by Sarah | Aug 8, 2022
There would be fewer accidents, fatalities, and severe property damage if more property owners learned how to properly maintain their roof gutters.
Gutter cleaning typically takes place in the fall to prepare them for the next wet or snowy season. Costly repairs may be necessary due to rainstorm damage or freezing if the gutter and downspout system is not functioning correctly.
However, keeping your gutters safe and clean year-round is a much better idea. If you are looking for a complete guide to keeping your roof and gutters safe and clean, keep reading Housetop Roofing’s complete guide to roof and gutter safety.
If you are short on time, you can skip ahead to any of these tips below:
- How do I clean my rooftop safely?
- How can I unclog my downspouts?
- Should I invest in Gutter Guards?
- How can I practice ladder safety when cleaning out my gutters?
- How can I be safe around power lines?
How Do I Clean My Rooftop Safely?
Clean off the roof by power washing or raking all the debris. If not, the next rainstorm will wash all the trash into the cleared gutter, blocking it once more.
Furthermore, debris that is left on the roof can cause water to pool in valleys, around chimneys, or close to heating, and AC (HVAC) systems, resulting in erosion and roof leaks over time.
If you plan to use a garden hose to clean off your rooftop, follow these tips:
- Use a standard garden hose with a trigger spray gun and a pistol grip.
- With this spray nozzle, you can control the water pressure with one hand.
- It is simple to hang a pistol-grip nozzle over the gutter’s front edge while relocating the ladder or employing a gutter scoop.
- You can get this kind of spray nozzle at any hardware shop.
How Can I Unclog My Downspouts?
Check to make sure that the downspouts are clear. After cleaning the gutters, run the water hose down the downspout at maximum strength. A blockage is present if water backs up from the top.
Typically, it may be unclogged by tapping on the downspout’s side. If it doesn’t work, the downspout and back should be removed and flushed from the bottom.
If there is a clog and the downspout is attached to an underground drain, the bottom of the downspout should be disconnected from the underground drain. Otherwise, the obstruction might spread to an underground drain.
Should I Invest in Gutter Guards?
Using a proper gutter guard can minimize the need for gutter cleaning. Before choosing a gutter protection system to keep out leaves and pine needles, carefully consider the manufacturer’s claims because many warranties are made that cannot be fulfilled. If the claims sound too good to be true, they most likely are.
How Can I Practice Ladder Safety When Cleaning Out My Gutters?
If you are ready to clean out those gutters, here are some ladder safety tips to consider first:
- Always notify someone if you want to use a ladder to clean your building’s roof or gutters.
- To collect gutter debris, use a safe and robust ladder, preferably one with a small shelf strong enough to accommodate a five-gallon bucket, and secure the bucket with a rope.
- A four-legged step ladder is appropriate for a single-story building. An extension ladder is suitable for a two-story or taller construction.
- An orchard ladder should not be used since it only has three legs for stability and can become imbalanced.
- A wooden ladder is also not advised since it is frequently unsteady and difficult to balance correctly.
- Fiberglass ladders appear to be the most durable but also the heaviest.
How Can I be Safe Around Power Lines?
When cleaning gutters surrounding a power line cable that lowers from a power pole to a building’s roof, examine the electrical cable where it attaches to the roof.
This is to check that the protective wire insulation hasn’t worn away over time due to weather and adjacent trees. If the cable looks damaged, do not attempt to repair it yourself; instead, contact a qualified professional electrical contractor.
If it is raining and there is a wiring problem, do not attempt to clear up the gutters until the wires are repaired; water is a deadly electrical conductor. Before clearing up your gutters, you should get the electrical wiring fixed, whether it’s raining or not.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining your roof and gutters sounds like a chore, but proper maintenance will save you thousands in future repairs.
If you are looking for the most trusted roofing contractor in North Carolina, look no further than Housetop Roofing. Call our experts today if you have questions about your roofing or gutters.
by Sarah | May 31, 2022
Vinyl siding is one of the most popular exterior housing materials, and for good reason! Not only is vinyl siding affordable, it is also durable, and customizable. That means that you can find something within your budget that fits your home’s style and your unique tastes.
At Housetop Roofing, we not only offer roofing services but vinyl siding services as well. We can install, repair, and replace your home’s vinyl siding. If you’re interested in vinyl siding for your home, be sure to contact us for a free and accurate estimate.
