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Top 3 Gutter Cleaning Solutions For Safe DIY Chores!

Clean Gutters Support Optimal Function Of Your Foundation And Roof.

Properly functioning gutters keep rain flowing right where you want it and not where you don’t! We can help with gutter cleaning if you would like us to take care of it for you. However, if you are looking to get in there and clean them yourself, here are Valley Roofing & Exteriors’s Top 3 Gutter Cleaning Solutions to help you out.

Safety First!

Before you begin to clean your gutters, put safety first with a little preparation. First things first: Is your ladder functioning properly? Do you have work gloves to protect your hands? Do you have a bucket in which to put the debris you find? Are you working with a buddy to ensure your safety from the ground? Is the light right to see what you need to see? Are trees trimmed back from your home to give you easy access to the perimeter of your roof? Take precautions to operate securely and stay safe so you can clean your gutters and then sit back and enjoy your work!

Top 3 Gutter Cleaning Solutions Keep Your Water Flowing. 

  1. Clear out visible debris. Getting up where you can see into your gutters  can bring you face to face with the muck that causes clogs. Byharrisonburg gutters installation cleaning out the debris, you minimize water dams that run off and affect your foundation.
  2. Wash out your gutters with the garden hose. Running clean water through your gutters when it’s not pouring rain gives you a chance to see if thereare any leaks or cracks, clogs or hidden debris that may keep your gutter system from working well.
  3. Check the integrity of your gutter guards. Make sure your gutter guards are in tact and winter weather or seasonal storms haven’t damaged them. If you do have gutter guards, they take care of our first two tips for you!

 

Solutions to Ice Dams: From Prevention To Recovery

Combat Ice Dams! Address Roof Leaks And Thin Insulation Before Winter Weather Strikes.

When you are planning for your home’s winter readiness, check your roof from the inside looking for cracks, gaps, and joints. Seal all gaps and check for air and water leakage. When your insulation is thin, bringing it up to the latest code can make a tremendous difference in the heating and cooling efficiency of your home. The less heat emitted through the attic to the snow and ice on the roof, the less your chances of developing ice dams that can cause real damage to your roof.

Final Ice Dam Prevention Solutions Include Improving Ventilation And Installing a Waterproof Membrane.

Once your attic is air insulated, then improving ventilation makes a difference. The goal is to keep the air properly flowing through the home and minimizing inefficiency and heat loss through the roof. Think of it like walking in cold weather without the right hat to keep your body heat regulated. Installing a waterproof membrane is typically done when installing a new roof and can be a costly solution. Once you are at the point where you roof needs a waterproof membrane, you likely need a new roof. The waterproof layer minimizes leaks and maximizes the life of your roof.

When You’ve Got Ice Dams And Need Recovery, Handle It Layer By Layer.

The first step is knocking off excess snow to get to the ice dam. Whenever you are doing any work on your roof, be sure to take extensive safety precautions. This is especially critical in suboptimal weather conditions. Chiseling away the ice dam also requires attentive care, so as not to do any further damage to the roof. Once the ice dam is removed, salt or other chemical melting agents may be applied to halt the problem until the weather clears enough to solve the root problem.

Contact Us For A Free Storm Damage Recovery Estimate.

The Anatomy of Ice Dams

Pipe flashing: How healthy is your roof?

Your roof is as strong as its most vulnerable part. 

Pipe flashing is a piece of material that prevents water from entering a structure through a joint. Proper product should be present where a chimney, vent, fan, or cable meets the roof. Pipe flashing comes in many types of material that offer variations in durability and cost. Bad pipe flashings are typically the first thing to break down on your roof.

Get your roof checked out every 5 years to avoid potential disasters.

Many roof installers cut costs by using cheap products, which can lead to significant breakdown over the years. Before you notice a leak, have a professional take a look. Valley Roofing & Exteriors offers roof inspections as a preventative measure in order to address small concerns before they become problems.

Valley Roofing & Exteriors focuses on strength and durability for your roof.

Valley Roofing & Exteriors uses only GAF Ultimate Pipe Flashing. This breakthrough design uses a proprietary sealing method that gives you maximum protection from leaks.  When you want the best protection, using the best available materials is the only way to go.

GAF Ultimate Pipe Flashing matches your roof’s warranty.

GAF Ultimate Pipe Flashing is guaranteed to never fail through the life of the roof’s warranty. When a roofing system is installed using this product, the flashing warranty matches the roof’s warranty. Call Valley Roofing & Exteriors for your roof flashing inspection today!