Gutters: most buildings have them, yet they often go unnoticed.
It’s a shame, really, as gutters are an essential component of any standing structure. This is particularly true in Vancouver, a city known for its torrential rainfall. Without gutters, residents would (in a best-case scenario) find themselves with a free waterfall outside their bedroom window. Or, in a much worse situation, they could wake up to discover that their home has been altered by mother nature to become a low-cost (realistically, high-cost) swimming pool.
Like most structural features that face the elements, it is essential that gutters are maintained on a regular basis. With over thirty years of experience in the gutter clearing business, Knightsbridge Property Services’ team has seen more than our fair share of what can go wrong when the proper precautions and care are not taken. If you are unsure whether you should bother having your gutters tended to, read on:
Avoid Damage: When leaves start to fall, and debris starts to pile up within the gutter system, you are well on your way to exposing your building to potentially serious structural damage. If the troughs are clogged, water has nowhere to flow - except wherever it pleases. This can mean roof damage, building envelope leaks, and damage to the gutters themselves.
Pests Galore: Few things are more appealing to nesting birds and other critters than a gutter full of branches and twigs. Being able to nest in these convenient spots saves mama bird a whole lot of trouble. Additionally, this environment accurately emulates the forest floor, which can lead to infestations of bugs, raccoons, and even rats. Next thing you know, you are looking at a large pest control bill, and potentially some unwanted new neighbours.
Think of the Garden (and the Concrete): Many people tend to their gardens as if they were their own flesh and blood. Trough overflows can easily lead to downpours flooding garden beds, quickly devastating months or even years of careful cultivation. Additionally, the excess mud and water pools that this neglect can cause may literally start to corrupt the foundation of your home. During the winter, this water can seep into the concrete portions of the building, which, when it freezes and expands, will inadvertently produce some major cracks and leaks.
If you can’t tell, these are all major problems.
What Can Be Done?
Knightsbridge’s team is composed of some of the Lower Mainland’s most experienced gutter maintenance technicians. We use state-of-the-art safety technology, including telescopic lifts, vacuum systems, and fall protection, to access our clients’ gutter systems and clean them right up.
Not only do we offer options for simply clearing troughs, but we are also able to dismantle and repair your building’s downspouts. We can do one-off service calls at an affordable rate, and can also provide estimates for cleaning up the entirety of the system. To sweeten the deal, our team will report any issues or deficiencies that they note with the roof system itself. Sometimes a cracked tile or skylight can (also) cause leaks, so getting the heads up from our crew can make a big difference.
If you are unsure when your gutters are going to need some TLC, look around and ask yourself these questions:
Are there plenty of trees around?
If yes, annual or bi-annual services are a necessity
What season is it?
Depending on the species, trees tend to shed their leaves in the Fall and Winter. Aim to book your clearings around these times – our office team is happy to help.
Gutters don’t get a whole lot of attention, but they are one of the most vital parts of any building. Gutter cleaning is one of Knightsbridge’s core services, and we are more than happy to provide a quote or service at any time.
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