Mill Creek Gutter Pros

Water = The Enemy

Unfortunately, Mill Creek, Washington gets a lot of water. Here's what to do. 

Water can be harmful to your home's structure. Any rain or snow that falls on your roof is your home's worst enemy, and it should be removed as quickly as possible to prevent damage. Water that has accumulated on the roof or in the foundation of your home can quickly seep into the structure of your home and cause significant damage.

It is the first step in creating a joyful environment in your home to keep water from damaging it. Roofs that are properly angled, gutters that are large enough and downspout extensions are all that are required for effective surface drainage.

The roof is the first step in preventing runoff water from entering the building. It should be positioned at an angle that is acceptable for the environment in which it will be used. Because falling snow can readily slide off a higher pitched roof in locations where there is more snowfall, higher pitched roofs are typical in these areas. In locations where there is a lot of rainfall, it is critical that roofs are sloped in such a way that rainwater may flow into the gutters without getting stuck. This will prevent water from gathering on the roof and causing it to deteriorate over time. Most residences in North America are not flat, therefore it is more difficult to eliminate runoff water when the ground is not level.
 
Runoff water from your roof is directed into gutters that are affixed to the roof's perimeter. It is critical that gutters be large enough to accommodate all runoff water when there is more frequent and heavier rains. If your gutters are too small, water will splash over the sides of your home and still have the potential to do harm.

Gutter cleaning and inspection should be performed on a regular basis. The caulking should be applied to any leaks, and any debris obstructing the gutters should be removed. Despite the fact that it is a time-consuming task, it will save you the heartache that comes with significant damage that could potentially destroy your property.

The downspouts are the vertical plumbing that connects the gutters to the ground. Downspouts create a channel for runoff water to go through in order to reach the earth. In the same way that your gutters are important, they should be designed adequately so that all water can be collected without spilling and cleaned and checked for leaks on a regular basis. Downspouts are typically installed to the corners of a home to direct water away from the structure. When it comes to surface drainage, it is typical to have a curved connection at the end to divert the water away from the foundation. It is not enough, however, to keep water from pouring into your basement and damaging the foundation of your home.
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As a result, downspout extensions are necessary. Downspout extensions are simple pieces of hardware that attach to the bottom of downspouts. They extend a few feet away from your property and catch runoff water before diverting it to a safe location. A properly installed downspout extension will also spread the pressure of draining water, preventing it from striking the ground with great force.
Do your gutters need attention? Give us a call today, we’ll be happy to help. 

​Prep Your Home for Winter

According to Felton, "by performing a little preventative maintenance now, you can avoid minor problems from growing into huge headaches in the spring." "Minor repairs completed now can prevent air and moisture intrusion from compromising the structural integrity of your home in the future," he continued.
As an example, cleaning up the rain gutter in the fall will aid in the prevention of ice damming in the winter, which occurs when moisture is driven up under the roofing shingles during the freeze-thaw cycles of the winter months. When it comes to repairing ice dam damage and leaks in the spring, Felton says, "our roofing contractors are constantly busy."

Home maintenance tasks that should be included on a homeowner's winterizing checklist include the following:

Once all the leaves have been cleared from the rain gutters, clean them out thoroughly. Check the drainage of the garden hoses to ensure that they are working properly and that downspouts are working properly and are directed away from the home's foundation walls. Examine your gutters, downspouts, and hangers for signs of leaks or damage. Remove rust from the gutters and repair them using roofing cement. Caulk any leaking seams and double-check that pop rivets are securely fastened.

Roof issue symptoms include cracked, buckling, or curling shingles, as well as bare places where the granular coating has been worn away. Examine the flashing around vents, skylights, and chimneys for damage. Take note of any parts that have been peeled back and any cracks in the caulking that could allow moisture to seep in.

-> Have the chimney cleaned, and inspect the exterior structure for signs of wear such as worn flashing, loose bricks, or crumbling cement.

-> Have your furnace cleaned, examined, and verified for safety before using it. Based on your system, you may require a thorough cleaning of the furnace as well as the replacement of the filter and inspection of the pilot.

Examine the attic louvres for evidence of wasp nests and cover any openings, especially those under the eaves, with sheet metal, wire screen, or wood to prevent animals from nesting there.

-> Take your window air conditioner out of service and put it somewhere safe. Before covering the unit for the winter, make sure the coils and filters are cleaned and free of debris. If you plan to leave the air conditioner in the window during the winter, make sure you cover it with a waterproof cover to keep it safe.

