Landscaper Causes Gutter Overflow

My last entry ended with a customer who complained that all her gutters were clogged and she needed us to clean out the gutters. She also had a new bay window installed and it was leaking. She thought the gutters had something to do with it. When we arrived there, we found that she just had new landscaping and the landscaper closed off all her underground drainage outlets so the downspouts were backing up and overflowing the gutters. At the customers request we removed a gutter cover near a downspout and found the gutters to be completely open and very clean. The customers Waterloov gutter guards didn't fail her, the landscaper did because he left her with gutters that were not functional. Her problem was fixed by cutting the downspouts. and installing elbows at the bottom to drain the water away from the house. The source of the leak in the bay window was easily found to be caused by the roofing having separated from the rake board where two roofs join. Rain water was being blown in against the rake board where it entered through the roof and into the bay window below.

A section of flashing was installed to redirect any water being blown against the rake board back onto the roofing. Caulking was also used to facilitate a seal at the juncture where there was too little distance to install flashing.

Our Gutters Are Clogged And I Have Gutter Guards.

From Eavestrough

Service Call: A customer called and stated, "Our gutters are clogged."
"How do you know?" "No water is coming out of two downspouts."

We arrived and the homeowner identified the two gutters that were clogged and one where water was coming over the gutter.

Even though there were trees close by, none could be a possible threat to the Waterloov System and once up the ladder a quick visual inspection confirmed that initial assessment. The quick visual inspection showed that the customer had a new roof--only a few years old--and gutter covers that were manufactured approximately twenty years ago mixed in with gutter covers manufactured fifteen years ago--something no experienced installer would do.

The gutter covers were also not attached correctly to the gutter. It was obvious that the roofing contractor not familiar with the Waterloov System removed the gutter covers to install the new roof and then reinstalled the Waterloov covers but not quite right.

Fortunately the Waterloov Gutter Covers were not nailed into the roof--as some roofers do--and could be easily removed from the gutter. Inside there was an accumulation of debris about two inches deep along about six feet leading to the downspout. Under all the debris at the downspout were pieces of rotted wood covering the opening in the downspout. The wood was from part of the old rotted roof that was replaced.

The other clogged gutter was likewise clogged with remnants of tar paper at the downspout from the reroof job. The place where the gutter overflowed was from an upper gutter discharging on the roof and overwhelming a section of the Waterloov gutter guard. When the roofing contractor reinstalled the Waterloov system, he neglected to install a diverter system to spread out the water.

Once again, the blemish free track record of Waterloov is untarnished.
"When debris meets it's Waterloov, the war of clogged gutters is Over!"

Tomorrow, we'll be visiting a customer who claims that all of her gutters are clogged and that water is leaking in near a newly installed bay window. She claims that no new roofing has been installed.

Will this home be an exception to the rule and have clogged gutters?

Ever wonder why foam gutter inserts are so inexpensive?

Did you ever wonder why foam gutter inserts are so inexpensive?

Probably because you can't charge a lot of money for a gutter protection product that doesn't work much better than the cheapest gutter screen.  

Foam gutter inserts are suppose to keep the leaves and debris out of your gutter.  Consumers are drawn to them because of the perceived low cost and they convince themselves that foam inserts will work as well as the more expensive solid top gutters.

Well that's a physical impossibility.

Foam inserts are porous allowing the water to flow through but not the debris which is fine as long as you don't mind getting the ladder out and cleaning the debris off of the top of the foam.  How easy do you think that will be especially if you have to deal with pine needles.

Solid type gutter guards will never have to be cleaned as often as foam, brush, screen or mesh products.  Although they may cost more the solid gutter covers real value is that they perform a whole lot better. The best of the solid gutter covers may never have to be cleaned.

Failing to keep up with cleaning the foam can be embarrassing.

After spending the money for having foam inserts installed or after purchasing the foam and installing it yourself, you don't want your house to look like it has no gutter protection at all.