Dangers of a Leaky Roof

A good amount of people are probably guilty of putting off home repair projects: the squeaky drawer, the door knob that sticks, etc. However, there is one repair project you shouldn’t put off - fixing your leaky roof. Contrary to popular belief, a leaky roof can pose more dangers than just a structural problem.

1. Ceiling Damage: A combination of undrained gutter water and a leaky roof can cause major damage to your ceiling. Water can seep in and start to collect in your attic; if you don’t have an attic, the water will drip directly onto your ceiling and cause the paint to darken. The leaking water can also cause plaster to bubble on the ceiling and nearby walls. If you have lights or fans mounted to your ceiling, you can anticipate damage to those items as well.
2. Mold & Mildew Issues: If you let a leaky roof go unrepaired for too long, mold can develop on the ceiling and walls and can spread into your HVAC system. Once there, the mold can infest your carpets, furniture, and even clothing.This poses the risk (especially if black mold grows) of asthma, allergic reactions, and more serious health problems. Once in your home, mold is often difficult and costly to remove.
3. Higher Utility Bills: You probably didn’t think that water entering your home could cost you more money in utility bills, but it can. When your leaky roof allows water to spill into your attic, your fiberglass or cellulose insulation can become saturated and not work as efficiently. This will allow heat to escape your home and cause you to hike up your thermostat, increasing your energy bills.

Leaving your roof unrepaired can cause problems for your home and wallet. Most of the time, these issues are more costly to fix than patching up a couple of damaged spots on your roof. All Aluminum Gutters has been doing residential and commercial roofing for over 30 years, providing free estimates so you know what the cost is before we start. For roofing repairs in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, the Bronx, or Westchester, call us at 631-816-2498.

Draining Away from Your Home

A major way to save your home from weather-caused harm is by properly draining water away from your foundation. Standing water can result in damaged walls and ceilings, amongst other things. These are the precautions you should take to properly drain water away from your home.

• Always clean out your gutters after a storm or before it snows. This allows water to flow freely away from your home. If your gutters are full of debris, clogs can develop and cause water to sit against your roof and potentially seep into your ceilings and walls.
• Attach an elbow to the end of your downspout and connect an extension to it so water is carried farther away from the foundation. You should have water directed at least six feet from your home, but it is better to have the extension reach ten feet if possible.
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  Dig a shallow trench to daylight and bury a PVC pipe in it, guiding water to the farther end of the trench. If you can’t extend the downspout to daylight, dig the trench ten feet from your house and line it with a flexible drainage pipe.
• Watch where you water. If you water flowers or plants along the edge of your home, excess water could seep into your basement and cause mold to grow. Make sure to avoid this to prevent damage from happening.
• Don’t drain in the direction of a driveway. If temperatures drop and the water freezes, the resulting ice could lead to cracks in your driveway. The last thing you’ll want after driveway damage is car damage, too.

The methods you can take to drain water away from your home will depend on your home’s geography and building development, but it is important to always maintain good drainage to keep your home dry.  

A big part of proper drainage is having well-functioning gutters. All Aluminum Gutters of West Babylon offers seamless rain gutters and downspouts, as well as gutter cleaning to help you protect your home from water damage. Call us today at 631-816-2498 for more information!

How to Prevent Ice Dams

Winter snow can be very pretty - until it starts melting two days later. When it does melt, all that water will come draining down your gutters. Thing is, sometimes that snow can cause ice dams on your roof, which can seriously damage your home. Help yourself out, and follow these tips to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof.

1. Clean Out Your Gutters: We’ve said it time and time again, but keeping your gutters clean is a major key to preventing ice dams. Clogged gutters will force melted snow to stay on your roof, and if it’s cold enough, the water will freeze and potentially burrow its way underneath your shingles. If you really don’t want to clean out your gutters yourself, or just don’t have the time, use a professional gutter cleaning service. Better yet, install a gutter protection system to stop debris buildup in the first place.
2. Properly Ventilate: It is very important to have proper ventilation to draw in cold air and flush out warmer attic air. Add vents to your roof and soffits that equal at least 1 square foot of vent for every 300 square feet of ceiling/attic floor area. If your ridges are shorter than the roof edges, install a continuous ridge vent.
3. Install Heat Tape: This is a cable that heats up enough to melt snow and ice, but not too much as to cause damage to your home. If you opt for this form of prevention, make sure to turn the cable on just before it snows to achieve the best results. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall or harsh winters, heat tape is a necessity.

