Gutter Cleaning – You gotta do it, LA!

Posted on May 9, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

Don’t forget to add cleaning your rain gutters and downspouts to you Tto-Do list! It’s a vital chore, albeit an unpleasant one.
Gutters and downspouts are a key element in protecting your home from a wide variety of damages. Gutters will prevent your roof’s fascia boards from getting wet and rotting. They also protect your home’s paint/stucco from water damage. Downspouts prevent water from pooling beside your foundation and seeping into your basement by directing the water away from the house.
Leaves, twigs, trash, birds’ nests, etc can accumulate in your gutters, and block the flow of water that the gutters are there to direct. Water then overflows and causes the above mentioned damage. It can also pool and remain stagnant, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other unpleasant sights and smells. This is why regular cleaning is necessary to keep your gutters working efficiently.
Cleaning your gutter and downspouts can be done in one of two ways. Either by doing it yourself, or hiring it to be done by a professional.
Besides being a rather hot, dirty and time-consuming job, cleaning your rain gutters by yourself is also very dangerous. You will need to either get a ladder or do it from your roof. It goes without saying that this can be dangerous. Falling can cause severe injury, even death. It’s always recommended to have someone with you to hold a ladder and help secure your safety. Another thing you’ll want to do is make sure you wear safety glasses or goggles when doing any kind of gutter and downspout cleaning. You’ll have a lot of flying debris and if you’re on a ladder, you are right at eye level. Don’t take unnecessary chances with your vision. Do not neglect the downspouts while cleaning the gutters. Sometimes people clear out the leaves from the gutters, but forget to make sure the downspouts are clear! The downspouts are what drain the water caught in the gutters out to the ground, so if they are clogged, water will backup into the gutters. It is recommended to flush water through them with a garden hose to insure that water flows freely.
The easier, safer, more convenient way to insure that your gutters are in proper working order, is to hire a professional. At Prestigious Raingutters, we have over 20 years experience in cleaning rain gutters in the Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. We can quickly and efficiently clean out your gutters for you and make sure everything is working the way it should. We will also make sure the gutters are properly sealed to prevent leaks, and secured to your home.

Maintaining your gutter system helps prevent costly repairs and should not be overlooked. Call us for a free estimate.

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Rain Chains Instead of Down Spouts

Posted on April 24, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

Rain chains originated hundreds of years ago in Japan. They work just like downspouts, allowing the water collected in your gutters to drain to a desired area of your garden, or into a rain barrel. Instead of being concealed inside a downspout, however, rain chains allow the water to be visible. The water flows down the chain in a tranquil, mesmerizing stream. It’s very unique, elegant, and almost therapeutic to watch! They are attractive, decorative additions to your home when it isn’t raining as well.

Rain chains are sometimes desired because they are quieter than traditional downspouts. From the bell-like tinkle of drops falling from cup to cup, to the soft whitewater sound of a waterfall, rain chains eliminate the disruptive, clunky noise associated with closed downspouts.

There are generally two different main types of rain chains. Actual link chains, and cup or bucket chains. Link rain chains are just what you’d think. They are a chain of loops that link together. They can vary in size, material, and shape. Link styles can handle a fair amount of water, but in a heavy downpour, some of the water may splash off the chain to the sides. A double-loop chain will catch more water than a single loop chain. Cup styles catch the most water, however. Cup style rain chains consist of a series of decorative cups with open bottoms linked together on a chain. The water runs down the chain, but the cup helps catch extra water that splashes off the chain and directs it downward to the end of the chain for a more precise endpoint. The cups can come in many varieties and styles to fit the ambiance of your home.

The most commonly desired material for rain chains is copper. Copper rain chains are very attractive. Over time, copper oxidizes and forms a coating known as a patina. The patina can be green or brown in color, and actually helps prevent corrosion. It gives the metal an antique, stately look. The other popular materials used for rain chains are brass and aluminum. Aluminum tends to keep its silver color, while brass ages and becomes a bit darker over time, making it richer and more bronzy.

