Every winter, when the temperatures drop and cold weather rolls in, we get questions from homeowners about how to protect their gutter systems from winter weather and ice.

Questions like “What will the winter weather do to my gutters?” and “Can my gutter system survive an ice storm?” are not unusual to hear.

The fact is, ice does indeed impact your gutters if you aren’t prepared. The good news? There are steps you can take to mitigate and prevent the damage.

Let’s take a look at how ice can damage your gutters and how you can protect them with some preventative maintenance.

Ice Can Result in Downspout Blockages

With each new round of winter precipitation (and the freeze that usually follows), more ice builds up in your downspouts. This ice buildup causes clogs. When this happens, your downspouts can’t do what they were designed for – to help get water off of your roof and away from your home. When ice blockages build up, it can damage or even ruin your gutter system.

Blockages Can Cause Ice Dams to Form

When your gutters and downspouts build up ice (causing blockages), ice dams can eventually form. Ice dams are essentially big slabs of ice that form along your roofline. When these slabs melt, water can leak under your roofline, which can cause your shingles to peel. Ice dams are also known to form in gutter systems.

Icicles – Great for the Gram, Not for Your Gutters

Icicles look great in your winter photos on Instagram, but they can be quite harmful to your gutter system. When icicles form, they often hang off your gutters, pulling them away from your home. Icicles that hang for extended periods can lead to your gutters working improperly and can even damage your home.

How to Prevent Ice Damage This Winter

Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is absolutely the best way to protect your gutters and your home from winter storm damage. If you don’t have the time or you don’t want to take the risk that comes with falling off a ladder, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call. Our professionals are trained to clean gutters and remove the debris is a safe manner.

Remove Limbs

While you’re cleaning out the clogs in your gutter system, you might as well go ahead and remove any limbs that are hanging close to your roof or gutters. When ice collects on these branches, they can snap and damage your roof and gutters.

Gutter Installation and Maintenance Done Right

Preventative maintenance can pay dividends when winter weather comes around. With that said, it’s not always feasible for homeowners to climb up on their roof or even make the time to start removing clogs. Some homeowners have gutters in such disrepair that they just ignore it and don’t worry about ice damage.

That’s where Gutter Boyz of Kentucky – with a team of hardworking gutter technicians, we have the passion and the experience to take care of all of your gutter installation and maintenance needs. From simple quotes to large-scale gutter installation jobs, we’ve got you covered. For more information or to receive a FREE QUOTE, give us a call today at 270-906-3055.

Gutters are probably one of the things in your home that you don’t think about until something goes wrong with them. You can’t just disregard it because it can cause long term annoyance and inconvenience if left unfixed. Some of the most common problems it could cause are overflowing and leaking around the house. If you leave them to neglect it, it can soon cause severe water damage in your house. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent major damage. Here are five tips from the pros at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.

1. Always be on the lookout.
   Always be on the lookout if there is something wrong in your gutter. Check out for signs of a leak in the drainage system or places where water has pooled. This is the first step and the one thing you must do even if your gutter is fine. Check your gutters every now and then so you will be aware if you have to do any repairs anytime soon. This will also help you assess if you can do it yourself or if it is time to contact gutter repair services.
   
2. Wash your gutters
   Washing your gutters every now and then goes a long way. You don’t have to do it regularly, but after doing your inspection and you see the need to clean it, go ahead and clean the gutters.
   
3. Patch small holes
   If your gutters are leaking and there are small holes in it, you may be able to repair them. For smaller holes, you can apply roofing cement using a putty knife directly.
   
4. Change old gutters to aluminum
   If your gutters are very old, chances are, they are old models that are susceptible to rust. Consider changing them to aluminum as aluminum gutters do not rust. The pros at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky will be happy to give you a FREE ESTIMATE if you have the need.
   
5. Clean out everything around the gutter
   Clean out any dirt and decomposed leaves around the gutter. Leaves may look harmless but if it is left out stuck in the gutters, it could decompose and would build up to that much-dreaded compost. Eventually, these stuck decomposed leaves can cause clogging and drainage will no longer work properly. So to avoid any of these to happen in the future, clean out everything that could cause any clogging to the gutters.

Whether you need to have your gutters repaired, new gutter installation, gutter cleaning or gutter guards, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky is ready to help. We serve a majority of Western Kentucky including Paducah, Murray, Mayfield, Benton and all of the surrounding counties. Feel free to give us a call for a FREE ESTIMATE at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us!

Getting your home ready for winter weather can be an exhaustive process. If you haven’t prepared for the winter months already, you need to think about your gutters as we move into the coldest winter months. That’s right; your gutters play an essential role in protecting your home over the winter months. However, if they aren’t cleaned and protected, you risk harming your roof and walls with water damage.

