While clearing the eaves and downspouts may seem fairly straightforward, there are a few tricks and tips that our team at MasterWorks Painting & Remodeling have put together to make the job a little less tedious. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors of Virginia now, before all those leaves fall and fill up your gutters!
As a rule of thumb, gutters and downspouts should be cleaned out twice a year, once in late spring and once in autumn.
In the fall, your best bet is to wait until nearby trees have shed all of their leaves so you don’t have to keep going back up.
Try to time your climb so that the leaves and other debris have had a few days without rain so they are nice and dry. Soggy leaves and dirt are harder to clean out.
As you work your way around the house, visually inspect your soffits and fascia as well as your gutters to see if they need repair or replacement.
Wear work gloves to protect your hands and follow safe ladder climbing techniques.
Bring a bucket or garbage bag up with you so you can bag the debris rather than throwing it down along the house and have to clean it all up off the ground.
Start at the downspouts and work backwards, removing the larger things like leaves and twigs by hand and then use a trowel or small hand broom to get the dirt and smaller bits out of the eavestrough. No broom? A large paintbrush will do the trick!
Once all the debris is gone, you can wash the rest out with the garden house. This time, work your way toward the downspouts.
Contrary to instinct, if you find a clogged downspout, use a high pressure setting on your nozzle and spray from the bottom up to dislodge and clear the clog. Spraying from the top will just compact everything down and make it worse.
Following these simple tips can keep your roof in good condition, prevent winter ice damming and can protect your home’s foundation from excess water.
You may be wondering why a professional painting company is blogging about gutter cleaning. Did you know that in addition to residential and commercial painting, Masterworks Painting & Remodeling also offers a number of other home improvement services such as gutter repair and installation, window installation, and siding installation? Contact us at (703) 263-3302 to receive an estimate on your next home improvement project in Fairfax, VA and surrounding areas.
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