A common question is: does the wind make rain chains swing much? Wind is rarely reported as a complaint. Even in areas of southern California that experience heavy Santa Ana winds, you can safely use rain chains. If installed properly, your chain should not blow about in the wind.

At Prestigious Raingutters, we have years of experience with rain chains in the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley areas. We can expertly install your chain so that it drains properly, stays in place, and won’t cause damage to your home or existing gutters. Call us for a free estimate.

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Gutters are a little off – What’s the worst that could happen?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

If my gutter is sagging slightly, or if it overflows a little bit now and again, it’s unsightly, but it’s not a big deal, right?
Wrong! Here are four eye-opening, and wallet-draining issues that bad gutters can cause that you probably aren’t aware of. If you let your rain gutters go without maintenance, even in southern California, you could wake up one day to find….
1) Your Roof is Ruined!
Your gutter system and your roof are intimately connected. Gutters take away the water that’s on your roof before it can linger and get under your shingles. The less time water stays on your roof, the fewer leaks, mold colonies and soft spots you’ll find.
Water that stays in gutters because of sagging or a bad hanging job can be sucked right up under the shingles and into your roof’s sheathing, which will rot away if you don’t deal with the problem quickly. Even if it doesn’t get under your shingles, it could erode them as the water backs up and soaks into them. Either way, you’re talking about a lot of money for problems that shouldn’t be happening.
2) Your Siding is Ruined!
If your gutters are hung incorrectly, they could fall, tearing down your siding with them. But that’s the only risk, right? So what if water gets on your siding… It’s all-weather! It gets rained on all the time!
Sure, but does it get subjected to a constant flow of water? No. And there’s a reason why it doesn’t – or shouldn’t! Just like water can get under the shingles, it can get under your siding. Once there, it can eat away at the wall materials and create a fertile environment for pests, as well as for mold! Mold loves vinyl siding, especially in areas that don’t get much direct light. Mold is unhealthy, ugly, and destructive. You will have to re-install all new siding, which is a pricey endeavor.
3) Your Basement is Flooded and Your Foundation is Eroded!
This is any homeowner’s worst nightmare: a basement flood. When your gutters are backed up, the water just spills out and into the soil around your house. Soil can only absorb so much water, and that water has to go somewhere else. And all too often, “somewhere else” is your foundation and basement.
A basement flood can cost you thousands of dollars, but foundation problems can cost you your house. A house on an unstable foundation can be condemned by the state if you let it go long enough. This is serious business.
4) Your Patio and Driveway are Damaged!
Water will seep into pretty much any concrete fixture eventually: there’s only so much a sealant can do against a steady stream of water. Eventually, it’ll cause cracks, rust rebar supports and cause other damage. A proper gutter system above your garage will help direct water away so that it isn’t draining out onto your driveway, causing a small river every time it rains.

Don’t let these nightmares become a reality. At Prestigious Raingutters, we have 25 years of experience cleaning, repairing and maintaining all types of rain gutters in the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley areas. Let us help you sleep soundly by putting your rain gutter nightmares to rest. Call us for a free estimate.

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Copper Gutters in Los Angeles

Posted on March 19, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

Copper rain gutters can do all the normal, important work of raingutters, but with elegance and sophistication! Why not put as much into the outside of your house as do the inside?
Copper rain gutters have been referred to as “jewelry for your house.” It’s true, the elegance is a huge reason to copper, but it’s got many other advantages besides just looking pretty!
One of the biggest benefits to copper gutters is their durability and how long they last. When you make the investment in copper gutters, you are saving money in the long run, because you will replace them less often than other materials. Copper rain gutters do not rust or rot, which means they will stay in tact for decades! Copper rain gutters have been known to last for 50 years or more! They tend to require less maintenance as well. They can withstand exposure to extreme weather conditions such as baking heat and dryness of areas such as the San Fernando Valley!
Copper rain gutters add monetary value to your home and drastically increase curb appeal. You simply cannot deny the attractive appearance of the metal.
Over time, copper oxidizes and forms a coating known as a patina. The patina can be green or brown in color, and actually helps prevent further corrosion. Normally, it takes at least six years for the patina to form. However, if you like the natural look of copper, then you will have to apply sealants that prevent the copper from oxidizing. Many people prefer the patina though, especially in older homes. It gives them a stately appeal. You’ll often see them on homes that grow ivy, or on more vintage looking homes. It’s elegant and unique. It will certainly set you apart from your neighbors.
It is not recommended to attempt installing copper gutters yourself. With a material as expensive as copper, you want to be sure that your gutters are installed professionally. At Prestigious Raingutters, we have over 20 years experience installing copper rain gutters in the Los Angeles area, and we know exactly how to secure them in place for optimum performance and durability.