How Cold Weather Affects Un-Prepared Gutters

Ideally, if you’re reading this blog, you’re already considering what to do with your gutters before now. However, if you’re still unsure about how cold weather can affect your gutters, here are a few examples of the potential problems you may face.

• Ice Dams – The biggest issue you’ll find with gutters in freezing temperatures is the potential for ice dams. Often, ice dams will occur if there are blockages in your gutters that allow water to pool. This standing water will freeze, causing a further blockage. Furthermore, as these ice dams melt, they can slowly begin to seep under your roofline.
• Damaged Downspouts – Again, related to blockages and ice dams, you might find your downspouts to be taking on more damage. As downspouts are entirely enclosed, freezing water will expand and place pressure on the inside. This pressure will often lead to bending and cracking of the material, compromising your downspout.
• Sagging Gutters – Sections of gutters already stressed from years of use can be pushed beyond their limit with the presence of ice. And the more your gutter begins to sag, the more water, snow and ice is likely to settle in the dip. Such pressure can cause the gutter to fall after a while, sometimes bringing soffit and fascia boards with it.

All these issues, separate or combined, cause your gutter system to no longer be as efficient as it should be. And when gutters can’t carry water away from your roof and the base of your home, you risk severe water damage to parts of your house, fairly costly to repair or replace.

What Can Be Done to Protect Your Gutters?

Thankfully, there’s still time to ensure your gutters are ready. And to make sure everything is done right, it’s best to hire a professional like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky to assist with your gutter system.

• Clean Your Gutters – While we always suggest a professional gutter cleaning is the safest and the best gutter cleaning, this is one of the few preparations you can do by yourself. Ensuring your gutters are free of leaves, dirt and other debris helps prevent ice dams once freezing temperatures hit.
• Address Weak Spots – If you know your gutters are dented or bending in certain areas, these issues should be addressed ASAP. Sometimes all it takes is a simple realignment to make sure your gutters can withstand pressure from ice and snow. Otherwise, you might need pieces of your gutter replaced ahead of time.
• Replace Rotting Wood – Even if your gutters are straight and unblemished, they can easily collapse if they’re attached to rotting soffit or fascia. And melting snow and ice are only going to make matters worse. So, if you’re not sure your fascia boards and soffit will last the season, let a contractor swap them out.
• Get Gutter Guards – Rather than letting debris continue to fall into your gutters, increasing the likelihood of ice dams, have gutter guards installed for your home. While gutter guards won’t keep ice and snow out, they can prevent your gutters from getting clogged up from everything else. And the best part is, gutter guards are excellent for use all year long.

Help from the Experts

While there’s plenty that can be done to prepare your gutters for winter, much of it must be handled by gutter professionals like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky. Whether you are in need of gutter cleaning, gutter guards, gutter repair or new gutter installation, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky can help. We serve a majority of western Kentucky. Give us a call today at (270) 906-3055 for a FREE ESTIMATE!

You probably think that everyone knows the importance of cleaning your gutters at least twice a year. You would be surprised at how many people don’t take the time to clean out their gutters. Below are a few of the problems we see on a regular basis from people who don’t realize how important their gutter system is to their home:

• Foundation problems: If you have a 2,000-square-foot home, every inch of rain translates to more than 1,200 gallons of water pouring down your roof! A properly functioning gutter will carry that water through a downspout and away from your home. But a clogged gutter does the opposite—allowing water to spill over the sides and pour down your walls. Pooling water around your foundation can cause erosion which weakens the walls, leading to foundation cracks and settling. 
• Broken gutters: When your gutters are clogged, the water they collect has no place to go. Instead, it fills your gutters to the brim. With each gallon of water weighing about 8 pounds, all that extra weight can bend your gutters or tear them away from the roof.
• Wall and ceiling damage: Clogged gutters can also cause water leaks on the inside of your home. Trapped water can rot the wooden fascia boards your gutters are mounted to, letting moisture enter your home. And in the winter months, ice dams can drive snow melt underneath your shingles.
• Wet basement: If your basement isn’t waterproofed, the water pouring down your foundation can lead to a damp basement. This is caused by water seeping through your basement’s porous walls and floor.
• Insect infestations: Nobody likes mosquitos in their backyard. But pooling water in your gutters can be the perfect breeding ground for them. Damp mud and leaves can also be an inviting place for bees and wasps to build their nests.

Don’t ignore your gutters. Gutter Boyz of Kentucky can help prevent a wide range of problems you are risking to you home. Whether you need new gutters, gutter repair, gutter cleaning or gutter guards, Gutter Boyz of KY is your one-stop shop for all things gutter related. Gutter Boyz of Kentucky serves a majority of Western Kentucky. Give us a call today for a free estimate at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and every person affected by the storms and tornados in Western Kentucky this past week.

