Prepare Gutters for Hurricane Season Now

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

As we head into the peak of the 2016 hurricane season on Long Island, there are a few things you should start to prepare for. One of which, is potential damage to your home’s gutter system. Well maintained gutters are equipped to handle rain, but things can get a little tricky with all the wet, windy, elements that hurricanes can bring. So, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Check the brackets. Hurricane winds can be treacherous! Make sure your gutters are securely fastened to your fascia boards before heavy storms hit. It may be a good idea to replace your hardware just in case, especially if you’re expecting particularly harsh weather.

Clean out debris. Your gutters will need to handle the influx of rainwater with ease, and that leaves no room for fallen leaves and debris. If you’re anticipating a heavy storm, make sure you get up there and clean those gutters first.

Test your downspouts. Run your hose at high pressure directly down your downspout. This will ensure that you remove any dirt that may be caked up inside. You may also want to add extenders to your downspouts to help redirect large quantities of water more efficiently.

Cover the window wells. If your gutters are doing their job, they’ll be funneling a ton of water down and out. Whether you purchase downspout extenders or not, the possibility for floods are heightened during hurricanes. That’s why you want to make sure your basement window wells are sealed up tight.

Purchase new gutters. If your gutters have been holding on for quite some time, it may be time to reassess and purchase replacements. And if you don’t already have a gutter system, what are you waiting for? Water is the most destructive force of nature, especially during a hurricane!

Could you use new gutters? Or perhaps your current gutters could use some cleaning or repairs before the bulk of hurricane season hits? No matter what your gutters need to be safe and secure, All Aluminum Gutters is here to help.

Call 631-816-2498 to learn more about our gutter maintenance services, and schedule your estimate today.

How to Keep Animals Out of Your Gutter

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

Warmth, shelter and all the water you could ever need -- sounds like the perfect place to settle down right? The critters roaming around your yard sure think so! Rain gutters and downspouts are some of the most common places that homeowners experience pest nesting problems. Here’s how to make sure yours are safe from an infestation.

Keep your trees trimmed. Not only does a well-manicured yard mean less dirt and debris for furry friends to burrow, but it can also make your gutters less accessible. Think about how easily those squirrels leap from branch to branch -- make it more difficult for them to leap onto your home!

Practice pest control tactics. Landscaping, pest control and gutter maintenance all go hand-in-hand. If you eliminate insect and rodent problems, you’ll be less likely to attract hungry critters to your yard in the first place.

Keep downspouts covered. Adding a mesh cloth or grate to the bottom of your downspout will make it so critters can’t climb in. Just be sure to check your downspouts regularly to make sure they’re clear of clogs!

Keep your gutters clean. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again -- cleaning your gutters regularly is key! Critters love dark, moist gutters filled with warm cozy debris. Don’t invite them in!

Purchase gutter guards. Not only do they keep the leaves and debris out, but they can help keep small animals on the outskirts as well. Seal your gutters up tight and save yourself the time spent cleaning them, and the money spent repairing them after animals have taken up residence.

Whether you could use a hand with gutter repairs from pesky borrowing field mice, or you’d like to be proactive and clean them out or install new gutter guards, All Aluminum Gutters has got you covered! Serving all of Long Island, Queens, the Bronx and Westchester, there’s no gutter maintenance or repair job that we can’t handle.

To learn more about our gutter cleaning, repair, and gutter guard installation services, call 631-816-2498 or visit us on the web.

How to Spot Faulty Gutters on a New Home

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

There’s no doubt that a lot goes into shopping for a new home, and it can certainly be difficult to know what to look out for. Sneaky, hidden pest infestations and plumbing problems can really throw new homeowners for a loop. Luckily, when it comes to your gutters the warning signs are usually pretty clear.

Misaligned or Incomplete - First and foremost, the gutters should line the entire perimeter of the roof. If you notice that there’s a section missing or loose, this is a huge red flag for repair. Remember that your gutters should be slightly pitched downward towards the downspout as well.

