Los Angeles Rain Gutters, Ventura Counties Rain Gutters - Encino, CA

Don’t overlook your Rain Gutters this Summer.

Posted on May 19, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

One of the most important features of any home — the rain gutters – are also one of the features that is the most often overlooked, downplayed, or simply ignored. Gutters are so extremely crucial to the maintenance of a home, however, that it should be a crime to not give them the attention they deserve.

A gutter, in unnecessar-ese, is an exterior home drainage assistance device. In other words, it sits on the outside of your home, assisting the forces of gravity, momentum, inertia, and fluid dynamics in the process of getting water off of your roof safely. Without gutters, water runoff can damage almost every part of the outside of your home, but that’s just the beginning.

Water that runs down the outside of your home doesn’t just stop and disappear into an aquifer when it hits the ground. In fact, it gathers around the basement walls and/or foundation of your home, where it can seep inside or erode the foundation itself. If there’s one thing that’s harder to deal with than a flooded basement, it’s a shifting foundation. Nothing quite matches the feeling of walking through a house that’s tilted, even just a tiny bit, due to rain damage.

Fortunately, we have gutters. Gutters and downspouts are inexpensive, relatively easy to install, and, when done properly, can add beauty to your home. Gutters come in several basic materials — vinyl, steel, copper, and aluminum are the most common — and each material has its own pros and cons. Research a little to find out which would be best for you and your home.

One thing to remember when installing rain gutters is that they should be placed so that the roof overhangs the gutter by about half. The downspouts should be positioned so that the water runs far enough away from the house so that they don’t create puddles that reach the side of the house; that keeps the water away from the basement and/or foundation.

Once they’re installed and working properly, maintained your gutters by cleaning them (or hiring a gutter cleaning service) twice each year — once at the end of summer and once at the beginning of winter.

Don’t Forget Sheet Metal during your Summer Roof Repairs.

Posted on May 5, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

Perhaps you’ve looked at our logo and noticed that it says “Prestigious Raingutters And General Sheet Metal”… Let’s take a step back from the gutters, and talk for a minute about the sheet metal side of our work! The most common sheet metal work we do is flashing.
The roof of a residential home serves one major purpose, and that is to be a barrier against the weather outside. The most difficult weather element to control is water, and roof flashing acts as the last line of defense against water leakage. Roof flashing is simply a piece of sheet metal — usually aluminum or galvanized steel — which is placed over joints in roof and wall construction to prevent water seeping into the house and causing damage. The major cause of residential roof leaks is a fault in the roof flashing.
Roof flashing represents a very simple and intuitive engineering technique that has been known for hundreds of years. The whole idea depends almost entirely on gravity. If the flashing has been installed correctly, gravity will work with the flashing material to shed the water onto the regular roofing materials, where it is then directed to your rain gutters and ultimately away from your home. Roof flashing is commonly used around chimneys, fan vents, plumbing vent stacks, and other items that project out of residential roofs.
For roof flashing to be effective, it must be durable, low-maintenance, weather resistant, and also accommodate movement. Expansion and contraction can happen on a daily and/or seasonal basis. For example, sunlight can create very high surface temperatures during the day, causing the roof materials to expand, but at night the temperature drops and the materials contract. Seasonal changes can affect the framing lumber, and the flashing materials must be able to withstand all these changes and remain leak-proof.
The stresses that roof flashing experiences over time can make it more prone to failure when extreme weather occurs, such as high winds, or excessive heat which are common in the Los Angeles area. During installation, care must be taken to preserve the flashing materials.
Flashings are the most technical and most difficult aspect of roofing in most cases. Traditional roof flashing methods and materials have stood the test of time, but they require experience and are time-consuming. Since flashings are the weak link in the chain when it comes to roofing, the skills of a professional are an important asset with these types of installations and repairs. At Prestigious, we have the knowledge and experience to create flashing that works for you and your home.

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters, Uncategorized | Tagged beverly hills, california, copper, LA, los angeles, malibu, northridge, prestigious, Prestigious Raingutters, rain, reseda, san fernando valley, Southern California, steel, tarzana, the valley, Ventura | Leave a comment

Make sure your Gutters are protecting your investment.