-> Thoroughly clean your lawnmower and other garden tools before putting them away. To keep your tools from rusting, wipe off all of their metal parts with an oiled rag after each use. Disconnect the fuel lines from gas-powered devices and turn the engine on to ensure that the lines are clear. Drain the oil and replenish it with new oil. Remove any grass or debris that has become caked on.

-> Inspect the caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows for appropriate installation. Put your doors and windows through the draft test by holding a lighted candle and running it along the seams. A flickering flame indicates that your heating bucks are being squandered prematurely. Keep an eye out for a tight threshold seal or door sweep at the bottom of doors.

-> Check to see that your fireplace is in proper functioning order. In order to reduce heat loss, ensure that the damper opens and closes smoothly and that it is properly fitted. Check the inside of the fireplace to verify sure there are no loose or cracked bricks. If your fireplace is smoking heavily, inspect the chimney for any broken bricks that may have fallen. Installing a chimney cover can help to cure a smoking fireplace by increasing the amount of draft it receives.

-> Before the first major freeze, drain any outside water pipes, hose bibs, sprinklers, and pool equipment from the house. Caulk the areas where pipes enter the home where they are exposed.
To store your BBQ for the winter, clean it thoroughly and store it in a dry, protected location. Propane tanks should never be kept indoors.

-> Wipe down patio furniture and store it in a dry location with a loose cover.

-> Wash windows to ensure that the most amount of heat and light is allowed in during the cold winter days.
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Almost ready for winter? Give us a call for a final cleaning and inspection – now’s the time to take care of any issue you might have identified. 

You may have noticed that we get a lot of rain here in Mill Creek. Unfortunately, this can be bad for your basement. 

Waterproofing the Basement
The sounds — a trickle, a drip-drop, or a powerful surge or splash – are all different. Ah, the sun has set, and the rainy season has begun! During a downpour, our roofs, gutters, and downspouts all work together to keep us safe and dry. Rainwater cascades from our roofs, just like it does when it cascades off mountains. It is then collected in gutters before being channeled into downspouts, which look like waterfalls, as it exits the roof. Everything about roofing and waterproofing is demonstrated by these examples.

1. Increased Protection
Waterproofing is more than just diverting water away from our roofs. It is also about protecting our foundations. A material application specifically formulated for waterproofing is used to effectively prevent water from entering the property....

2. The Conceptual Framework
Essentially, there are two processes that must be completed in order to accomplish basement waterproofing. The first step is to install a drainage system that is extremely dependable. Water will build instead of being properly syphoned away from your home if your drainage system becomes clogged with leaves or simply cannot handle the amount of water that is present.

When it rains, even with the best gutters and roof, water will naturally seep into the ground due to the fact that not all of the rain will land on your house; some will fall around it, such as in your front or back yard or in the yard of your neighbor.

In either case, if there is an excessive amount of water held in the ground, there is a risk of water entering your basement, and the only way to avoid this is to have your basement waterproofed.

3. Never Again - Track Down the Source!

First and foremost, it is essential that you identify the source of the leak before beginning basement waterproofing.

- Is there a break in the wall where I can see through it?
- Was the house constructed with shaky foundations?
- Are the waters outside flooding and putting an excessive amount of strain on the system?

It is necessary to properly inspect your home in order to detect any of these issues. Water will typically seep into the basement through fractures in the floor or walls, which are most commonly found on the basement floor or walls. Before you apply basement waterproofing, make sure to complete all of these tasks.
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In order to actually apply a coat of waterproofing, you must dig at least six feet directly near to the wall, which is a significant inconvenience. You can't just dump the waterproofing mixture on the ground adjacent to your basement — it has to be applied directly to the outside of the basement wall. Due to the physical nature of this job, hiring a handyman, or better yet hiring a business to complete it for you, is highly recommended in all honesty. The service will also have the added benefit of giving you with a warranty for the services provided, which assures that you will not encounter the problem again for a specified period of time after the service is completed.

The key to maintaining your gutter system is to care for your gutters on a regular basis. Our friends in real estate suggest that you service your gutters regularly, and conduct regular inspections. They often see bent gutters, broken components, and issues that should never have been allowed to manifest. Well-maintained, clean, and operational gutters improve the value of your home.

Gutter cleaning should be done twice a year, according to most home improvement experts. Rain will not run down or drain properly if your gutters are blocked with debris such as leaves and twigs. We get plenty of rain here in Mill Creek, Washington. Thus, It's critical to ensure that rainwater does not overflow from your gutters and onto your foundation, or worse, through or around the fascia board and into your roof. Your attic, and foundation of the house may be harmed as a result of this over time.