Some of the many benefits of vinyl siding include:
- It’s low maintenance
- It’s durable
- It’s affordable
- It’s energy efficient
- It’s eco-friendly
- It’s customizable
If you already have vinyl siding, it’s fortunately easy to clean and maintain. To clean your vinyl siding, you can use a washcloth and/or a soft brush along with some water. For tougher stains, you can use mild household cleaning products; just be sure not to use harsh or abrasive cleaning products like bleach and liquid grease removers, as these can end up damaging your vinyl siding.
For tougher stains, you also might want to pressure wash your vinyl siding from time to time. Unless you already have experience using a pressure washer, it’s probably a good idea to have a professional pressure wash your vinyl siding. If done improperly, a pressure washer can damage and/or loosen your vinyl siding.
Sometimes, vinyl siding will get small holes and cracks. A common culprit for this minor damage is stray rocks and debris that your lawn mower or weed eater shoots out at a high speed while you’re doing yard work. Strong winds from storms can cause similar damage as well. For these smaller holes and cracks, you can easily repair them yourself using exterior caulking; just be sure to find one that matches the color of your vinyl siding.
For larger holes and cracks, it’s usually a good idea to have a professional, like our vinyl siding experts at Housetop Roofing, fix the damage for you. If you notice any loose or missing siding after a storm, this is also something that you’ll need professional help with.
Vinyl siding is a great choice for your home’s exterior for a number of reasons. If you’re interested in getting vinyl siding for your home, or if you’d like to repair or replace your existing vinyl siding, give us a call at Housetop Roofing in Raleigh, NC and Wake Forest, NC.
Housetop Roofing also provides:
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by Sarah | May 17, 2022
At Housetop Roofing, we are dedicated to helping you make your roof and your home more eco-friendly. So, here are some green tips from our roofing contractors.
More and more people are trying to go green these days to help protect our planet. Going green doesn’t mean you have to sell all of your possessions and live off the grid. Instead, you can make small daily changes that when added together can make a big difference; for example, you can start using reusable bags when you go grocery shopping instead of disposable ones; or you can carpool to work with a coworker who lives in your neighborhood.
Another way to go green is to make some changes around your home. These changes will not only help you to save money on energy costs, but they can also help you take a step towards living a more eco-friendly life. We’d like to explore here some ways to make your roof specifically more eco-friendly.
Metal Roofing
If it’s time for a new roof, look into more eco-friendly options. Metal roofing has been around for quite some time, but it’s seen a surge in popularity in the past decade or so, and for good reason. Not only are metal roofs an attractive stylistic choice for your home’s exterior, they are also one of the most, if not the most, eco-friendly roofing options out there. Metal roofs are often made from recycled materials and are also almost 100% recyclable when you’re done with your roof. In addition, metal roofs are more energy efficient than many types of roofing. On top of that, metal roofs are extremely durable and can last upwards of 50 years.
Give our roofing contractors a call to discuss the pros and cons of installing metal roofing on your home.
Green Roofs
Another eco-friendly roofing option are green roofs, which are flat roofs with a waterproofing system and then a layer of vegetation. Some people use flat roofs to grow gardens, while others use them to grow wildflowers and trees. Green roofs come with a number of benefits: not only do they add color and vibrancy to your home, they also provide space for vegetation (especially in urban areas where this space is limited), and they can improve the local air quality.
Skylights
Skylights are another great eco-friendly option for your home. You can add skylights to your existing roof. They help you cut down on your energy use and let in natural light and warmth into your home. Skylights come in a number of shapes, sizes, and varieties. You can get skylights that open to let in the breeze on a warm day, or you can get tinted skylights that keep your home from getting too warm from the sunlight.
Aside from improving your roof, there are a number of ways you can make your home more eco-friendly, and we can help you with those improvements too. From your rooftop to your basement, we are the roofing contractors that can help you with all kinds of home improvement.
Housetop Roofing & Home Improvement offers these services:
For a new, more eco-friendly roof, give us a call at Housetop Roofing in Raleigh, NC and Wake Forest, NC.
by Sarah | Apr 29, 2022
If you’ve lived in North Carolina for any amount of time, you’re aware that every spring, a thick yellow cloud of pollen descends over the entire state, settling on every nook and cranny in sight. You might have noticed the pollen on your roof, or perhaps you’ve seen some stains starting to form up there, and you’re wondering how exactly you should go about cleaning your roof.
