Spotless & Seamless Exteriors Blog

Why You Should Install LEAFAWAY® Gutter Protection

Leafaway

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.


End of Summer Home Exterior Maintenance Checklist

end of summer home exterior maintenance

We still have a while before the temperatures drop enough for you to turn on the furnace and bundle up, but why not get ahead of the winter prepping game? Start with our end of summer home exterior maintenance checklist, and you’ll be good to go before the leaves even begin to fall.

Review

First, survey your home for damage and general wear and tear:

  • Inspect siding, roofs, gutters, windows, and doors for cracks, peeling, and missing materials.
  • Check for broken flashing seals around vents and chimneys on the roof.
  • Look for sagging or disconnected gutter sections along the roof edges.
  • Examine the ground along your home’s foundation for broken fasteners or roof granules.

Instead of climbing a ladder for a DIY remedy, trust a professional home exterior remodeling contractor to patch up your roof, fix broken gutters, and repair siding if you notice any problems when you inspect your home this fall.  

Reclaim

Don’t let your roof and gutters become victims of foliage, dead or alive. Overhanging branches can scrape up and wear out your shingles or break off in a storm and puncture the roof. Needles from shedding pine trees can build up on the roof and retain moisture, hindering your home’s drainage system. Remove accumulating dead foliage and trim back low-hanging branches to prevent roof damage.

Your gutters and downspouts can become clogged with leaves, roofing grit, feathers, trash, pinecones, needles, acorns, and more. Debris will weigh the gutters down and cause water to pool and overflow, settling near your home’s foundation. Consider LEAFAWAY® gutter protection from your Minnesota clog-free gutter professionals, so you never have to worry about cleaning your gutters again.

Reapply

Caulk is a waterproof filler used to seal joints in and around shutters, rail systems, window panels and frames, and doors. Every homeowner should repair dry and cracked or loose caulk to eliminate air leaks and prevent water damage. If you can fit a nickel in between the gaps of the siding and window or door frames, you should reapply caulk.

Other openings, such as gaps between movable building components, may require weatherstripping. Check your door thresholds and window sides and sashes to see if the rubber or metal is damaged. Replace missing or worn weatherstripping around windows and doors to keep the elements out and the conditioned air in.

Replace

Home improvements are a big—yet worthwhile—investment. According to the United States Department of Energy, the average American spends $200 to $400 every year on wasted energy that is lost through drafts, air leaks, and outdated HVAC systems. Properly installed energy efficient windows and doors can reduce heat and cooling loss. Contact your Minneapolis/St. Paul window replacement contractor to install new ones and lower your energy bills.

A roof, siding, and gutter replacement could increase resell value, boost your home’s curb appeal, and maximize energy efficiency. Seamless steel siding is one of the most weather-resistant, low maintenance, and environmentally friendly materials in the home siding industry. Check with Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, your local steel siding contractor, to see what styles and colors are available. Review our blog about when to consider a new roof or replace gutters if you are having trouble making a decision.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors can handle any of your home exterior remodeling needs. Contact us for a free estimate.


When to Replace Your Gutters

when to replace your gutters

During storm season, rain gutters are your home’s defense, channeling runoff water so it doesn’t damage your fascia boards, siding, foundation, landscaping, and more. Conventional gutters need to be cleaned of debris and require some minor repairs over time, but at some point, every homeowner needs to get a new system entirely. Read on to discover when to replace your gutters.

Cracks, Holes, and Rust

Large cracks and holes are obvious, but smaller ones may remain inconspicuous except during a storm. When it’s raining, check along your gutters to see if there are any leaks. You could seal them with roofing cement, but multiple cracks and holes may be a sign that you need a replacement.

Aging metal exposed to water will rust. You can prevent further corrosion with a rust-inhibiting paint, but if your gutters are deteriorating throughout, your rain carrying system may need an upgrade.

Blockages

If your gutters are frequently clogged, water will spill over onto the fascia board. Fascia boards hold the gutters and protect your roofing system, so if your gutters aren’t doing their job, they could rot. A clog-free gutter system like LEAFAWAY® can prevent blockages and save you from cleaning your gutters every few months.

Broken fasteners

If you are finding broken fasteners, screws, or nails on the ground around your home, it may mean your gutters are coming loose from the fascia boards. You could buy new fasteners and reattach sections, but you should consider a replacement if the fascia board is rotting.

Separating Seams

Leaking or separated gutter seams can be caused by bad joints, clogs, or simple aging. If your gutter joints are coming apart, consider upgrading to seamless gutters for a more efficient, uniform, and stable system.

An Overloaded System

If you hear water pouring over your gutters during a storm, they may be too small for your home or misaligned and not draining properly. Water running down the exterior walls of your home or puddling near the foundation could cost much more than a gutter replacement if the moisture rots exterior wood, floods the basement, or erodes landscaping.

As a Maple Grove roofing contractor, Spotless & Seamless Exteriors (SSE) also offers LEAFAWAY® gutter protection systems to homeowners throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro. LEAFAWAY® provides seamless gutters Twin Cities homeowners trust to withstand the toughest weather conditions. These seamless gutters feature a one-piece design that deflects runoff debris while allowing rain to flow into the trough.

Available in a wide variety of beautiful colors, LEAFAWAY® gutters are custom-manufactured to fit your home perfectly. With this revolutionary product, you won’t ever have to clean your gutters again. No more worrying about gutter blockages. LEAFAWAY® keeps leaves, pinecones and needles, and twigs out. This, in turn, protects soffit and fascia boards, prevents ice damming, and maintains maximum water capacity throughout your home’s rain carrying system. SSE can also install a Superspout™ that provides 50 percent more drainage than conventional downspouts.

