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Gutters are essential for draining rainwater away from homes. When they become clogged, it can create a serious issue and necessitate costly repairs.
Maintaining your gutters is essential to protect your home from moisture damage and rusting, but fortunately, cleaning and repairing them is a relatively straightforward task that won’t break the bank.
Here are the simple tools you’ll need and probably already have around the house:
Ladder
Cleaning and repairing your gutters is an essential part of home maintenance. Not only does this protect against property damage such as rotting siding and leaking foundations, but it can also save you from costly repairs and water damage to gardens or flower beds.
Before beginning to clean your gutters, you will need a ladder tall enough for your house and some essential tools. Professionals like Guardian Eavestrough Ltd. have all the tools required, making the job easy as pie for you. But if you’re doing it yourself; before beginning, inspect the ladder carefully for defects or loose screws.
Once you have a sturdy ladder, secure it by fully extending and locking its extension-hinge arms. Test its level by climbing several steps to confirm it is stable.
Once you’ve checked your ladder, it’s time to begin cleaning your gutters. Use a shovel or trowel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trowel) to scoop out any caked debris. Additionally, look for standing water and sticks that indicate obstructions needing removal.
Garden hoses can be extremely helpful when clearing away larger debris by hand or when there’s excess water in the gutter you can’t reach from your ladder. Many hoses come equipped with pistol-grip trigger spray nozzles that allow you to hang over the front edge of the gutter and spray as you move around or use a gutter scoop.
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Gloves
When cleaning your gutters, wearing gloves will keep your hands clean and prevent infection. They also shield you from pigeon and squirrel droppings which contain bacteria, as well as torn metal shards found in old gutters that can cut into the skin.
Choose gloves that are waterproof and puncture-resistant to keep your hands safe while working. They should also have a good grip, so you can hold onto the gutter while clearing it.
Gloves made from suede or another material that feels thicker than cotton, rubber, or smooth leather are an ideal choice for gutter cleaning. Not only are these gloves more protective against scalding water, but they’ll also feel better on your hands.
Additionally, it’s wise to wear a pair of safety glasses to shield your eyes from any dust or dirt that may fly out while cleaning out gutters. You can usually find these at most hardware or department stores.
Bucket
Gutter cleaning is an integral part of maintaining your home’s gutter system, according to this article. Neglecting to clean them regularly can lead to clogs and other damage to the system. Cleaning gutters is a common task that often involves using a bucket. Not only do buckets hold debris while you work, but they can also be used for storing water once the job is complete.
To use the bucket method, start by prepping your ladder so it is stable enough for support as you work. You can use either a stepladder or an extension ladder for this task. Once your ladder is in place, you can begin working on your gutters.
A garden trowel or scoop made from an antifreeze container works well for this job; alternative tools include plastic jugs and spatulas. But before beginning the job, inspect your gutters and downspouts for damages. If any are loose, you can replace them with a new pair.
If your downspouts are leaking, you can repair them by applying patch material or liquid sealant. Make sure the patch is wider than the leak area and overlaps the joint edge; this will increase drainage speed and minimize the chance of a dam forming.
Trowel
Depending on your requirements, you can choose from a wide range of trowels used for cleaning your home’s exteriors and your roof accessories. Some are specifically designed for laying bricks while others have been created with other tasks in mind.
For instance, a brick trowel has a slightly rounded-diamond-shaped blade that spreads mortar between bricks, thus it’s not applicable for cleaning or reaching gutters safely. Additionally, its pointed end makes it ideal for tamping down any mortar residue.
Another type is a tuck-pointing trowel, which is long and thin and designed for hooking around tight corners of your gutter and cleaning efficiently. If you don’t have this tool at home, don’t worry about it – it’s not something typically used and is only applicable in a squeeze, really.
Garden Hose
Avoid climbing up a ladder to clean your gutters by using a garden hose. However, keep in mind that it may not have enough power to completely empty out all of your gutters.
If your gutters have more severe clogs, use a more powerful nozzle. Additionally, consider investing in an attachment that attaches to your hose and power drill – this will enable you to perform this task more quickly and thoroughly.
Rotary tools (https://www.harryhelmet.com/5-gutter-cleaning-tools/) can clean your gutters more quickly and effectively than a trowel or other tool can, but be careful not to damage the roof or fascia with the rotary head.
Alternatively, pressure washers are another option for blasting away grime; however, this method only works if you are an experienced power washer user who can handle high-pressure levels.
Another option is to use a telescoping water pole attachment that extends your hose and lets you reach the end of each gutter without needing to get off a ladder. Simply turn on the hose and work your way toward each gutter’s end.
