Cleaning your own gutters is never a good option.

The only thing worse than having to clean out your clogged gutters every year, is spending money on a gutter protection system that doesn’t work or doesn’t last. Below, we compare some of the most popular systems and products for your consideration. Leaf Relief is our brand of choice. It stands out from the other choices because it’s durable, guaranteed to work, and looks good.

Plastic Gutter Screens (Waterfall and those sold at big box stores)

-         Falls apart after 2-3 years

-         Weak, flimsy product that becomes brittle with temperature changes

-         Large holes allow debris to fall through and get stuck

Complete Gutter Enclosure System (Gutter Helmet / Gutter Topper)

-         Most expensive option

-         Won’t cave in

-         Bird & squirrel resistant

-         Impossible to clean out small debris

-         Costly to remove and reinstall if your roof needs repairs or replacing

-         Doesn’t fill all roof slopes

-         Sits up high, so it’s visible from the ground

Leaf Relief

-         Fairly-priced option

-         Doesn’t clog

-         100% debris efficiency

-         Fits all roof slopes

-         Virtually invisible from the ground

-         Never caves in

-         Bird & squirrel resistant

-         Easy to install

-         Withstands winds up to 110 mph

-          Prevents costly damage from ice dams and overflowing gutter

-          Backed by 10-year No Clog, No Overflow Warranty

Bottom line, don’t risk cleaning out your own gutters, and don’t risk spending money on a shoddy product.  It’s just a few short months until leaves and debris start falling into your gutters again, so start getting prices now and give yourself enough time to make the right decision for your home and budget.

When selecting siding, there are six basic items to consider:

1. Water Resistance. Water-resistant types of siding will have longer lifespans.

2. Ease of Installation. If you’re installing the siding on your own, make sure it is within your skill set, requires no special tools, and creates no harmful dust when cut. If it’s beyond your skillset, make sure to hire a siding expert.

3. Energy Efficiency. Check the R-Value rating for energy savings and understand what will be needed as far as insulation beneath the cladding.

4. Aesthetics. Your siding will be in full view as you come and go, so make sure it is beautiful to you.

5. Versatility. Make sure the siding has the versatility to meet the varied needs of your specific project. If there are aspects of your home’s exterior that will make using a particular type of siding more challenging than others, make sure you understand what the added costs or necessary adjustments will be.

6. Durability. Does it have the strength to resist temperature shifts present in your climate? How does it stand up to everyday wear and tear?

Q: “Should I paint or reside my older home?”

A:   Many people ask this question. The answer is, “It depends.” Is your siding in good shape and worth repainting, or must it be replaced?  Are you happy with the cost of repainting today and the thought of doing it again in  5-7 years? When you consider how good modern non-wood siding looks and performs, and the fact that it’s less   expensive to replace siding than to paint twice in the next seven years, you might want to consider residing.

Do you associate the term “vinyl” with “cheap” or “fake?” Let me reassure you that today’s high performance products are so beautiful and wood-like, that they’re even approved by most historic districts. Not to mention their ability to stand up to time and retain their good looks. It’s what I have on my home and not only it is a joy to look at, but I’ll never have to deal with repainting or other maintenance again.

We’ll be happy to evaluate your siding and tell you whether it’s a candidate for residing. We can help you select the product that meets your taste and budget. Or, we can reside with wood. The choice is yours.

As a consideration, take a look at the picture above. One of these buildings has wooden shingles, while the other has Cedar Impressions. Can you tell the difference?