Posted on April 23, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

Maybe it’s the reputation of California as a haven of vanilla sky sunshine and bikini tops, but for some reason, it seems like there are a lot of Los Angelinos who don’t realize just how important the rain gutters in Los Angeles homes really are. Even if it doesn’t rain all that much, going without gutters is risky business. Clogged, nasty gutters can’t do their jobs properly and are almost as bad as not having gutters at all. So what do gutters do that’s so important?

Protect Your Home from Water

When water falls out of the sky, it doesn’t just evaporate, at least not right away. First, it has to go somewhere. Rain gutters direct that water away from the vulnerable parts of your house. Ask a roofing contractor whether your roof is one of those ‘vulnerable parts’; if he’s at all good at his job, he’ll tell you that if you have decent gutters, it’s generally not — but if you don’t, it certainly can be. Without gutters, you get ‘wraparound water’ that sneaks back up underneath your shingles, tiles, or what have you, and can permanently damage the structure of your roof.

Of course, lacking gutters, you also have water falling right next to your home, which means flooding in basements or shifting in foundations. If you’re experiencing basement flooding, it’s almost certain that you’ve got a gutter problem, and if you have a few good men come out and take a look, they’ll probably be able to find it for you. At that point, it’s a simple matter of getting the malfunctioning part of the gutters replaced. Gutters are far and away the most cost-effective way to avoid spending thousands of dollars recovering from basement floods or a shifting foundation.

Those shifting foundations aren’t anything to mess around with, either. When the dry season takes a break and the days of thunder come, those humble gutters keep several hundred gallons of water from pouring down the side of your house, often in a constant stream in the same place. It erodes the earth around your foundation like a virtual rain man digging away below your house. Without them, the firm seating you thought your house could rely upon could suddenly give way — even only slightly — and your home will end up tilted, or even cracked. And you’ve never really seen the color of money until you’ve had to pay to have an entire house put back together.

Gutters Have All The Right Moves

Without gutters, the water that plummets off of our home can deal a lot of collateral damage, but that’s no reason to be losin’ it. If you intend to avoid the scenarios just mentioned, you don’t need to do a lot. Just get a proper gutter cleaning, and have any broken gutters around your house properly repaired, and you can let the winds bring whatever tropic thunder they may without fear.

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters | Tagged aluminum gutters, beverly hills, california, cleaning, copper gutters, downspouts, Drainage, gutter cleaning, gutters, Gutters in Los Angeles, LA, leader heads, los angeles, prestigious, Prestigious Raingutters, rain gutters, Rain Gutters LA, rain gutters Los Angeles, raingutters, san fernando valley, San Fernando Valley rain gutters, seamless, seamless gutters, steel gutters, the valley | Leave a comment

Rain Chains

Posted on March 24, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

Hundreds of years ago in Japan, rain chains were invented. They work the same way downspouts do, 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.

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters | Tagged aluminum, aluminum gutters, beverly hills, california, copper, copper gutters, downspouts, Drainage, gutters, Gutters in Los Angeles, hollywood, LA, los angeles, malibu, northridge, prestigious, Prestigious Raingutters, rain, rain chains, rain gutters, Rain Gutters LA, rain gutters Los Angeles, raingutters, reseda, san fernando valley, San Fernando Valley rain gutters, santa monica, sherman oaks, Southern California, tarzana, the valley, Ventura | Leave a comment

Copper Rain Gutters

Posted on March 10, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

Copper rain gutters can add elegance and sophistication to your home while serving a much needed, functional purpose.

One of the biggest benefits to copper gutters is their durability and longevity. When you make the investment in these types of gutters, you are saving money in the long run, because they will not need to be replaced as often as other materials. Copper rain gutters do not rust or rot. They will stay intact for decades. Copper rain gutters have been known to last for 80 years or more! They tend to require less maintenance than aluminum or other materials as well. They can easily withstand exposure to extreme weather conditions without weakening. The heat and dryness of areas such as the San Fernando Valley will not have an adverse effect.
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 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 although it is possible to speed up the process with certain chemical treatments. 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 especially in older homes made from stone or stucco. There are also a variety of custom additions available in copper. You can add Leader heads to accentuate the front of your home, or Rain chains instead of downspouts to perfect your patio/backyard.

