Half Round Gutters Can Be Worthy of Consideration

The drainage system plays a vital role in the maintenance of a building. There are various types of gutter systems, of which the half round gutter system is steadily gaining popularity among installers as this variety has certain advantages. The aluminum half round gutter product is available in different colors. They are also very cheap. It is now possible to make a mid range house look like an upscale one.

The advantage of half round gutters is that they are suitable for all kinds of buildings, whether old fangled or modern. Along with the gutters the accessories are very attractive too. This is why the sale of the half round gutter is going up and forms a considerable portion of the total national market.

The various manufacturers are busy with their production as the cash box is ringing steadily. Each part of the half round gutter system is decorative. The hangers, heads of conductors, brackets, outlets, caps and even the half round gutter drain is well crafted and sturdy. Business is brisk nowadays because the age old designs are still a favorite with the people.

The half round gutter system is the oldest type of drainage system existing .This is why some of the designs are over a hundred years old. The most common drainage was the half round one before 1950. It was in the sixties that the K style came into existence. For the houses built on the lines of ranches, these were befitting. The half round again became popular, when people realized that they had less seams and even lesser leakage. The durability of the half round gutters gained the confidence of the customers.

Experts feel that the ideal size of a half round gutter should be six inches. Copper being costly, making a round gutter is a waste of money. Instead, with the same amount of copper, two half round gutters can be made, thus saving precious bucks. The half round gutters have a convex trough that carries the water to the bottom easily and quickly. One does not have to depend on the pitch.

Market study says that the growth in sales of the half round gutter will increase as people are spending money on their custom made houses. These are also in demand for the drainage system of old churches and such other traditional constructions. The heritage buildings opt for this type of guttering. The easy half round gutter installation makes it a better choice apart from the fact that, options like hidden hangers and seamless guttering are not so simply done in the other systems. The original drainage system is back for good.

carl formby owns and operates http://www.gutteringdeals.com, which has information on Gutter Leaf Guards

Roof Repair And Replacement - What Every Bid Should Include

When replacing your roof you don't want to hire a company that will not stand behind their work or even worse yet, disappear once the job is done. If the roofing company can't answer your questions or provide you information needed to fairly evaluate them, then they are probably the wrong roofing company for you. The following is a list of questions you need the roofer to answer when giving you a bid. Make sure that the roofer gives you a written bid and all your concerns are addressed.

1. Determine if your roof only needs repaired or the entire roof should be replaced. You might receive different opinions from different roofers.

2. Ask the roofer how they will protect your windows, siding, shrubs, gutters, attic, lawn, etc. from damage. Find out how often they will remove the debris if they are taking off the old roof. Are they prepared for inclement weather? Will they put up temporary weather protection when they leave for the day?

3. If you are putting on a new roof, ask if removal of the old roof is necessary? Once again you may receive differing opinions, challenge the roofer to explain the difference of opinion.

4. Does the roofer need to replace only part of the existing sheathing or is all new sheathing required. If so, inquire about the type and thickness. You need to ask about the felt underlayment; what type and weight?

5. Make sure the roofer includes new flashing for the chimney, vent collar and valleys. What type will be used, will it be copper or aluminum and what gauge?

6. What shingles will be used (specific brand, grade, design, color)? Will the shingles be nailed or stapled?

7. Does the roofer guarantee his work? The guarantee should include the workmanship by the roofer and materials by the manufacturer. Since faulty application can invalidate the materials guarantee, sign a bid only if it has a workmanship guarantee.

8. Does the roofer have a certificate of insurance? Ask to see it. The contractor should have Workmen's Compensation as well as liability.

9. Does the price include the permit and taxes? Does non-contracted work require your inspection and written approval? What is the payment schedule?

10. Request start and completion dates (including penalties); be sure this is made part of the contract.

11. Ask for references: Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of four roofing jobs. They should be at least two or three years old (to see how the job held up). Call the references and ask them if they were satisfied with the work and if they had any problems. Ask them if they would hire this company again. Drive by and look at the jobs, do they look good, is the flashing neatly applied?

Ultimately when the bids are in you should choose a contractor on the basis of price, quality of work, reputation, and work completed on schedule and your general impressions of the company and its people.

Gutter Helmet - Does Gutter Helmet Work Or Is It All Hype?

For those of us who cringe at the thought of having to clean gutters every year, a product called Gutter Helmet is supposed to eliminate this chore forever. But, does it really work?

I recently had a close friend who had the Gutter Helmet system installed on his home, so I was able to find out a little more about this new concept.

Most everyone understands how important it is to have free-flowing rain gutters on our home. A clogged gutter does no good, other than creating drainage issues and possible roof damage.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has gone as far as saying clogged gutters and downspouts contribute to furthering the spread of the West Nile virus. It makes sense, mosquitoes love standing water.

The Gutter Helmet is designed in a way that it sits under the shingles and then attaches over your existing gutter.

Rainwater comes down the roof and into a 3/8" opening in the gutter Helmet. That may not seem like a very big slot to handle a big storm, but it is said to be good for over 20 inches of rain per hour. If we ever seen that much rain in an hour the gutter would be the least of our problems!

Gutter Helmet is not low cost. Expect prices in the $15-$20 a foot range. This includes installation since Gutter Helmet is not for the do-it-yourselfer. It needs professional installation.

While this cost is more than double the rate for a standard gutter install, the system is guaranteed for life and that even includes a transferable warranty.

Does it really work? Well, from judging what my friend has went through, I'd say it does. Here in the Midwest we have been through several storms and his gutters have been fine.

If gutter cleaning is not for you, I would suggest looking at the Gutter Helmet system as a possible solution.

All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

By the way, you can learn more about the Gutter Helmet as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-z.com

Seamless Gutters - are They Right for You or a Waste of Money?

Deciding on whether to purchase and install seamless gutters? You may have heard of this type of guttering system, but don't fully understand what they are all about. There are many advantages to seamless rain gutters, which I will outline in this article.

To start, the reason why they call it seamless is because it is exactly that, seamless. This means there are no breaks within the gutter channel. Why is this so important or necessary? One of the more important reasons is because without seams you don't have leakage issues. Traditional rain gutters are joined together in sections and will leak over time, but with this type of gutter there are no joints, therefore the likelihood of a leak diminishes.

Seamless gutters are made out of a variety of materials which can range from aluminum, steel that has been galvanized, vinyl and copper. If you are wondering if you can match the color scheme of the exterior of your house, that's no problem. It can be made in any color, so matching it to your home's exterior will not be a problem.

If you're budget conscious then you should be aware that seamless gutters are more expensive than traditional gutters, so you should be prepared to spend a little more money on these gutters, although it is not that much more. It's also important to note, that you'll need a professional contractor to install them since the gutter is measured on site to ensure that everything fits exactly. This leads to a rise in price but it is worth it, as it will be professionally done, and will be cost effective in the end.

Before deciding if this is the right type of gutter for you, do the necessary research online and read reviews from customers who've had them installed. Reviews from current users can aid in you making a better decision when comparing standard gutters to seamless counterparts.

Remember that even though these gutters may have more expense in the beginning, it can save you thousands of dollars in the long run by having a better and more secure drainage system. A seamless gutter with no leaks will result in less structural damage to your roof, which you'll eventually have to repair if your current standard gutter is not functioning effectively. This is important and should be carefully analyzed when making a decision. Most homeowners do not give this much thought, but it's an important consideration nonetheless.

Keep these factors in mind when deciding on whether a seamless gutter is right for you. Your overall goal should be to do it right from the start, and avoid costly mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars down the road.