We have reached that leaf-falling time of year, which is a good reminder to keep up on gutter maintenance. Ideally, you should clean gutters in the spring and again in the fall to prevent water flow problems and other issues. The process can be challenging, but we hope these tips for safe and effective gutter cleaning helps you get the job done.

Get Your Footing

Gutter cleaning likely involves working from a ladder. Be sure the ladder you use is sturdy and extendable and that the ground is stable and level. Remember to practice safety; don’t overextend your reach and stay below the second-to-last rung at the top of the ladder.

Prepare to Get Dirty

Depending on what sort of clutter is in your gutters, the task can be messy. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and durable pants. Additionally, a pair of hardy work gloves will protect your hands from potentially sharp twigs, debris, and metal gutter edges. Gloves also create a barrier between you and rough roofing textures and help prevent callouses from handling work tools.

Have a bucket handy for collecting gutter sediment and sludge or spread out a tarp below your workspace. Gathering the gunk this way will also keep your lawn and landscaping looking neat and natural.

Dig In and Flush

Use your hands to clear out leaves and twigs. To dig out the more packed-down muck, use a gutter scoop or small plastic shovel. Make sure the tool you use doesn’t scratch or otherwise damage the gutter surface.

Once the gutters are clean, flush the channels with a garden hose to remove any remaining debris. This is also a good time to check for leaks, make sure gutters are correctly sloped, and ensure the downspout is free from blockage.

Repair as Needed

Seal up leaks in joints or seams and secure any loose sections or brackets. If you find any standing water, you may need to adjust the pitch. Gutters should slope at least ¼-inch but usually ½-inch for every 10 feet. You can also rely on a home exteriors expert to assist with your gutter needs.

Give Up Gutter Cleaning

Hopefully these gutter cleaning tips will help you safely and effectively finish the task. If you’re tired of digging through the debris and gunk twice a year, we have the solution. The LEAFAWAY® gutter protection system keeps your gutters clear all year round. The professionals at Spotless & Seamless can discuss options for your home. Contact us today.

The month of April is known for its proverbial showers. Make sure your home’s gutter system is clear and ready for that rainy assignment. Clogged gutters create all sorts of unpleasant situations for homeowners, costing time and money. Continue reading to learn some of the reasons why it’s important to keep your gutters free of debris.

Water Damage

Obstructions such as leaves, dirt, pine needles, and other debris can accumulate in your gutters and prevent them from guiding water safely away from your home. Instead, the water overflows and moisture increases. This can eventually lead to rotting fascia boards and soffits, causing damage to your home’s exterior and potentially triggering damage to your home’s interior.

Foundation Issues and Leaks

Water that cannot properly drain can build up along your home’s foundation. If enough water collects, it likely will find its way into your basement. The excess moisture can damage structural integrity and lead to mold issues.

Large pools of water can also soften the soil around and under your home, resulting in possible cracks in the foundation and expensive structural fixes down the road.

Insects and Pests

Leaf-filled gutters are ideal places for mice and squirrels to take up residence. Once these critters move in, they can cause trouble in and around your home. Likewise, accumulations of moist leaves can attract insects, which can lead to an infestation inside as well as outside. Keep clutter from your gutter to help limit mosquitoes and deter wood-eating insects such as ants and termites from moving in.

An Alternative

Depending on your surroundings, gutters should be cleaned one to four times a year. One simple way to avoid gutter cleaning hassle is to consider a LEAFAWAY® gutter protection system. This one-piece rain-carrying system is structurally designed to let rainwater flow through while keeping leaves and debris out.

When working properly, your home’s gutter system is a crucial element to its protection. Be sure to keep your gutters free of debris to avoid the pitfalls of water damage, foundation issues, and pest infestation. To evade gutter maintenance altogether, ask your Minnesota clog-free gutter experts about LEAFAWAY®. The Twin Cities home exteriors professionals at Spotless & Seamless are available to assist with your home exterior needs. Contact us today.

Leaves are falling. Are your gutters threatening to do the same? Throughout the year, they collect runoff water full of foliage, dirt, twigs, needles, acorns, and other debris that can accumulate and put stress on your gutters. Excess weight could cause them to fall off. At the very least, dirty gutters can block your home’s drainage system.

