Author: Polar Bear

Posted on

What Makes Gutters So Important?

Your home is your castle, and you want to keep it in tip-top shape. That’s why maintaining your gutters is so important. Not only do they protect your home from water damage, but they also add to its curb appeal. 

Your gutters play a vital role in protecting your home from water damage. They channel water away from your roof and foundation, which can prevent serious problems, like leaks and flooding. Here’s why they’re so important.

5 Benefits of Installing Gutters

After reading this, you’ll question why you haven’t installed a gutter sooner.

1.  Gutters Protect Your Home’s Foundation

One of the most important functions of a gutter is to protect your home’s foundation. When rainwater falls from the roof, it can pool around the base of your home and seep into the foundation. This can cause cracking, settling, and other serious damage to your home. Gutters channel the water away from your home’s foundation and help to keep it in good condition.

2.  Gutters Help to Prevent Basement Flooding

Another way that gutters protect your home is by helping to prevent basement flooding. When rainwater isn’t properly diverted away from your home, it can seep into the basement and cause flooding. This can damage your belongings, ruin your floors and walls, and create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Installing gutters can help keep your basement dry and free from flooding.

3.  Gutters Protect Your Landscaping

Gutters also play an important role in protecting your landscaping. When rainwater falls from the roof and pools on the ground, it can kill grass, flowers, and other plants. It can also wash away topsoil, leaving your plants vulnerable to erosion. Gutters help to divert the water away from your landscaping and keep it healthy and thriving.

4.  Gutters Prevent Staining on Your Exterior Walls

Another benefit of gutters is that they help to prevent staining on your exterior walls. When rainwater runs down the side of your house, it can leave behind streaks of dirt and grime. Over time, these streaks can become permanent stains on your walls. Gutters help to keep your walls clean by channeling the water away from them.

5.  Gutters Add to the Curb Appeal of Your Home

In addition to their functional benefits, gutters add to your home’s curb appeal. Well-maintained gutters give your home a polished look and can increase its resale value. If you’re looking for a way to improve the appearance of your home, adding or replacing gutters is a great option.

The Different Types of Gutters Available

Three main gutters are available today: K-Style, Half-Round, and Box. Each type has unique benefits that can make it a better fit for your specific needs.

1. K-Style Gutters

K-Style gutters are the most popular type of gutter available. They are made from various materials, including aluminum, vinyl, and steel. K-Style gutters are available in various colors to match your home’s exterior. They are also relatively easy to install and can be fitted with multiple accessories, such as leaf guards and downspouts.

2. Half-Round Gutters

Half-round gutters are another popular option. As the name suggests, they are half the size of a K-Style gutter. Half-round gutters are typically made from copper or aluminum. They are available in various colors, but copper gutters will develop a natural patina over time. Half-round gutters are more challenging to install than K-Style gutters and may require the help of a professional.

3. Box Gutters

Box gutters are the most significant type of gutter available. They are typically made from copper or aluminum and can be custom-fit to your home. Box gutters are more challenging to install than K-Style or Half-Round gutters and may require the help of a professional. 

Key takeaway: No matter which type of gutter you choose, it is vital to have it installed by a professional. Gutters are an essential part of your home’s drainage system and should be installed properly to ensure they function correctly.

What to Look for When Hiring a Gutter Cleaner

You should keep a few things in mind if you’re looking to hire a gutter cleaner. First, be sure to ask for references and check them out thoroughly. It’s also essential to find a gutter cleaner that is insured and bonded, as this will protect you in case of any accidents or damage to your property. 

Finally, get an estimate in writing before you agree to any work being done. This will help you avoid any unexpected charges later on. With these tips in mind, you should be able to find an excellent gutter cleaner who will keep your gutters clean and flowing freely all year long.

Conclusion

Now that you know all about the importance of gutters and how to choose the right type for your home, it’s time to take action. If your gutters need repair or replacement, contact a Polar Bear Exterior Solutions professional. We will be able to help you choose the best option for your home and ensure that your gutters are installed correctly.

