairing a “minor” flood-damaged basement will cost an average amount of $10, 000. However, with regard to heavy rain, the damage can cause damage anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000. To avoid any of these unwanted expenses, you need to have a good waterproofing strategy that includes gutters.


PREVENTING WATER DAMAGE TO SIDING
Excess water can also damage the siding of a home. The moisture can promote mold and mildew growth. If water gets underneath the protective wrap of the siding, it may be difficult to tell if the moisture has impacted the siding until it has caused significant damage.

PREVENTING CRACKING TO SIDEWALKS AND/OR DRIVEWAYS
Excess rain can pour in torrents off a roof and damage anything in its path, from landscaping to sidewalks and driveways, resulting in cracking and instability. Through gutters, the rain has a controlled pathway to exit the home, minimizing any potential damage.


OTHER BENEFITS
Apart from the above-mentioned importance of gutters, there are more benefits you can get from having gutters on your house. There are other reasons why rain gutters are so important:
● Stability of soil around the house
● Prevention of erosion which preserve landscaping and turf
● Prevention of stone masonry and water staining on brick
● Preservation of exterior and garage overhead doors

GUTTER MAINTENANCE
Gutters play a significant role in maintaining your house. Yet, there are still things that you must keep in mind in order for it to continue to function. Gutters must also undergo maintenance. Rain gutters require work. Keeping it clean and in order is the homeowner’s responsibility. Therefore, you have to be vigilant and not be complacent thinking that these gutters will do everything. If you do not clean it, chances are, you will encounter the following problems:
● Water damming will occur and which causes damage to eaves
● Leaking of water into the house which causes damage to walls and flooring
● Mosquitoes breed in the standing water
● Leaves in gutters can be a fire hazard
● Gutters deteriorate which causes leaks and eventual failure
● Low sloped roofs require more frequent cleaning

PROPERLY INSTALLED GUTTERS
An important note that you should consider is to always make sure that the gutters you have are installed correctly. Majority of houses don’t have a properly installed gutter system which allows water to leak and create some serious damage to the house.

With all of this information, misconceptions and the many mistakes homeowners are making about gutters will be avoided. Prevent any cases of mistakes that can cause damage to your home.

 Fall Home Maintenance To-Do’s

By Kylie Wiser • October 5, 2018
Fall is a great time to touch up your house on all fronts before winter arrives. Summer weekend getaways happen on a less frequent occurrence, giving you more time to maintain the quality and integrity of your house. With this being the first full week of fall, here are some maintenance tips to help you out:

Reasons Why You Should Install A Fence Around Your Property

By Kylie Wiser • September 17, 2018
The fence installed around your property, home, farm or even school is the first thing that people will see when they visit. You have to install a fence that stands out from the rest. The fence should also be maintenance- free. There are various types of fences in the market including wood, vinyl, chain-link, farm, and aluminum ones.

TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR HOME SIDING

By Kylie Wiser • July 30, 2018
Siding is one of the most important parts of the home improvement plan that a homeowner can think of. Different materials used for siding are vinyl, wood, stucco, and fiber cement. In most American cities, it can be seen that different siding materials are used in various houses. Each has their set of rules for proper upkeep, and most importantly some of these materials require more maintenance than others.

How do you know when it's time to paint your house? 

By Kylie Wiser • June 6, 2018
Taking care of your home, including keeping up on the maintenance of your painted interior and exterior walls, is one of the most important things you can do to keep its value up.

5 Home Maintenance Tips for Summer

By Kylie Wiser • May 23, 2018
The long days of summer are the perfect time to catch up on several annual home maintenance activities. These can often be done in one weekend, with plenty of time leftover to enjoy the sun. Plus going through this list can save you time, money and headaches down the road!

4 SUMMER ROOFING TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME COOL

By Kylie Wiser • May 3, 2018
Pool parties, BBQs, fireworks, trips to the beach and road trips all have one thing in common — they’re all summer activities. To some, summer is the best season of the year. One thing no one can disagree with is that with the summer months comes summer weather. As the summer heat is here to stay, there are a few things you can do to prepare your home for the grueling summer heat and help keep your home cool. The attic is an area of the home that can easily be forgotten or overlooked, but it is one of the biggest contributing factors to helping keep your home cool during the summer heat. An attic can easily reach temperatures up to 150 during the peak of summer if not properly insulated and maintained. Although you’re not going to be spending much time in your attic, that heat can still make your air conditioning work much harder than it should. Due to the summer heat, one thing all homeowners should be on the lookout for in their attic is moisture. Moisture affecting plywood your attic can lead to mold if not treated as quickly and effectively as possible. Mold damage can leads to major cost repairs if untreated over time. Here are four tips to make sure your attic and roof are ready for the summer heat: Make sure drains and roof gutters are clean and clear of debris – Gutters with debris stuck in them cause flooding and overflow on your roof. Unchecked gutters can lead to major damage if not addressed immediately. Make sure exhaust vents are working properly – Making sure your attic is properly ventilated allows cold air to flow me freely as well as allow more hot air to leave the attic; lowering the temperature of the entire house. Check for small signs of damage in the attic and roof – Small signs can turn into large problems if not monitored or treated properly. If you’re unaware what to look for, give us a call here at Owens Construction Services. We can come out and professionally inspect your roof and inform you of things to keep an eye out for. Look for missing, damaged and loose shingles – Damaged, loose or missing shingles can be an early indicator that your roof may be in need of major repair or replacement. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to have their roof and attic professionally inspected twice a year. Owens Construction Services are happy to provide roofing inspections for interested parties.

FALL PROJECTS

By Kylie Wiser • September 27, 2017
Fall Project #1 – Roof Repair or Replacement There’s nothing worse than the drip, drop, plop of a leaky roof and ugly water stains on ceilings at Thanksgiving. And the last thing you want is dad falling through the roof while trying to hang Christmas lights. So, before the heavy winter weather comes pouring down, you might want to think about a fall roof job. Fall timing couldn’t be better! The extreme heat of the summer is gone and roofs can be replaced much faster and you won’t have to worry about losing as much cool air while having it replaced. If your roof is leaking or not up to holding the weight of snow, roof replacement or repair could be dangerous. Don’t get caught this winter in freezing temperatures trying to fix something that could be prevented now! Fall Project #2 – Window Replacement Fall is the absolute perfect time to have your windows replaced. Could you imagine going through another winter like the last with the old windows you have now? Do you feel a draft near windows, or can you hear the wind whip and whistle through them? Can you see condensation on the window or do you remember it being there last winter? Give your heater a break this winter and save a ton on your utility bill by replacing those old, ugly, outdated windows!!

Roof Maintenance Tips for Fall

By Kylie Wiser • September 27, 2017
When the weather turns colder, the last thing homeowners want is to deal with a leaky, ill-maintained roof. You can preserve the integrity of your roof all winter long by following these easy roof maintenance tips during the fall months.