Many of you have likely suffered damage to your home and business. We know some will have major damage and some will have repairable damage. Keep in mind that gutters and downspouts are critical components in protection from weather and excess water entering your house. With more storms in the near forecast, your gutters are your home’s initial line of defense to protect from water damage to your home. If you find yourself in need of gutter repair or gutter replacement, you don’t want to wait to get on a contractors list to get the work done.

If you need gutter repair or gutter replacement, please give us a call at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky. Get A FREE Gutter Storm Damage Estimate by calling (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us.

Having clean rain gutters and downspouts provides so many benefits to you and your home. However, keeping your gutters clean throughout the year is a time-consuming and hazardous chore. A local professional gutter cleaning service like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky can really help. Here are 5 reasons to hire a pro for your gutter cleaning needs.

Protect Your Home From Leaks and Damage

If your gutters and downspouts are clogged with leaves and twigs they cannot do their job of carrying water safely away from your home when it rains. This leads to water damage, attic leaks, foundation cracks, slippery sidewalks, pest problems, and more.

Extends Gutter Life

Gutters that are full of debris and water are heavy. This extra weight will cause your gutters to sag, pull apart, leak, and even fall off your house! Professional gutter cleaning will remove the weight and it gives us a chance to find problems and take care of them, saving you time and money.

Safety

Gutter cleaning can be dangerous, especially for homes with more than one story or where landscaping or patios are involved. Climbing ladders to reach even the lowest level of your gutters or downspouts carries the risk of falling. Hiring a professional means you don’t have to climb ladders or work on the roof. Just think about it – is cleaning your gutters worth a trip to the hospital or worse?

Proper Equipment

Our local technicians are outfitted with the proper equipment to clean gutters quickly and safely. From proper extension ladders and safety gear to leaf blowers, vacuums, and more. Having the right tool for the job makes all the difference in the results.

Saves You Time

Your life is busy – and gutter cleaning is a time-consuming project. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning service like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky lets you spend your time on what’s important to you.

For more information or to obtain a FREE ESTIMATE give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call today at (270) 906-3066 or CLICK HERE to contact us today!

It’s time for Thanksgiving which means many of you will be getting ready to decorate for Christmas, and other various winter holidays. It is also the time of year that homeowners should be buttoning up winter projects and preparing their homes for the long, cold, winter months.

One thing that you should be sure to do is clean out your gutters. You can do this yourself or hire a professional, like Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, to do the work for you. Gutter cleaning is important because leaves and debris become heavier and heavier as they soak up water and eventually turn to ice. This can cause your gutters to pull away from your home, which is a whole new problem. So be sure to get your gutters cleaned while there is still time!

Now is also a good time to install leaf protection on your gutters. When we install leaf protection, we also take the time to clean out your gutters and downspouts. Leaf protection is the gift that keeps on giving – making your future seamless gutter maintenance much more manageable!

Let your mind be at ease this winter knowing that you took the proper precautions in caring for your greatest investment – your home! If you need new gutters, gutter repairs, gutter cleaning or gutter guards, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky is here to help. Give us a call today at (270) 906-3055 today for a FREE ESTIMATE!

People tend to think gutters just keep rainwater from falling on your head as you enter or leave you home. If this were true, it wouldn’t really be necessary to have them located anywhere except over doorways. In reality, there is much more to this often overlooked feature on your home than you might realize.

While it’s a bit troublesome to keep up with your drain, down spout and gutter maintenance, it is well worth it considering the problems and issues that could arise if you didn’t have them. Water is an incredible force; just look at all the flooding and devastation from storms in the south this past year. Just one inch of rain on a typical 2,000 sq ft home yields a overwhelming 1,200 gallons of rainwater. Imagine the level of damage that much water could do if it wasn’t properly managed and diverted through gutters and downspouts.

What are some of the problems?

For starters, that much water pouring off the roof directly on the ground around your property can put incredible stress on the foundation, resulting in seepage into your crawlspace, basement, or even into the home itself. There is also a risk of experiencing damage to your property’s siding over time. In addition, it’s much easier for runoff to seep back into your roof via the eaves and soffits, creating water damage in your attic, exterior walls and maybe even the interior walls. This could leas to wood rot or toxic mold, and all the problems these issues can cause. In the winter months, this water can freeze and expand, which can cause pretty severe structural damage.

Solutions

Having sufficient gutters and downspouts on your property isn’t enough to properly protect your home. It is very important to make sure they are clean and in good condition, have the proper angle off the roof, and slope in a way so the rainwater moves quickly away from your home. If you have questions about your gutters or would like a quote for installation, cleaning or repairs, contact us at Gutter Boyz of Kentucky. Our years of specialized experience in the gutter industry assures you of a professional and quality result that will protect your home and keep the rain off your head.

