Gutter Maintenance (October 13, 2001):

When was the last time you checked your gutters? Fall is the time to start thinking about the outside of your house and how the changing seasons will affect it. In the area of home maintenance, gutters are easily the most neglected item. Make a point of cleaning out your gutters this fall. Even if you don't have leaves to deal with, gutters can collect gravel from the roof and other objects. Whenever working with gutters, think safety. If you’re using a ladder, make sure it is solid. Do not get up on the roof if it is very steep. There are several new tools on the market to make this easier. You may have seen the water blaster on TV. They make it look simple, but this is just a great way to get a dirty bath. One of the best ways to clean out the gutters is to get an air blower with a gutter attachment. Home Hardware carries Stihl blowers and gutter attachments for them. We also carry several other brands of gutter attachments. Make sure you know the brand of your blower and the model number. Not all brands have gutter attachments that will fit. Using a gutter attachment works best if you don't let your gutters get filled with mud and debris. If you are going to use the gutter blaster or a blower, make sure to wear eye protection.

After cleaning the gutters, stop up the down spouts and flood the troughs to pinpoint any leaks. Repair any leaks with gutter mastic to prevent them from growing worse. The freeze, thaw cycles of winter will only aggravate the situation. Another thing that works well is to paint the inside of your gutters with liquid roof coating, and putting mesh roof patch around the seams and joints. Another thing to check is that the down spouts have extensions on them that are efficient at getting the water away form the foundation of your house. Have a great fall!