(Newswire.net — December 3, 2013) Vancouver, BC — National statistics show that close to 20 people per 100, 000 fall off a ladder every year. But for males over 65 the numbers soar to over 73 per 100,000. If it is time to clean your gutters and you are not quite as agile as you once were, then it’s a good idea to hire a professional for the job.
We love our homes and most of us like to keep the place looking nice, so when it comes to things like painting the trim or clearing a clogged drain those tasks are easy. But some things like window washing on the second floor, sweeping leaves off the roof or cleaning the gutters, those are tasks that are best jobbed out if you are over 50.
Gutter Cleaning Services
West coast weather is humid and dirty when it comes to roofs in the area. The gutters on Vancouver homes tend to fill with leaves and needles from trees around the house. Our trees tower over us making it easy to cover roofs and fill the gutters. There is also the dust blown around by construction projects that fills our gutters with a muddy silt. Gutters need to be cleaned twice a year to make them last longer and working as designed.
If you decide to clean your own gutters here is a handy list of tools
- Thick suede gloves are best to protect your hands
- Rubber soled shoes for a good grip on the roof
- A sturdy ladder and someone to hold it steady for you
- An adjustable garden hose nozzle to spray and flush
- A plastic gutter scoop. (metal trends to scratch and accelerate rusting)
- Protective eyewear for obvious reasons
- Check for power lines
Start by clearing the roof of leaves and debris and check your downspouts for blockages. If needed spray from the bottom up first, then top down to flush. Pull the downspouts out if they empty underground before your start, then replace when done. Next; scoop the gutters with a plastic scoop and dump the dirt into a bucket hanging off your ladder. Use a lanyard on the bucket so it doesn’t spill. When the preparation work is done finish the job by flushing with the garden hose.
Better Yet Hire A Professional
If you would rather hire someone to do this for you the guys at Reliable Gutters will be happy to help out. They have been doing this kind of work since 1992 and are experts and this kind of work. They carry proper insurance and offer a full work warranty so you can feel comfortable knowing professionals are taking care of your property.