"Gutter Maintenance" Tips from a "Handyman" - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gutters and downspouts serve an important purpose in directing rain water away from your home.  This helps to keep a dry basement or crawl space to minimize moisture and mold in your home.  Proper maintenance is important to keep them clear of debris so that water does not build up and cause problems

1. Clean leaves and other debris from the gutters, and make sure the holes going to the downspout are clear to allow water to run freely.  Be sure they are sloped properly to allow water to flow and se extensions to direct water where you want it to go.
2. Make sure the downspouts drain far enough away from the home to avoid puddles in the grass.  Use downspout extensions to help the water drain farther from the home if necessary. 
3. If you have lots of trees around your home, consider putting screen over the gutters to keep leaves out to save having to clean them.
4. Check the seams in the gutters and downspouts for leaks.  If the seams are leaking, clean the seam with a wire brush to remove old caulk or adhesive, and re-caulk with a silicone caulk.   If gutters are in very bad shape and in need of replacing, consider having seamless gutters installed.
5. Make sure gutters are secure with the proper length gutter spikes going right into the rafters.  When gutters get weighed down from debris, sometimes the nails loosen and need to be pounded back in.

Homeowners should check their gutters before the heavy storm and rain season.  Properly working gutters allow water to drain quickly and away from the house to avoid future problems. 
   

Gutter maintenance is fairly simple for the professional, but the average homeowner, especially senior citizens, may not be comfortable working on their roof or being on ladders.  There are some home maintenance projects that are better left to the professional to handle, for safety.

This article was written by Carl Ravey of HandyPro Handyman Services.  HandyPro specializes in home repairs and seasonal home maintenance projects.  They can handle small repairs or do large remodeling jobs.   Our pre-screened contractors are licensed and bonded, experienced and customer friendly.  We strive for 100% customer satisfaction in doing quality work and cleaning up when the job is complete.  http://www.handypro.com services Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Port Allen, Addis, East Baton Rouge Parish, Zachary, Baker, Ascension Parish, Gonzales, Sorrento, Donaldsonville, Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Walker, and neighboring cities and communities.

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