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Why You Shouldn’t Mix & Match Your Metals

Posted on March 5, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

Let’s say you have a nice steel gutter system and one day something happens to one of your downspouts and it needs to be replaced…. So you call around and do some research and learn that aluminum is less expensive than steel and comes pre-painted, so you decide you want to replace the downspout with a new aluminum one – simple, right?
Yes and no…

Galvanic Corrosion is an electrochemical process which occurs when dissimilar metals are in contact with each other in the presence of an electrolyte, most commonly being moisture and oxygen. For example rain water and salt water make especially good electrolytes. An electrolyte could be any non-metal matter that will conduct an electric current and are predominantly liquids or moisture. Every metal has been rated for nobility and then placed on galvanic scales according to nobility. Basically nobility is a measurement of the resistance to corrosion, especially of one metal contacting another metal. Metals that are the least noble means they are very anodic, electropositive or high potential and will corrode most easily. Aluminum is the least noble, so it will corode the fastest. Metals that are the most noble, means they are highly cathodic, electronegative or low potential and will be the most resistant to corrosion. The most corrosive effects will occur between metals from the opposite ends of the galvanic scale or ranking of nobility. This difference in electrical potential between two or more metals causes galvanic corrosion. Dissimilar metals in contact with each other in the presence of an electrolyte causes current to flow through their points of contact at the expense of the metal with the higher potential or less nobility. The much less noble metal is gradually consumed in the Electro-chemical reaction and will deteriorate or wear away as the metal ions migrate away from the very anodic metal to the more noble cathodic one. The more noble metal’s corrosion resistance actually increases from this transfer of ions to it from the less noble metal, while the other metal is gradually getting consumed.

What does that mean?! It means that over time, with water flowing between the steel and aluminum, the aluminum is going to start to corrode and you will have a leak. This process speeds up near the ocean because of the salt water in the air. The good news is that we use bonderized or galvanized steel, which has a coating that prolongs the damage, and you can patch up a connection a few times before a whole section will need to be replaced. Also, if you are farther from the ocean, it will take longer for the corrosion to take place.So if you’re looking at the short term, it won’t be a big deal, but years down the line, mixing your metals can prove annoying and costly. It’s best to stick to one type of material in your gutter system if you can.

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Drainage!!! Where Does All That Water Go?

Posted on February 27, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

We care about your house and will give you the best gutter system available, but we want to be sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your foundation secure. Did you know that an inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof amounts to about 623 gallons of water?! Your gutters are an important line of defense to keep this water from wreaking havoc on your home. They will collect the run-off from your roof and from there, the water flows out through the downspouts to the ground. But then what? Allowing water to puddle at the base of your home can cause serious structural damage.
We can offer extensions and splash blocks to help with this problem and get the water out farther from your house! Splash blocks are lightweight enough to move easily, yet sturdy enough to stay in place. Placing one beneath your downspout’s opening helps disperse the water away from your foundation. There are different styles and colors to choose from. A splash block does help quite a bit, but it won’t solve all your problems if your home has some more serious sloping issues.
Just as the roof is sloped to shed water, the ground around your home should be sloped, too. The soil next to the house frequently settles, so water runs toward the house rather than away from it. A slope away from the house of about 1 inch per foot near the walls usually is adequate. Slope the ground to carry water away from the downspout discharge, as well, and make sure the soil on the surface next to the house has low permeability to reduce infiltration.
There are many different types of home drainage systems available. French drains, for example, are basically trenches that prevent water from entering certain areas of the property. Channel drains are long, narrow grates that are often used in driveways. Area drains, atrium drains, and swales are other possibilities.
A drainage system below ground is another option and important step to keeping your home dry. A properly installed drainage system at the house foundation and under the basement floor will ensure a dry basement and eliminate saturated soil conditions next to the walls. A study of leakage problems showed that more than 90 percent were due to improperly installed drainage systems.
When an underground system is installed, many times there are drains above ground that can work with your gutters! We can be sure that the downspouts deposit the water from your roof directly to the drains and the foundation of your house stays nice and dry.
Call us at Prestigious Raingutters to take the first step and get some great gutters up and running. We give free estimates and service the Los Angeles and Ventura County areas.

