Gutter Guard or Not!

By Handy Andy

Only a few weeks ago I talked with my buddy Donny about cleaning his gutters.  He told me that he was really contemplating of having a gutter guards system installed on his house. Now be mindful, Donny has some large evergreen and deciduous trees all around his house that drop needles and leaves onto his house.  Not a very pretty sight and I am sure this is very frustrating to him.  Donny also admitted he wasn't quite the buck he used to be on climbing the ladder. 

When I told Donny he could count on someone quoting him $20 -45 per linear foot for installed gutter guards, he almost fell out of his chair. Let's be realistic, don't you think the companies that sell these gutter guards play upon the frustration the homeowner experiences when faced with cleaning the gutters a couple times a year.  It all sounds so good and wonderful... a system that won't clog and no more cleaning. Really?

Tim Carter with Ask The Builder notes that he tested different systems for years at his own home and they all fail in one way or the other. Tim said that all gutter guards do stop large leaves from entering gutters, but they all allow small organic debris to enter the gutter system or this debris clogs the gutter guards causing water to cascade off the roof. Just as I told Donny, Tim confirmed that if this organic debris that does enter the gutter is not cleaned out on a regular basis, you end up with a layer of goo and muck in your gutters. Eventually even the layers of goo and muck need to be removed.

Tim also advises that if you must install gutter guards, then you should make sure you buy ones that allow you to easily see through them to the bottom of the entire gutter. Avoid gutter guards that have solid tops and small slits near the front edge. Look for gutter guards that have a larger mesh-type open structure that resembles a fishnet or even a chainlink fence. These systems allow you to aim a garden hose nozzle through the guard so that water can easily flush away the organic goo that will collect in the gutter.
 
It is imperative that you sit down and do some calculations before you decide to sign a contract for gutter guards. I told Donny, let's assume he paid someone $3,000 to install gutter guards.  In the past, Donny paid someone $85 to clean his gutters. Let's assume, Donny had his gutters cleaned 3 times a year. The initial gutter guard investment would be equivalent to 12 years of gutter cleaning. There is also the factor to consider that you will have to clean gutters with the gutter guards every few years.  During this process you will have the gutter guard company come back out to remove the guards.  I am sure they will not remove and reinstall them for free.  The other aspect you need to look at... how long are you really planning to stay in the house before you up-or-down grade.

Ask The Builder suggested to be aware of salesmen who tell you all of the organic debris is washed away by rain or blown away by the wind. It is not true. At the last local home show I test what Tim suggested. I went to the small gutter guard setup with water cascading down a little roof, across the guard and into a gutter. I tore off a small piece of paper and drop it onto the running water. As Tim guarantee, the paper was carried into the gutter. 

 

You trusted handyman Handy Andy

Visit us at www.HandyPro.com
October 2012

My Window Glass is Foggy or Cloudy... what do I do?

Can You Fix My Cloudy or Foggy Window Panes?
 
By: Handy Andy

We receive many calls during the year from our valued customers asking to clean their foggy or cloudy windows.

 

One Saturday morning you noticed your double pane window in the den has a light cloud or is a little foggy.  You got your Windex out and started wiping the inside and then the outside of the window pane. It's not long thereafter you find out the cloudiness is still there. You may decide to try a different window cleaner like vinegar and water. The result is the same.

 

The other story we hear a lot is that you are starting to wonder since last night the cloudiness on the window was not there.  Where did it come form. The next day it is gone and then it comes back later in the day. Over time the cloudiness becomes larger and thicker.  You hardly can see through the fogginess of the window.

 

The cloudiness you are experiencing is between the two panes of glass. As the seals fail, the system will allow moist air between the glass panes, where it then condenses.

Insulating glass seals have to withstand rain, cold, wind, heat, and even impact. Manufacturer's testing prevailed that the failure rate of these types of windows is only 1 to 3 percent.  With that said, there is a good chance at least one glass pane in your house will be part of the 1 to 3 percent failure rate.

 

When windows fog and fail, the only viable option is replacement. It's extremely difficult to separate the old panes (in most cases people will break the glass during the attempt), clean them up and reseal them again: The glass becomes etched from minerals in the moist air, the old seals are difficult to remove in order to get a tight new seal and a repair is just not cost effective.  

You trusted handyman Handy Andy

Visit us at www.HandyPro.com
October 2012

Cleaning Vinyl Siding

By: Handy Andy

Over the years vinyl siding has become a referred building product for many of the builders.  It is relatively low in initial cost and it is relatively maintenance friendly.  Vinyl siding resists most common household stains, but it will become dirty like any product exposed to atmospheric conditions.

In areas not exposed to direct sun and rain, periodic washing with a soft bristle brush and clean water from a garden hose may be necessary to remove surface dirt. Chalk may also accumulate on the surface. This is a normal condition for pigmented materials exposed to the elements. For best appearance, clean vinyl siding at least once a year.

To remove soil, grime and chalk from your siding, use a garden hose, a soft bristle brush and a bucket of soapy water. There are other over the counter cleaners available.  For best results, start at the bottom of the house and work up and rinse the cleaning solution completely before it dries. If your house has brick facing, cover the brick so that it is not affected by the runoff. Thoroughly rinse the siding with clean water from a garden hose.

Manufacturers recommend avoiding prolonged or high pressure rinsing. Keep cleaning solution off surrounding fixtures and surfaces not scheduled for washing.  This doesn’t mean you cannot use power washers. Before using a pressure washer you should read the washer instructions carefully. Cleaning vinyl siding is not a science but requires but it requires you power washer straight at eye level so that you keep the water on top of the siding where it can clean most effectively. Do not aim the power washer upward as water may be driven behind the siding.

You should follow the siding manufacturer’s recommendations.  Many of the manufacturers don't want you to pressure washers on their products.  Others allow them, but have limitations on the amount of pressure and the cleaners that can be used.  Most will caution against the use of pressure washers.

You trusted handyman Handy Andy

Visit us at www.HandyPro.com
October 2012