For more information or for a FREE ESTIMATE, give us a call at (270) 906-3066 or CLICK HERE to contact us!

When you walk outside in the morning, you can finally feel the colder fall air making its way to our area. With fall come falling leaves, and lots of them. If you haven’t scheduled an appointment to have your gutters cleaned, now is an excellent time to call Gutter Boyz of Kentucky. These are just a few reasons that cleaning your gutters is a must to make it through the long winter ahead.

Protecting Your Foundation

The function of gutters is to move water away from the foundation of your home. When you don’t address water issues with gutters, water will pool around the foundation. Over time, it can lead to structural damage like foundation cracks and leaks. Gutter cleaning is a must to make sure that your gutters can do what they were designed to. If there is a build-up of dirt and debris, then water will simply pour over the top and render them useless.

Reduce the Risk of Damaging Your Gutters

Gutters are meant to guide water, but they aren’t designed to take much weight. When you don’t clean your gutters, dirt and debris can build up and weigh them down. If they are weighted, it can cause them to sag and pull away from the house, causing damage. That can lead to the need for unnecessary repairs, and in some instances, require you to install new gutters – which can get really expensive. Preventative maintenance is always less expensive than repairs after the damage has occurred.

Aesthetics

Nothing can make your home look aged more than gutters that are overflowing with twigs, dirt, and seedlings. If you want to enhance your curb appeal, getting your gutters cleaned is a must! Because your gutters back up to your fascia and soffit boards, if they aren’t cleaned, it can lead to rot, which will also make your home look uncared for. A simple gutter cleaning appointment can make all the difference.

About Pest Problems

When dirt, debris, and algae build up, they become breeding grounds for pests and insects. And if you don’t address them, they can do a lot of damage. Once an infestation starts, they will likely find a way to gain access to the interior of your home and do even more damage. Pest control is all about prevention, especially when it comes to your gutters. By removing any build-up, you take away their ability to hide and multiply.

If you haven’t scheduled your gutter cleaning appointment for this fall, now is an excellent time. Soon the leaves will all have fallen and settled into your gutters – where they can cause a whole lot of damage if not removed. At Gutter Boyz of Kentucky, we go to great lengths to ensure that your gutters are in proper working order; by cleaning them regularly, we extend their longevity and reduce the risk of needing repairs.

Give us a call today at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to get a FREE ESTIMATE!

A gutter system is designed to push rainwater away from the roofline as well as from your home, to prevent structural damage. Check out these tips for gutter cleaning and learn why keeping your gutters free of debris is so important to home maintenance.

Why clean your Gutters?

Throughout the year, falling leaves and other junk can find its way into your gutters. Too much muck and your gutter system will become clogged. When that happens, the rainwater has nowhere to go, and it will start spilling over the edge. The water hits the ground right next to your foundation wall, causing puddles to form and flooding to occur.

People don’t always realize how damaging clogged gutters can be to their home. Roofing problems, landscaping issues, and even the headaches of mold and mildew wreak havoc on your property. It’s important to keep your gutter system working well.

How often should you clean your Gutters?

Twice a year is usually recommended for gutter cleaning. However, it should depend on your situation. Every yard and every neighborhood is different. Do you have pine trees that are taller than your roofline? Pine needles are notorious for clogging gutters, so if this is the case, you should clean them more often.

Some neighborhoods get more rain than other places. The more rain that ultimately flows through your gutters, the more cleaning you should do. This will ensure that the water flows freely through your downspout system so that it can be taken further away from your home.

How to clean your Gutters

Calling a professional to clean your gutters is always the best. But if you really feel you want to do them yourself, check out these tips for cleaning your gutter system:

• For debris that’s tough to get out or time-consuming to remove by hand, use a gutter scoop. You can even cut one out from a plastic milk jug to scoop up the junk clogging up your gutters.

• Use a power washer. Using one of these allows you to quickly blast away the dirt and debris left behind. If you don’t want to spend the money to rent or buy one, try using your garden hose.

• For stubborn debris in the elbows of your downspouts, try using a plumber’s snake tool. It’s not only useful for snaking out your plumbing pipes, but it’s great for your gutter system as well.

Help Keep The Debris Out

If you are like most people, you probably are not looking forward to having to clean your gutters. You can reduce the amount of debris entering your gutters (and therefore reduce the time you spend cleaning your gutters) with gutter gutter guards from Gutter Boyz of Kentucky.

Whether you need new gutters, gutter repair, gutter cleaning or gutter gutter guards, Gutter Boyz of Kentucky is your one-stop shop for all things gutter related. For more information or to receive a FREE ESTIMATE, give us a call today at (270) 906-3055 or CLICK HERE to contact us today! Gutter Boyz serves a majority of Western Kentucky!