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Things Aren’t Always What They SEAMS?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

The rain gutters and downspouts are your home’s drainage system. Any obstruction in this system could leave you looking at a potential source of flooding or other costly damage, such as mildew. Most modern homes need gutters in order to properly channel water from your roof away from your house.
Once upon a time, practically the only way gutters were made was using steel pieces that were soldered together using welding torches. All that changed with the invention of aluminum gutters that required little more than snap-on fasteners and elbow grease to go up. The great advantage of these lightweight, rust-resistant gutters is that they could be installed without difficulty, often in the space of an afternoon. The disadvantage, however, was leaking. Sections snapped together, but often times the seams weren’t water-tight and during a heavy rain, water would find its way out through these cracks.
Rain gutters are made to catch water that falls from the roof, and drain that water through their downspouts out and away from the house itself. Leaks that occur in the gutter system make it so that the water doesn’t make it to the downspouts! This can quickly lead to major problems at the structural level of your home, defacing the exterior of your house. Even minor leaks may eventually erode the fasteners that hold the gutters to the roof, creating a serious hazard!
Thankfully we’ve come up with a solution to help eliminate leaky gutter seams – seamless aluminum rain gutters! They work essentially like their traditional counterparts, with one major difference – they are cut and bent from a single piece of tubing. To be precise, seamless gutters are not completely seamless. The gutters do actually have seams at the corners of the house. But with professional installation, these corners can be properly installed and sealed to prevent leakage.
Probably the greatest advantage to seamless gutters is that they minimize the amount of maintenance you need to perform every season. Depending on the configuration you’ve chosen – adding gutter screens is sometimes recommended – you may be able to get away with many months of consistent use without any major cleaning. They come in a wide variety of colors to match your home, and they can withstand heat without becoming brittle in the San Fernando Valley sun, and they will not rust with precipitation along the ocean in Malibu. They are perfect rain gutters for Los Angeles County. Give us a call for your free estimate today!

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To Do: CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

You’re all ready for winter, right? Your heat works, your blankets are out, you bought a new sweater…. what’s left? Did you rememebr to clean your rain gutters?
Gutters and downspouts are a key element in protecting your home from many forms of costly damage. Gutters will prevent your roof’s fascia boards from getting wet and rotting out. They also protect the paint and stucco on the sides of your house from unsightly water damage. Downspouts prevent water from pooling beside your foundation and seeping into your basement and foundation.
Leaves, branches, garbage, birds’ nests, etc can accumulate in your gutters, and dam up the flow of water. Water then overflows and causes the above mentioned problems to your home. It can also pool in the gutters and remain stagnant, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other unpleasant sights and smells. This is why regular cleaning is necessary to keep your gutters working efficiently!
Cleaning your gutters and downspouts can either be done yourself, or you can hire a professional.
Besides being a dirty and time-consuming job, cleaning your rain gutters by yourself is also very dangerous. You will need to either get a ladder or do it from your roof. Falling can cause severe injury, even death. It’s always recommended to have someone with you to hold a ladder and help secure your safety. Another thing you’ll want to do is make sure you wear safety goggles when doing any kind of gutter and downspout cleaning. You’ll have a lot of flying debris and if you’re on a ladder, you are right at eye level. Don’t take unnecessary chances with your sight! Don’t forget the downspouts while cleaning the gutters. Sometimes people clear out the leaves from the gutters, but forget to make sure the downspouts are clear! The downspouts are what drain the water caught in the gutters out to the ground, so if they are clogged, water will backup into the gutters. It is recommended to flush water through them with a garden hose to insure that water flows freely.
The much safer and more convenient way to insure that your gutters are in proper working order, is to hire a professional. At Prestigious Raingutters, we have over 20 years experience in cleaning rain gutters in the Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. We can quickly and efficiently clean out your gutters for you and make sure everything is working the way it should. We will also make sure the gutters are properly sealed to prevent leaks, and secured to your home so that they won’t sag or fall.