We all can say that New York winters can get pretty bad - it just depends on what day you ask about. All Aluminum Gutters can provide you with several ice dam prevention methods. We offer gutter cleaning services, as well as heat tape installed under our gutter guard system. Let us help you protect your home from ice dams this winter.

For more information about ice dam prevention on Long Island, New York City, and Westchester, call us at 631-816-2498.

Signs You Need New Gutters

If your front door had a hole in it, would you leave it be? What about if your windows had cracks? No - you would replace them. If you wouldn’t ignore these repair signs for other parts of your home, don’t ignore them with your gutters either. Gutters play a major role in protecting your home from weather and water damage. Here are some signs you need new gutters.

1. Cracks: Over time, your gutters can develop cracks.hen this happens, they’re about as useful as a bucket with a hole in it. Cracks allow for water to leak down the side of your house, potentially damaging your walls and foundation. Small cracks may allow for a quick fix, but larger cracks may require you to replace your gutters altogether.
2. Seam Stress: Your gutters are most vulnerable to damage at the seam where two gutters connect. Here, cracks or dislocations can occur, causing a variety of problems to the outside and/or inside of your home. Your best option here is to get rid of the broken gutters and opt for seamless gutters as a replacement.
3. Paint Peeling: Malfunctioning gutters can often ruin your home’s nice paint job. If you are checking your exterior and notice peeling paint, it’s most likely a sign of excess moisture. Find the nearest gutter and check it for leaks. If the peeling is in more than one spot, seriously consider replacing your gutters.
4. Rot: When gutters leak water onto your home, they can cause bigger problems than just peeling paint. Excess water can rot wood trimmings, like window sills or door jams, and cause them to allow water into your home. In these cases, issues that may seem isolated could be the result of faulty storm draining.
5. Mildew: There’s a very good reason downspout drains end at least six feet away from your home’s foundation. Water and moisture close to the foundation can seep into your basement and cause mildew and mold to grow on the walls. If you find this problem occurring in formerly dry areas, damaged gutters are probably the culprit.eplacing your gutters is the best move.

If you are experiencing any of these issues on Long Island, your first step should be to give All Aluminum Gutters a call. We offer new gutter installation, gutter repairs, and gutter cleaning to ensure your home is ready to handle any weather.

For more information about our gutter cleaning, repair, and installation services in Nassau and Suffolk County, call us at 877-283-7729.

Winter Gutter Maintenance

Winter means a few things on Long Island: Coffee becomes even more necessary to function and the LIRR will have even more delays. Plus, we will eventually, and quite suddenly, be hit with a snow storm that makes us wonder if we were transported to a Game of Thrones universe and actually live North of the Wall. While we prepare for these types of storms by getting the three B’s (batteries, blankets, and bagels), there’s probably a task that you’re forgetting about. Winter gutter maintenance is essential to protecting your home from major damage before and after it snows.

Clean Them Out

Emptying any and all debris from your gutters before the snow hits is vital to preventing further problems. Melting snowing will flow into your gutters, and if there is a buildup of leaves or twigs, the water will have nowhere to go and end up pooling. This can lead to the excess water seeping into your roof, walls, or foundation causing structural damage. Additionally, if the water freezes, the resulting ice dams can also damage your roof and foundation.

Check Them Out

Inspect your gutters for any minor damages they may have incurred throughout the year. Make sure they are securely fastened to your home with gutter spikes and that there are no visible gaps. Check for any cracks or leaks that may allow water to drip onto the side of your home and ensure the downspouts are directed at least ten feet from the foundation. If you find any signs of staining or water-damage on your home, find the source of the water flow and fix it as needed.

Gutter maintenance, especially in the cold, is not a fun task, but it’s necessary to prevent damage to your home. A day or two of cleaning your gutters is definitely better than spending thousands of dollars fixing the damage that faulty gutters can cause. All Aluminum Gutters makes that task easier by offering gutter cleaning and repair with the latest industry information and services. Let our trained professionals help you with your winter gutter maintenance so you can sleep soundly knowing your home is protected.

For more information about our gutter cleaning, repair, and installation services in Nassau and Suffolk County, call us at 877-283-7729.