Many roofs get stains over time, and this is often from algae growth. Not only are these stains unsightly, certain stains can also be a sign of a bigger problem that can lead to more serious damage over time if left unchecked.
Cleaning your roof is tricky business, and we suggest that you have your roofing contractor do it for you. Not only is it a safety risk to be climbing around on your roof with cleaning supplies, but it also takes special measures to clean your roof in the right way without damaging it.
If you have an asphalt shingle roof, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that you should NOT pressure wash it. The strong streams of water from pressure washing can remove the small granules on your shingles, and these granules work to protect your shingles and your roof from the elements. In addition, pressure washing can loosen and/or remove shingles altogether.
Soft washing, which is a cleaning method that uses low pressure washing, is a safer alternative to pressure washing. You can contact a pressure washing professional or a roofing contractor to ask them about soft washing.
Asphalt shingle roofs can also be cleaned with a good ol’ garden hose and a spray nozzle. You can also find cleaning products made especially for your roof. Be sure not to use household cleaning products, as they may contain chemicals that could harm your roof. Again, if you choose to clean your roof on your own, you need to do so with caution and only if you have prior experience working on your roof, as it can be very risky.
If you have a metal roof, you can clean it with your garden hose, some mild soap and water, and a cleaning brush. If you have tougher stains that need something stronger than soap and water to be removed, we recommend that you reach out to a roofing professional to ask for their expertise. Like asphalt shingles, we also recommend that you do NOT pressure wash your metal roof.
Housetop Roofing & Home Improvement offers these services:
If you notice any stains forming on your roof, reach out to the roofing contractors at Housetop Roofing in Raleigh, NC and Wake Forest, NC.
by Sarah | Mar 30, 2022
When it comes to roofing contractors in Wake Forest and Raleigh, NC, Housetop Roofing can’t be beaten. We make sure that your roof is done right by hand nailing all of the shingles, only using in-house employees, and having a foreman on site. We don’t stop there with our quality work: We also offer a number of home improvement services, where we provide the same quality service.
All gutters are the same, right? Wrong! There are a number of ways that you can upgrade your gutter system and keep your home in tip-top shape. At Housetop Roofing, we are happy to discuss your options with you. We install and repair a number of gutter systems in the Raleigh, NC area.
Gutter Upgrade Services
When you think about your home’s exterior, gutters are often something that goes unnoticed. However, they are an integral part of your home. They help to protect your roof, siding, and even your foundation from water and storm damage. Without properly functioning gutters, your home is subject to serious damage.
Gutters have come a long way in recent years. One popular new type of gutters is seamless gutters. Seamless gutters are made of one, continuous piece of metal or plastic. Traditionally, gutters are made up of multiple, smaller pieces joined together. With traditional gutters, there are more joints and connections, and thus more potential for leaks, cracks, and sagging gutters.
Not only are seamless gutters less likely to have leaks, but they’re also easier to clean and maintain. In addition, they increase your home’s curb appeal and resale value if you ever decide to sell your home. Furthermore, seamless gutters are longer lasting than traditional gutters and usually only need to be replaced every 20 years.
Upgrade Your Gutters With Gutter Guards
Aside from seamless gutters, gutter guards are another great way to upgrade your home’s gutter system. Gutter guards are metal, plastic, or rubber grates that go on top of your gutters to prevent yard debris like leaves and twigs from entering your gutters and causing clogs.
Gutter guards are made from various materials, and some attach to your gutters, while others lay on top of them. If you’re interested in adding gutter guards to your gutters, we can help recommend which type will work best for your gutter system.
With gutter guards, you need to clean your gutters much less often– typically about once every 2 years. You’re also less likely to get clogged gutters, and thus less likely to have leaks, overflows, or sagging gutters.
Another way to upgrade your gutter system is to get black gutters and downspouts. Traditionally, gutters and downspouts have been white. However, in recent years, black gutters and downspouts have become increasingly popular. They are a great way to add a bit of contrast and crisp lines and edges to your home.
Housetop Roofing & Home Improvement offers these services:
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s gutter system, we are here to help. Just give us a call at Housetop Roofing in Raleigh, NC, and Wake Forest, NC.
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Sources: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/home-improvement/seamless-gutters/#:~:text=Also%20known%20as%20continuous%20gutters,maintenance%20compared%20to%20regular%20gutters