It is recommended that you clear your gutters in the Fall and Spring, when all of the leaves have fallen from the surrounding trees. You should inspect your gutters for any holes or corrosion through when cleaning them. Make sure there aren't any dangling nails. Verify that the gutters are firmly attached to the home.
 
After removing all of the dirt from the gutter, use your garden hose to rinse any residual debris down the gutter and into the downspout. This will also assist you in ensuring that your downspout is not obstructed. If the water does not flow into the downspout, you can remove it, clean it, and then restore it.
Check to see if the water flowing from the downspout is being diverted properly with a plastic or concrete diverter. You don't want the water to run off onto the ground, causing erosion.
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Gutter guards have grown increasingly popular because they eliminate the need to clean your gutters, albeit they still require inspection twice a year. Installing gutter guards isn't difficult for a do-it-yourselfer, and it might save you thousands of dollars over having them installed by professionals.

Some people believe gutter guards are overpriced and not worth the investment. While gutter guards keep huge leaves out of the gutter, they leave tiny natural detritus including seeds, buds, small pieces of bark and twigs, and evergreen needles in the gutter. All of this natural matter decomposes over time, resulting in trash in your gutter. Debris can also accumulate on the gutter guard screening, which must be manually cleaned. Gutter guards have been discovered to cause more complications for some people.

Ready to schedule a gutter cleaning? Give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help!

Lets keep Mill Creek, Washington beautiful! We can help!

Maintaining Your Basement

If you're one of the happy homeowners who has a basement, doing everything you can to keep it clean and dry is critical for the foundation's long-term stability and the overall safety of your home's environment. Mold and mildew run amok in your damp basement can cause a variety of problems. Here are some things to think about when waterproofing your basement.

1. Start at the top and work your way down. If you don't have suitable gutters and drain spouts built, water from your roof can quickly seep into your basement. Clogged or missing gutters might result in a cascade that falls directly next to the foundation and seeps through the basement walls. Check your gutters for clogged regions or leaky patches on a regular basis and take care of the situation as soon as possible. To prevent heavy things from becoming stuck inside the gutters, use a mesh or plastic screen.

2. What is the source of your water? Rainwater should run away from the foundation rather than toward it, therefore your yard should slope away from the house. Re-grade your grass if necessary, such that it lowers roughly 6 inches every 10 feet. If you don't have the necessary equipment, hire a lawn care professional to do the job.

3. Do you have an egress window or a window well? Water can easily pool in those wells during a downpour, acting as a holding tank for moisture against your foundation. You should use a plastic window well cover to cover those window wells. These are inexpensive and may be found at any local home improvement store.

4. Water can also come from the inside. Use a dehumidifier to reduce condensation and internal moisture. It's also a good idea to insulate your pipes and HVAC ducts. Basement bathrooms may be a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Clean the bathroom on a regular basis and ensure that the area is well ventilated so that moisture does not collect.

Once you've established that your basement is clean, dry, and well-protected, return to it on a frequent basis to remain on top of any new issues that may arise. It will benefit your home and family. If you're one of the happy homeowners who has a basement, doing everything you can to keep it clean and dry is critical for the foundation's long-term stability and the overall safety of your home's environment. Mold and mildew run amok in your damp basement can cause a variety of problems. Here are some things to think about when waterproofing your basement.

1. Start at the top and work your way down. If you don't have suitable gutters and drain spouts built, water from your roof can quickly seep into your basement. Clogged or missing gutters might result in a cascade that falls directly next to the foundation and seeps through the basement walls. Check your gutters for clogged regions or leaky patches on a regular basis and take care of the situation as soon as possible. To prevent heavy things from becoming stuck inside the gutters, use a mesh or plastic screen.

2. What is the source of your water? Rainwater should run away from the foundation rather than toward it, therefore your yard should slope away from the house. Re-grade your grass if necessary, such that it lowers roughly 6 inches every 10 feet. If you don't have the necessary equipment, hire a lawn care professional to do the job.

. Do you have an egress window or a window well? Water can easily pool in those wells during a downpour, acting as a holding tank for moisture against your foundation. You should use a plastic window well cover to cover those window wells. These are inexpensive and may be found at any local home improvement store.

4. Water can also come from the inside. Use a dehumidifier to reduce condensation and internal moisture. It's also a good idea to insulate your pipes and HVAC ducts. Basement bathrooms may be a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Clean the bathroom on a regular basis and ensure that the area is well ventilated so that moisture does not collect.
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Once you've established that your basement is clean, dry, and well-protected, return to it on a frequent basis to remain on top of any new issues that may arise. It will benefit your home and family.