Overflow - If you’re “lucky enough” to have your walk-through scheduled on a rainy day, take the opportunity to investigate how well the gutters work. If you notice rainwater pouring out over the sides of the gutters there may be a clog -- or worse, loose, sloping or damaged gutter sections.

Siding Damage - Peeling, warping, or staining all indicate that water has run amuck on a home’s siding. If you don’t happen to catch the grand tour on a rainy day, looking out for siding damage is one way to detect faulty or clogged gutters before signing on the dotted line.

Missed Redirection - So you’ve inspected the gutters thoroughly and found no issues with the system itself. But what about after the water has been funneled down the downspout? If you don’t see a means of redirected drainage or a splash block, you may need to consider the foundation damage that may be lurking around the home.

Have you recently purchased a new home on Long Island, Queens or the surrounding areas, and are unsure if your gutters are still in good shape? If so, give All Aluminum Gutters a call. Whether it’s a good cleaning, gutter repairs, or even new installation that you require, we’ve got you covered no matter the circumstance!

For more information about our services, or to schedule an estimate, call 631-816-2498.

6 Signs Your Gutters Need Repairs

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

Maintaining your gutter system is no easy task, but it’s one that must be done in order to keep your home and family safe. With gutters being outdoors and high up, we know it’s easy for them to be out-of-sight, out-of-mind, which is why we’ve compiled this list of the six telltale signs that gutter repairs are in order.

1. Cracks and/or Rust - These two signs of gutter aging go hand-in-hand. When water seeps into cracks, rust will begin to form and slowly deteriorate your gutter system, making it extremely difficult for them to retain water and do their job.

2. Sagging or Overflowing - If you notice your gutters just aren’t sitting like they used to, they more than likely need to be repaired. Sagging can indicate a number of things -- brackets have loosened, damage has occurred or a clog has formed. Either way, you’ll need to correct the issue.

3. Hanging - If your gutters have very obviously become detached from your home, you’ll definitely need to get a pro in right away to assess the damage and repair them. This can happen during rain storms, on a particularly windy day, or even for no foreseeable reason at all!

4. Pooling Water - Do you notice a lot of water collecting around your home’s foundation after it storms? This means your gutters are not doing their job properly. You may require repairs or replacement or you may need to add an additional downspout or a downspout extender.

5. Indoor Leaks - If you notice water stains in the attic, or at the joint where your ceiling and exterior walls meet, faulty gutters and damage roofing might be to blame. In addition, flooding in the basement is also common when water is not diverted from the foundation properly.

6. Siding Damage - Peeling, chipping and rotting are all signs that water is cascading down the side of your home. Had your gutters been functioning normally, this would not have occurred. Make sure to have them checked, and have any damaged siding replaced.

Could your gutters, roof or siding use some repairs? Lucky for you, All Aluminum Gutters can take care of all three! For more information about our services, visit our website or call 631-816-2498.

3 Ways to Repurpose Old Rain Gutters

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

There comes a time in every homeowner’s life where they have to disassemble their current gutter system and replace it with a newer, more efficient option. This begs the question -- so, what do you do with all those old gutters? Before you commit them to the recycle bin, check out some of these clever ways to upcycle and repurpose them first.

1. Planters - Whether you’re looking for a slim planter to grow some herbs on the kitchen windowsill, or are interested in making a hanging strawberry garden, recycled rain gutters can make it happen. For an indoor planter, carefully cut the gutter to length using tin snips. Then attached end caps, caulk with silicone, paint if you like, and plant! For a hanging garden, follow the steps above and attached the old gutters to a wall or fence, then plant your strawberries!

2. Shelving - Create a library wall, a picture ledge, or a place to store odds and ends in the garage. No matter what you’re looking to organize, repurposed gutters can help you create the shelves to do it. Just cut, cap, paint and hang!

