Do you often wonder who can clean my gutters, what are some best gutter cleaning services, or have you ever heard of Hibbard Roofing & Construction? Let us find out all of your answers together. It is to ensure that your rain gutters are clean and unobstructed so that water may flow freely from your downspouts.
After understanding the factors contributing to the necessity of having one's gutters cleaned, the following step is to determine who should perform this task.
There are a few options available to you, including doing it yourself (or having your significant other do it), asking a friend or neighbour for help with it, having a handyman or gardener do it, hiring a firm that specializes in gutter care, or doing it yourself (or having your significant other do it).Below, I will examine the benefits and drawbacks associated with each possible option.
DIY
Even while cleaning the gutters yourself or having your significant other do it might seem like a fair duty to take care of, in most cases, this is the worst decision that can be made. Unless you have received adequate training in ladder safety, climbing a ladder or step ladder is a hazardous activity that should be avoided at all costs.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission of the United States, falls from ladders are responsible for an annual average of 165,000 visits to emergency rooms.
The primary reason why someone would opt to clean their own gutters is to save money or as a last-ditch effort to prevent harm to their home, but would it truly have been worth it if you or a loved one ended up getting a catastrophic injury or even pass away as a result of your own negligence?
How much money would you lose due to a disabling injury if it forced you to miss job duties for any amount of time? I am able to inform you that the cost of employing a gutter provider is not particularly high.
Recently, a man that I know who works as an estimator for a gutter company which does cleanings fell from a ladder while cleaning the gutters of his ex-wife's home and shattered his ankle. The accident occurred while he was cleaning the gutters.
This is a guy who was aware of the risks but still believed he could complete the task. As a result, he now has pins on his ankle and relies on his son to drive him to appointments so that he does not lose time from work.
Friend Or Neighbour
It is just as risky to have a friend, neighbour, or acquaintance clear your gutters as it would be to have a member of your own family do it. There is one more risk that you need to take into consideration, and that is whether someone you know would accept their injury and the subsequent loss of employment and quality of life without a fight.
Regrettably, in the modern era, it is more likely than not that they will seek legal counsel and bring a lawsuit against you. If you are the owner of the property, you are responsible for paying medical bills and other damages if someone is hurt while helping you with the house.
In a similar vein to the earlier illustration, employing the services of a professional gutter business is not only a cost-effective choice but also shields your loved ones and close friends from serious harm.
Handymen/Landscaper
Although most states have laws requiring contractors like handymen and landscapers to carry liability and workers' compensation coverage in order to protect you in the event that they or one of their employees is injured on the job, the reality is that many contractors fail to have the proper insurance or do not carry sufficient coverage.
To elaborate, insurance companies protect businesses against the risks associated with carrying out specific activities inherent to the nature of their industry.
Do you believe that your landscaper's insurance covers them climbing ladders to clean your gutters if they have coverage for mowing lawns, planting and trimming shrubs, and possibly even applying fertilizer?
Since working from a ladder poses risks, insurers charge a higher premium to businesses that need employees to do so. You, the homeowner, are once again responsible for any injuries that occur on your property if the landscaper or handyman you employ does not have insurance to be on a ladder.
If you want to be sure that you, your loved ones, and your home are protected, you should not take any chances and employ an uninsured or underinsured handyman or gardener to clean your gutters.
Hiring a Gutter Company
Many businesses focus specifically on gutter cleaning for their clientele. Here, I will go through some of the criteria you should use to select the best gutter cleaning services. Insist on proof from the insurer that both liability and workers' compensation coverage are in existence before any work is started.
When did they first open their doors? One of your most valuable possessions is likely your home. Thus, you should avoid having amateurs handle any repairs or renovations.
How much of the labour is performed in-house versus by other parties?
An additional layer of complexity is introduced if they use subcontractors; however, for the purposes of this discussion, you will need to obtain a copy of the insurance from both the general contractor and the subcontractor.
1.When the gutter business comes to evaluate your home, would they let you know if they find any issues that necessitate repairs or replacements?
2.Is this a roofing, siding, or window firm posing as a gutter cleaner in order to sell you more expensive services?
3.To what end do they wash your gutters?
Some firms use leaf blowers, which may leave a major mess in your yard, while others remove the leaves and other debris by hand, bag it, and then flush it with water to get the downspout clear. If you want your gutters cleaned and flushed and to know if repairs or replacements are needed, you should contact a full-service gutter business that does all of its own work.
Gutter cleaning costs depend on several variables, the most obvious of which is gutter length.
Where do your gutters sit at?
I was wondering what kind of roof you have. Just how frequently do you get your gutters serviced? When weighed against the possibility of harm and legal action, the cost of hiring an expert gutter cleaning service that is licensed and has expertise in cleaning gutters is definitely worth it.
Gutter Cleaning Safety
Cleaning out a gutter while perched precariously on a telescopic ladder is not a task that should be undertaken lightly. The good thing is that there are actually a number of best gutter cleaning services and gutter-cleaning gadgets available that may be used to remove debris from gutters without requiring homeowners to risk injury by climbing a ladder.
Avoid using a stepladder to clean the gutters since it can easily topple if you lose your footing. Use an extension ladder instead, and have a helper wait at the bottom to keep it steady.
Still, pondering over who can clean my gutter? Hiring a gutter cleaning service is highly recommended for any home with more than one storey. These businesses have the necessary gear to reach the highest gutters without risk. It is not worth the potential danger to climb up on your roof and clear the gutters.
Why It is Important to Clean Your Home’s Gutters
Gutters are crucial because they collect water from the roof and channel it away from the house's foundation using downspouts. Water that accumulates near the foundation can seep into a home's lower levels without gutters, causing costly structural damage.
In most cases, all that is required to keep your rain gutters in good working order is the occasional clearing of debris. Clogged downspouts from overflowing gutters cause water to pool above the gutter stream and eventually seep onto the ground.
Even worse, the melt-and-freeze cycles in winter can cause roof snow to run off and freeze in the gutter. The weight of these gutters, full of ice, can cause them to pull away from the roof.