Maintaining your gutter system helps prevent costly repairs and should not be overlooked. You’ll most likely be pleasantly surprised how affordable it is too! Call us for a free estimate.

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I need new gutters, but I’ve never done this before… Help!

Posted on January 18, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

If this is your first time dealing with gutter installations, here’s a quick guide for you so you won’t be in the dark on the whole process.
It helps to do a little research so you have some idea of what gutters you’re going to want. Aluminum? Steel? Half-Round? Of course we’re happy to help you decide, but it’s usually helpful when you know what your opinions are before hand. You’re in the right place for that already! Our website has photos and this very blog is chock-full of information for you!
The first step is the estimate. Give us a call, we’ll schedule a time for our estimator to come out and take a look at the property. Even if you know exactly what you want and how many feet you need, we will need to come out and see the property first hand. The estimator looks at many things that will help us to do your job, such as the slope of the roof, the condition of the rafters and fascia board, the drainage system around your home, and of course the measurements among other things! This is a great time to ask any questions! Our estimator will be happy to explain everything and offer advise if you’re unsure on any decisions along the way.
After you have the estimate, if you like what you see, give us a call! We will set up a time to come out and do the job.
When the crew arrives, they will promptly do the job agreed upon. If you are getting seamless aluminum gutters, they will be made onsite with a special machine. If you are getting steel or copper, they will be hand-cut and soldered to fit your home properly. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to voice them to the crew.
When the job is finished and you are satisfied with the work, you may give the crew a check for the cost we quoted in the estimate. The price we give you will be the final price, there will not be any additional charges – unless we add more to the scope of the work, but that will always be discussed with you prior to billing. If you prefer to pay with a credit card, you may call the office and give us your information for us to process payment.
We have a warrantee for 5 years on original work and 1 year on all repairs. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work. If anything is not to your satisfaction, let us know! And if you ARE satisfied, let others know! Word of mouth is the best advertisement we could ask for.

Now that you know what to expect, give us a call to get the ball rolling with a free estimate!

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Hang Around a While, Gutters!

Posted on January 2, 2012 by prestigiousraingutters

A common problem with rain gutters is their pulling away from the fascia board they are attached to. Not only does this sagging look bad, but the guttering will no longer catch and transport the rain water away from the house effectively. There are many ways in which to hang rain gutters. Spikes, straps, brackets, or many different types of hangers such as K Style hangers, wrap-around hangers, screw hangers, t-straps, hidden hangers, bus bar hangers… it can get very confusing!
At the end of the day, it comes down to what type of gutter you have, what material they are made of, and what the conditions of your home are. Here in Southern California, we don’t have to worry about things like snow and ice weighing our gutters down and making them pull away from the house, however we do have to consider Santa Ana winds, which can do some real damage. Some materials corode more quickly when in contact with the salty air near the beach, too.
Since there are so many choices and there are so many specific factors involved, we take each home into individual consideration when deciding on hangers. There isn’t “one hanger for this type, one hanger for that” – each situation is given an evaluation and from there we make a recommendation. If you are having problems with your gutters sagging or pulling away from your home, give us a call and we’ll come out and give you a free estimate to determine what needs to be done to properly secure your gutter system. Let our 25 years of experience ease your mind and give you guidance!

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