3. Entertaining - Picnic table? Check! Old rain gutters? Check! Ice and beer? Check! Not sure what to do with all three? Allow us to explain… By cutting out the center of your picnic table and filling the gap with your recycled gutters, you now have a built-in beverage bar. Talk about the ultimate backyard BBQ accessory!

What have you made out of your old rain gutters? We’d love to hear all about your latest creations on our Facebook page!

All Aluminum Gutters is your one stop shop for all your gutter cleaning, gutter repair and gutter installation needs! Serving all of Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, Westchester and the Bronx, we also handle roofing and siding installation and repair. To learn more about our services, visit our website or call us at 631-816-2498.

Crucial Home Repairs to Complete Before You Sell

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

We get it, you’re selling your home, so why would you want to put more money into it before you pass it along to the next homeowner? Well, what if we told you that the money you put into your home in renovations before listing it could actually boost your home’s value significantly? That’s right, before you put your house on the market for all to see, you’ll want to spend a little extra to fix things up, that way you can sell your home for top dollar.

Upgrade your appliances. While we don’t suggest giving your kitchen a costly overhaul, we do think a fresh coat of paint and some new appliances will do the trick. Even if the cabinets are older, potential buyers will recognize that the appliances are new, and will factor that in as money saved on whatever renovations they want to make after purchasing.

Spruce up your flooring. Wood floors are a major selling point -- always. If yours are scratched or could use refinishing, take the time to do it now. Don’t worry about installing brand new wood floors, but consider pulling up carpet if there are wood floors beneath them.

Replace your fixtures. From bathroom and kitchen faucets, to towel bars, door knobs, and overhead or vanity lighting. Replacing the little things in your home can really make a difference, for a minimal cost. Bonus Tip: We also recommend fresh coat of paint all around!

Repair your gutters and siding. Not only are faulty gutters and damaged siding unappealing, but they can scare off potential buyers as well. These are your home’s first line of defense against the elements, their coat of armor if you will, so when homeowners see that they’ve been permeated the begin to wonder what other issues they might find!

Looking to put your house on the market, but require a bit of TLC for your gutters, siding or roof beforehand? If you live on Long Island or in the five boroughs of NYC, look no further than All Aluminum Gutters! We’ll have your home looking great for that open house date in no time.

To learn more about our gutter, siding and roof repair and installation service, call 631-816- or visit our website to request a complimentary estimate.

5 Signs of a Home Drainage Issue

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

As gutter installation and repair professionals, we know that a home drainage issue is a big deal. That’s why we feel it’s imperative for everyone to be able to identify these surefire signs that something has gone awry.

Unexpected Waterfalls - Having a miniature, man-made waterfall within your landscaping design is one thing, but having one gushing from the side of your gutters is another. Overflowing indicates that there is a blockage in the water’s natural passageway, which usually means a good gutter cleaning is in order.

Pooling Close By - Your downspouts should be directing water away from your home. If you notice that water is staying put once it drains down and out, you may need to consider a splash block or gutter extension to keep it from ruining your foundation.

Unexplained Stains - Water stains are red flag that your gutter system is not doing it’s job properly, especially when these stains are appearing in the basement or along your siding. Check for cracked, broken or sagging gutters first. You may also need to pour cement around your home to adjust the runoff slope so it water stays away from the foundation.

Foundation Cracks - Water is nature’s most destructive force -- so destructive, that it’s able to infiltrate cement and cause it to crack. If you notice cracks larger than ⅛ inch wide, keep an eye on it to be sure if doesn’t grow. If you continue to see these cracks widen, call a structural engineer right way. They’ll be able to identify the issue and catch the damage before it’s too late.

Have you noticed any of these undeniable drainage issue signs? If so, your rain gutters might require some TLC from the professionals. Here at All Aluminum Gutters, we offer top notch gutter cleaning, repair and installation services at an affordable price. We also offer roofing and siding repairs as well.

For a complete list of our services, or to schedule a complimentary on-site consultation, visit our website or call 631-816-2498.