If you’re wondering when to replace your gutters, give your Minnesota clog-free gutter professionals a call. We provide a variety of financing options and referral rewards so you can save money.

Contact us for an estimate.


Spring Weather Preparedness

spring weather preparedness

With winter over, it’s time to talk about spring weather preparedness. Storms bring high winds, heavy rains, hail, and other hazardous conditions that could damage your property. We’ve put together a rundown on how to prevent, detect, and repair storm damage to your home.

How protected is your home?

Before the storms roll in, it’s important to assess how protected your home is from the elements. A worn or damaged roof, poor siding, or improperly installed rain carrying system could cause leaks, flooding, mold growth, and structural damage even in mild weather. Severe winds, rain, and hail will put more stress on your home’s exterior.  

How do you detect storm damage?

Some of the most obvious signs of storm damage are fallen trees, sagging gutters, broken windows, shingle debris, and flooded basements. But there are many other subtle signs you should look out for when surveying your basement, ceilings, walls, windows, doors, roof, and siding after a storm:

  • Expanding wood, dripping water, or discoloration on the ceiling and walls.
  • A musty odor throughout your home.
  • Cracked, dented, or missing shingles, vents, or flashing on the roof.
  • Dark spots from where roofing granules have been knocked away from asphalt shingles.
  • Roofing granules collecting in gutters or discharged from downspouts.
  • Dented, cracked, missing, or discolored siding.
  • Cracked wood finishes or stripped paint.
  • Broken window or door frames, holes and tears in screens, or dents on windowsills and windowpanes.

Following a storm, safety is top priority. Avoid climbing on your roof and be careful around broken windows. If your home has been flooded, contact a water removal company immediately. A professional can examine the extent of damage to your property so you know how much repairs will cost and if you should file an insurance claim.

Who should I contact for storm damage repair?

When a large storm strikes your area, you may have contractors coming to your door offering repair or replacement services. Always check that they are reputable. Ask for their license, proof of insurance, certifications, business address, and Better Business Bureau listing or Angie’s list ratings. Let Spotless & Seamless be your first call for storm damage repair.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors provides asphalt and metal roofing installation and repair to homeowners throughout Minnesota. As your local steel siding contractor, we also offer United States Seamless® installation. Seamless steel siding is custom-fit to your home on-site, ensuring a flawless, seamless finish. One of the most durable and energy efficient siding materials in the industry, seamless steel will protect your home from the harshest elements.

SSE offers clog-free gutters that keep leaves and twigs out of your rain carrying system so your home can withstand torrential downpours. Rely on our revolutionary Superspout™ to carry rainwater away from your home and protect your foundation from flooding. As a Minneapolis/St. Paul window replacement contractor, we provide a variety of quality windows and doors for homeowners throughout the Twin Cities who have sustained storm damage or are just looking to upgrade.

We’ll take care of the mess and make sure your home is properly repaired with quality materials. Contact Spotless & Seamless Exteriors to learn more and request an estimate.


How to Detect and Prevent Roof Leaks and Flooding

roof leaks and flooding

Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth and can cause major damage to your home. We’ve outlined some ways to detect and prevent water damage from roof leaks and flooding.

The Risks

Water damage can cause black mold growth, ruin your insulation, rot wooden framing, and compromise your home’s foundation, all of which can cost thousands in repairs and jeopardize your family’s safety. When water seeps into your home, it can discolor and stain your ceiling, floors, or walls. If you notice these or other signs of water intrusion, you should inspect your home to determine the cause. 

What causes flooding?

Your rain-carrying system is designed to properly channel runoff water away from the foundation of your home to prevent flooding. Downspouts that are installed too close to your house or that drain toward the basement wall can cause water to pool and erode the soil. In the winter, snow and ice can clog gutters so that they overflow and allow runoff to cascade down your home’s siding and puddle near the foundation. If you have a cracked foundation or poor sealing, low-lying areas in your home like basements or cellars can flood.

What causes roof leaks?

Roof leaks are often caused by damaged or worn roofing materials. The sun can melt the tar that seals shingles together, and shingles may become brittle and crack or rip off entirely from high winds. Rusted flashing, the strip of metal designed to seal joints where the roof meets a wall or chimney, may expose your home to moisture. Damaged boots around vent pipes and corroded mortar on brick chimneys are another culprit. Heavy, clogged gutters may damage the eaves of your roof, causing your soffit and fascia boards to rot. Ice dams allow water to pool on the roof and potentially seep into your home.

How can you prevent roof leaks and flooding?

It’s better to prevent roof leaks and flooding than deal with the aftermath of water damage. Spotless & Seamless Exteriors offers clog-free gutters with a Superspout™ that provides 50 percent more drainage than conventional downspouts. This revolutionary rain-carrying system protects your home from ice dams and flooding.

As a Twin Cities roofing contractor, we offer asphalt and metal roofing, so you can replace your old, worn-out roof and protect your home this season. We also provide routine roofing inspection and repair services so you can maintain your roof and avoid costly damage to your home.

We are a top Minnesota steel siding contractor, offering siding replacement and repair to residents throughout the Minneapolis metro. Steel siding is installed in custom-fit boards that eliminate seams. This airtight seal protects your home from moisture intrusion.

Contact us for more home exterior solutions.


No More Gutter Cleaning with LEAFAWAY® Gutter Protection

LEAFAWAY® gutter protection

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.