Sure, you could throw on a pair of gloves and climb a ladder to scoop out the muck. But you could also avoid gutter cleaning entirely and rest assured your home—interior and out—is protected from water damage. How? Install gutter protection.

What is the best gutter protection?

LEAFAWAY® keeps debris out of gutter troughs so you don’t have to climb a ladder to scoop soggy leaf build-up and remove blockages. LEAFAWAY® is custom manufactured on-site to provide seamless gutter protection and installed securely to your home’s fascia board with no need for roof attachments.

This one-piece rain-carrying system is covered by a debris-shedding shield that works to deflect wind-blown and runoff leaves, pinecones, needles, acorns, and twigs.

Why Should I Install LEAFAWAY®?

With LEAFAWAY®, your home will be protected from rotted soffit and facia boards, ceiling leaks, attic mold, and ice dams. Gutters with seams are prone to leaks. Seamless gutters are made of one continuous section and are less likely to fail. This gutter system maintains maximum water capacity, preventing overflow that could lead to foundation and landscaping damage. With LEAFAWAY®, you can:

• Save time, energy, and money you’d otherwise spend cleaning your gutters or performing other maintenance.
• Avoid risks such as falling off a ladder or electric shock from exposed wiring.
• Prevent ice dams and damage to the roof, walls, siding, foundation, and landscaping.

What does Spotless & Seamless Exteriors offer?

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors can install LEAFAWAY® and the revolutionary Superspout™, a three-inch square downspout and elbow that improves water flow, reduces clogging, and provides 50 percent more drainage than conventional downspouts. The Superspout™ is available in a wide array of colors to match your existing gutters and enhance your home’s rain-carrying system.

Contact your Minnesota clog-free gutter professionals to learn more about LEAFAWAY®. The next time you’re looking for a Twin Cities siding contractor, ask about which gutters they install. Spotless & Seamless is your go-to for exterior renovations and seamless gutters that work and complement your home beautifully.

Call 763.428.111 for a free estimate.

As fall approaches, you may be in for some daunting and inconvenient home exterior maintenance. Leaves drop from the trees onto your roof and clog your gutters. With a LEAFAWAY® Gutter Protection System, you won’t have to clean your gutters, and you can experience these other benefits as well:

Avoid injury

Gutter cleaning can be a dangerous task. Never climb up a rickety ladder or crawl along the edge of your roof again. The LEAFAWAY® gutter system does the work for you. Leaf guard gutters strain runoff water so that twigs, leaves, acorns, needles, and pine cones do not fill your gutters.

Save money on home repairs

LEAFAWAY® Gutter Protection keeps your gutters free of ice and prevents leaves from getting into your gutters in the first place so that you can avoid larger messes.

• Fallen gutters – In the winter, ice and snow can build up and prevent water drainage. An obstructed gutter will overflow and form icicles, which can tear the gutter from its place.
• Water leaks – Clogged gutters can cause a leaky roof, ponding, or rotting soffit and fascia boards.
• Insect invasion – The decomposing leaves that accumulate in your gutter are a source of food for insects, which could eventually make their way into your home.

Reduce maintenance

Depending on the number of trees on your property and the type of vegetation in your area, you may have to clean your gutters up to every three months. If your home is surrounded by pine trees that shed pine needles and cones year-round, you could save time and energy by installing LEAFAWAY® gutters.

Update your home exterior

As summer fades away, so does the greenery on the trees. Your landscape may begin to lose its color, but your house doesn’t have to. The LEAFAWAY® gutter system is available in many different colors that will complement your home. LEAFAWAY® gutter protection is manufactured on-site and fitted to your home’s fascia boards for a seamless finish. The one-piece seamless gutter design creates an efficient system that blends in with the contour and siding of your home.

The experts at Spotless & Seamless Exteriors are your Minnesota clog-free gutter professionals. As a Midwest siding company, we know that your home needs to be protected from the elements. That’s why we provide seamless clog-free gutters and steel siding. Spotless & Seamless Exteriors installs the best gutter covers Minneapolis and St. Paul have to offer.
Contact us today to learn how we can save you time, energy, and money with LEAFAWAY® gutter protection installation.