Posted on

When It Rains, It Pours: Signs You Need to Replace Your Old Leaky Roof Before It Gets Worse

Cut to movie scene inside an abandoned cabin. Water pours in streams from the roof onto the floor and into buckets. It’s wet everywhere, and the outside rain isn’t helping. That’s what you might see if you let your old leaky roof continue to leak without replacing it. It doesn’t have to get as far as that movie scene at all. In fact, there are plenty of telltale signs that your roof is leaking, and you need to fix it now.

Trickles of Water Down a Wall

Unless you’re looking for it, or you hear it, you might not see this sign. Tiny beads of water or thin little rivulets running down a wall are a sign that your roof is probably exposed and not likely to prevent water from entering the home. It also means that your gutters aren’t quite doing their job. If you find a puddle of water on the floor you can’t explain and it leads back to the water coming down the wall, your roof is definitely in trouble.

Bubbles Under the Paint on the Ceiling

Whether dry or wet, these bubbles are obvious. They start out small and then grow to the point where it looks like your ceiling is going to pop in several places. It means that there is a lot of moisture in the attic above these areas and the water is seeping down through the wood and sheet rock to the paint level. What you don’t see is just how much water is in the attic space above these ceiling bubbles. It’s extremely likely that the size of the water puddles up there are several inches to several feet across!

The really troubling thing is that when these paint bubbles on the ceiling cannot hold another drop of water, they burst. Then the water coming in through the roof has a direct line through to the floor in your home below. Whenever there’s a really heavy rainstorm, no number of buckets, pots, or pans will keep the water off the floor. 

Discoloration From Water Damage

Some walls and ceilings never show paint bubbles or trickles of water. Instead, they just show you big, brownish rings. This is water damage, and it will continue as long as the roof isn’t replaced or fixed. In some ways, water damage is worse than the other signs mentioned because it means that there is already a lot of rot. Not only will you have to replace the roof at this point, but you will also have to pull out all of the areas of water damage and replace all of the walls and ceiling areas too. 

Another form of water damage is colored black and is mottled. This is definitely NOT something you want to see because it means that the water damage has turned to mold and mildew. You are staring at dangerous mold and mildew and not just water damage. Now you will need a mold remediation specialist and not just a roofing contractor so that the mold spores don’t spread while the roof is being replaced. 

Walls and Ceilings That Squish When You Push on Them

This is one sign that tends to creep out a lot of people. There doesn’t appear to be any other sign that there’s a roofing leak or water damage. There’s just these areas in the walls or on the ceilings that squish when you press on them. They are extremely soft, and if you press too hard, your finger goes right through. You can feel how much cooler to the touch these spots are, and how very wet they feel when pressed. If you don’t see signs of water damage or leaking water yet, it will follow after these soft spots collapse.

Peeling and Cracking Paint or Plaster

All houses have plaster and/or paint on the walls and ceilings. If the paint or plaster just starts cracking for no apparent reason, it might be your leaky roof. Structural issues develop as a result of rotting trusses and rotting wood in your attic. The weight of the waterlogged wood and trusses pulls downward on the house under it. The pressure causes the plaster to crack, which in turn causes the paint to crack and peel. A roofing contractor needs to get up on your roof and into your attic right away to see how bad it is. 

Contact Polar Bear Exterior Solutions today to find out how bad your leaky roof is and get a quote to replace your roof!

Posted on

4 Ways Roofing Systems Benefit From Underlayment

Your roof is composed of different layers that work together to protect your home from harsh weather elements. One of its integral yet unnoticed layers is the water-resistant material called the underlayment. This layer is placed directly on a roof deck underneath other roofing materials and keeps your home and decking safe from leaks and wind damage. 

Continue reading “4 Ways Roofing Systems Benefit From Underlayment”
Posted on

How to Pick the Right Siding Profile

As you plan your siding replacement, you’ll be considering many factors related to the project. This includes the material, color and even the siding profile you’re most interested in. But this can also be overwhelming with countless profile options from which to choose. As such, it helps to learn what each profile can offer so that you can pick the best design based on your preferences. Local siding and window contractor Polar Bear Exterior Solutions shares more insight: 

Continue reading “How to Pick the Right Siding Profile”
1 2 3 … 13