Bad storms can cause damage to gutters and downspouts. Gutter systems can also succumb to wear and tear over time. A common mistake homeowners make is trying to repair their gutters themselves. Let’s explore why you should hire a professional instead.
Safety
Your safety is the number one reason you should hire a gutter professional. More than 500,000 Americans fall from their ladders every year working on their gutters. These accidents result in over 150,000 emergency room visits. Unfortunately, they also lead to more than 300 deaths.
The other concern is all the contaminants in your gutters. These can cause respiratory irritation and even sickness. Those contaminants can also exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms. Professionals have the experience and equipment to avoid falls and protect their health.
Time
You may underestimate how time-consuming gutter repair can be if you try to clean the gutters yourself. What seems like a one-hour job can consume an entire weekend. An expert repairer usually finishes a job in a few hours or less. This time savings allows you to enjoy doing other things.
Cleaning and Washing
Most gutter repairers include gutter cleaning and washing at the quoted price. Cleaning the gutters is a practical requirement for repairing them. Hand-washing the gutter faces and bottoms is just good business. Afterward, the gutters are beautiful and the home’s curb appeal is enhanced.
Expenses
Gutter repair costs a lot less than most homeowners expect. The expert already has all of the tools and supplies required. They have access to the gutter materials more readily and typically at cheaper prices. Many companies pass those savings on to their customers. You must factor in the cost of driving your vehicle to the various home improvement shops if you try to clean your gutters yourself. If you forget something, that’s even more time and money wasted. There are also those hours you’re giving up on the weekend. Those have a lot of value.
Curb Appeal
Gutters are part of your home’s curb appeal. Getting that curb appeal right is something many DIYers underestimate. What happens if you need to replace a section of gutter? Can you find the right style and material so that the gutter system looks uniform? The goal should be to repair your gutters but make them look like they never received any damage. That’s something that professional gutter repairers are very good at doing. It’s much more difficult for a homeowner to pull off.
Insurance
Professional gutter repairers have insurance as required by law. Accidents are unlikely to occur when dealing with a professional. That said, if they do occur, you’re covered. The company’s insurance will cover the medical bills and worker’s compensation. That isn’t the case if you or an uninsured person gets hurt. You’ll likely have to pay the medical insurance premiums, and your homeowners’ insurance premiums may increase.
Expertise
Another reason to hire a professional is to benefit from that expertise and experience. Is a repair even a good idea, or should you replace the gutters? A professional also understands the finer points of gutters and their role in roofing. Is the alignment of the gutters correct? Are the gutters the appropriate distance from the shingles and fascia? Are the downspouts channeling water correctly? These are all things a professional is equipped to take care of to your satisfaction.
The Right Tools
Many DIYers find themselves buying new tools for gutter repairs. With a professional, you won’t have to worry about that. Another consideration is that many gutter repair tools are specific to the job. You probably won’t have the right tools to fix your gutter guards properly. There are also specialized tools for working with miters, fasteners, and hangers.
Do You Need Gutter Repair in the Twin Cities?
If you need gutter repair in the Twin Cities or surrounding areas, Doug Brue Construction is the company to trust. We’ve cleaned, repaired, and installed gutters and gutter guards in this region for over 40 years. Our roofing team also inspects, repairs, and replaces residential and commercial roofs. We can install and repair siding and windows and have a storm damage team on call 24/7 for emergency tarping. Call us today with questions or to schedule an appointment.
