Gutter Cleaning with a Repair York, PA

We've all done it. We have a project that we know must get done.  We buy all the materials....and then they sit in our garage for months.  A call from York came in this past week looking for a price on a gutter cleaning with a few repairs.  Possibly a little embarrassed for waiting this long, we were told that a portion of gutter and downspout came down over the winter.  We were able to get out within two days to clean out all the gutters (that were still up), installed a new section and reattached a downspout- all for $200.

If your gutters are in need of a cleaning and possibly even some repairs & you have been putting it off, because you either don't have a tall enough ladder like this customer -or- have no desire to do work up that high for fear of heights, call Mr. Green Gutter Cleaning.  Serving York, Lancaster, and Harrisburg for your gutter needs.

West York Gutters Repaired after Winter Storm Damage

I may not have been this customer's first call, but after my estimate he saw no need to call anyone else.

Pictured below are different shots of the damage done to the gutters this winter to a home in West York.  The main cause of the damage was fallen tree limbs.  Most of you will remember the ice storms in January and early February.

All the other quotes that he received were for entire gutter replacement.  Why would you do that when they are not seamless gutters anyway?  We will come back in a few weeks (had to get materials specific to the job and waiting for the next thaw) and replace a section, add a new end cap, and seal seams.  While we are there for the repairs, we will clean the gutters more thoroughly.  I only grabbed the handful  by the downspout as it was below freezing the day I went to take pictures and figure the estimate.  As you can see in a few of the pictures, there are pine needles making it under the gutter covers- but that's a whole other blog.  

Again, my motto for this season with all the winter damage- why replace when you can repair?  If I can't repair, I will let you know.  However, if the only call you make is to a gutter installer, I would find it highly unlikely that they would say "you know you could really just get a section repaired."

After calling Mr. Green Gutter Cleaning, this West York homeowner found he could get the problem solved for hundreds rather than thousands.

Thanks for reading- check out our site for more info on gutter cleaning and minor repairs in the Central PA area.

Ice dam damage York, PA

what we saw upon arrival

Last week, we were called out to remove an ice dam again.  We were asked to check on the condition on the roof and do what we could to hold it over until the Spring.  This customer had called a roofer and was deferred off to call a gutter cleaner.  You see, there are very few willing to brave the cold.

We started removing the snow and the ice dams.

What you see pictured is the damage caused by the ice dams.  The rubber roof was curled up and pushed back several feet.

After all ice and snow were cleared, we laid the rubber  roof back down only to find it had warped didn't reach the edge.  To patch the void, we laid a strip of flashing.  

What you see pictured is how we left it.  Again not a permanant solution, but a fix to hold them over for the rest of the winter until a roofer is willing to come out.

My goal when I leave a job as a gutter cleaner is to see to it that water will flow from the roof into the spouting and down out away from the foundation.  This was a achieved.

Ice Dams- not something to ignore

Back this past fall, we had a new customer with a historic home mention how important it was for him to get his gutters cleaned before the winter set in.  He mentioned that he had had issues with ice dams in the past.
Ice dams are much less likely to form if the gutter system is free of debris.

Rather than rewrite what has already been written so nicely, check out the article on This Old House.  To sum it up ice dams form from melting snow on the roof which may melt at a warmer section of the roof and as it meets the edges re-freezes.  Icicles may look beautiful, but the ice building up beyond them on the roof line can lead to big trouble.

If your icicles are minor in size, your ice dam is probably on the smaller side as well.   Consequently, the possible damage would most likely be only to the gutters being pushed away from the home- a minor gutter repair  that can be tackled in the Spring.  However, it's really a big guessing game until someone gets up there to see how massive the ice dam is.

The major trouble is when the ice dam pushes up roof shingle and causes water seepage into the home.  Newer homes are being built with ice/snow shields, a rubber sheet, that should protect from this problem.  However, if you have an older home that doesn't have it, your ice dam is several feet up the roof, or if the builder skimped on the standard 32" height; you will want to get that ice dam broken up.

We have been getting several calls for ice dam removal this week.  Homeowners that are not equipped with a ladder to reach the issue are seeking the help of a professional.  When researching the issue, I found that there are companies with trucks equipped with a heated water supply.  Where are they?  Well not in our area.  My method is simple- I am climbing the ladder with one gallon of hot tap water at a time.  Piece by piece, I break up the ice dam until the gutter is cleared and water flows down the spout.  If you call us up, please be prepared to refill our supply of hot water to complete the job.