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Have Your Gutters Inspected

The best way to protect your home from major damage and stave of costly repairs is to spot and address small problems before they have time to worsen. This principle applies to everything from roof leaks to gutter damage. That is why you should have your gutters inspected at least twice per year.

Reasons for gutter inspections Gutter Inspect & Installation - Nashville TN - Gutterman of TN

Depending on the type of gutter system you have, there are various problems your gutters can face. Old metal gutters can rust, warp or corrode. Jointed gutters can leak. Nearly any type of gutter system can become clogged or pull away from the roofline. While gutters may seem like a small component of your home’s structure, they work to prevent serious structural damage. Leaking, missing or damaged gutters allows water to damage your home. That damage can include rotting roofs or walls, mold within the homes structure, drowned landscaping and even water or structural damage to the foundation.

When to have your gutters inspected

At the Gutterman of TN, we recommend scheduling your gutter inspections to coincide with your annual gutter cleanings. Gutters should be inspected each spring to see if they have suffered any damage from heavy snows, freezing temperatures and the heavy waters flow of the spring thaw. They should again be inspected in the fall, to coincide with the removal of leaves and other fall debris. It also is wise to have your gutters inspected after any major weather events. Gutters can be dislodged by heaving winds or flying tree limbs in a severe storm, or they can be damaged by heavy hail.

Of course, you also should schedule a gutter inspection if you notice signs of damage or weakness in your gutter system. That includes overflowing gutters that floods your landscaping or yard, mold or discoloration around your home’s walls, cracks in the gutter system, fallen downspouts and gutters that have pulled away from the roof. It is important to have these problems addressed before they can do major damage to your home.

What happens during your gutter inspection

When The Gutterman of TN performs your gutter inspections, we will provide a thorough check of your entire gutter system. First and foremost, we will check your gutters for proper installation to make sure that your gutters won’t compromise your home’s structure with water damage. We will inspect the gutters for signs of damage, including holes, cracks, disconnected joints, pooling water, sagging and warping. We also will check all gutter connections and downspouts to make sure that everything is functioning properly.

If your gutters are overdue for an inspection, if your gutters have never been inspected or if you have noticed signs of damage or weakness in your gutter system, call The Gutterman of TN to schedule an appointment today! We will make sure your gutter system is flowing smoothly or, if we notice any problems, we will recommend fixes to keep your gutters and your home safe from water damage.

Gutter guards: Micromesh Versus Solid Top

Homeowners, nearly universally, despise gutter cleaning. Depending on how your home is situated, gutters must be cleaned at least once a year, and if your home is surrounded by trees, your gutters could need to be cleaned as often as once a week during the fall! For centuries, people have searched for a way to keep gutters cleared of debris while still allowing rain water to flow through them. Currently, there are two popular methods for keeping gutters debris free: Solid-top gutters or micromesh gutters.

Solid-top guttersSolid-Top Gutters - Nashville TN - Gutterman of TN

Solid top gutters, or reverse-curve gutters, have been around for more than 100 years. They commonly are pushed as the answer to gutter debris. Solid-top gutters feature a curved cover over the top of the gutters. Based on the design, water is meant to flow over the gutters, clinging to the curve through a small opening, until it falls from the underside of the curve into the gutter. Large debris, such as leaves and twigs, hit the solid top and fall to the ground, rather than into the gutters.

While solid-top gutters do work to repel some larger debris, they can introduce a host of problems. Some debris, like pine needs and seed pods, can make their way through the reverse-curve opening and clog gutters. Because the gutters are enclosed, there is no way to clean them out. Also, when water washes down your roof and over the gutters, it brings with it oil and pollution from your shingles. That oil and pollution can leave the gutter curves dirty and clog them over time. Reverse-curve gutters don’t always work to drain water properly from the roofline. The water won’t cling to gutters before they are fully wet, so when rain first starts to fall, it won’t fall into gutters. And during heavy rains, water can pour over the top of the gutter guard and flood your landscaping and your home’s foundation. Finally, the small opening in the reverse-curve gutter can allow insects, like bees, and small animals inside to nest.

Micromesh gutters

Micromesh gutters are the solution to clogged gutters! Made from a stainless steel frame and an extremely fine mesh, micromesh lets in rainwater and only the very smallest particles enter the gutters. With micromesh, all of the water from your roofline can make its way through the gutters as it should. The debris that is small enough to enter the gutters is also small enough to wash safely through the gutter system without causing clogs. The larger debris that hits the gutter guards will fall away or be blown away by the wind. Micromesh gutters also have a lower profile and don’t turn gutters into an eyesore like solid-top gutters can.

If you are interested in maintenance-free gutters with micromesh gutter guards and live in the Nashville or Franklin, Tennessee, areas, call the Gutterman of TN today! We can talk to you about our SafeGuard gutter guards and how they can keep your gutters free from debris.