With 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.

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters | Tagged beverly hills, brackets, california, copper, copper gutters, downspouts, gutters, Gutters in Los Angeles, Half Round, hollywood, LA, leader heads, los angeles, malibu, northridge, prestigious, Prestigious Raingutters, rain, rain chains, rain gutters, Rain Gutters LA, rain gutters Los Angeles, raingutters, reseda, san fernando valley, San Fernando Valley rain gutters, santa monica, seamless, seamless gutters, sherman oaks, Southern California, tarzana, the valley, Ventura | Leave a comment

Rain Gutter Stylin’ and Profilin’

Posted on February 3, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

Rain gutters come in different shapes, or styles. For reference check out our products tab. The two most commonly used are K-Style (also referred to as OGEE) and Half-Round, both of which can be fabricated without seams.

What are the differences?

K-Style or OGEE gutters (“Ogee” is an architectural term for a form that goes from small to large) are arguably the most popular type of gutter installed today. When you look at a K-Style gutter straight on, they have an appearance on your roofline that resembles the shape of crown molding. Their attractive shape and reasonable price makes them appealing to homeowners. They are highly effective, and can hold more water than a half round style gutter with the equivalent diameter. They can be made of different materials as well, such as seamless aluminum, steel, and copper. The downspouts on K-Style gutters are often rectangular. K-Styles are ideal for applications where a flat fascia has been installed. For slanted or angled fascia, brackets are applied so that the gutter hangs securely at the correct angle.

Half Round gutters look like a half-circle, hence the name. The half-round profile goes with virtually any style of home architecture. They can also be made with different materials; such as copper, steel, or aluminum. Half-round gutters are most commonly used in southern California on spanish style homes. They’re often used on custom homes as well, and the shape even allows for the material (most commonly copper) to be embossed, for a very elegant touch to the architecture of the home. Half-round gutters function the same way as K-Style gutters, and they are usually paired with a matching round downspout. The half-round design is sometimes easier to clean because the surface is smooth, and there are no corners or creases for dirt or debris to become lodged.

There are Box style profiles also available (including Fascia and M-style). Box gutter is a perfect fit for modern architecture. This minimalist style (literally a box) can be fabricated in the M-style, flat on all sides, or with a small box trim at the top of the gutter profile. The trim helps to add rigidity to the gutter and keeps the face of the gutters from looking wavy. We can manufacture this style in virtually any size. These gutters are typically paired with smooth downspouts. If considering this style we recommend using steel or copper so that the gutter seams and custom cut downspouts can be soldered together. The Fascia profiles are designed to look like fascia boards, giving the appearance that your home doesn’t have gutters, yet still providing protection from water damage.

Whichever style you choose, Prestigious Raingutters can make sure your gutters are properly installed protecting your home from water damage. Call us for a free estimate.

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters | Tagged aluminum, aluminum gutters, beverly hills, california, copper, copper gutters, downspouts, gutters, Gutters in Los Angeles, Half Round, hollywood, K Style, LA, los angeles, malibu, northridge, OG, OGEE, prestigious, Prestigious Raingutters, rain, rain gutters, Rain Gutters LA, rain gutters Los Angeles, raingutters, reseda, san fernando valley, San Fernando Valley rain gutters, santa monica, seamless, seamless gutters, sherman oaks, Southern California, steel, steel gutters, tarzana, the valley, Ventura | Leave a comment

Clean and Screen in 2014

Posted on January 10, 2014 by prestigiousraingutters

You have gutters on your house. Great! That means you saved yourself hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars in repair costs associated with water damage! But you can’t just stick them up and forget about them… You have to maintain them so that they work properly.
Gutters catch water that falls off the roof. Unfortunately, they catch other things that happen to fall off your roof as well, such as leaves, twigs, etc. This debris can clog your gutters and then when water rolls off your roof into the gutters, it can’t drain down the downspouts and ends up overflowing. The water then causes as much damage as it would if there were no gutters to begin with! And if there is enough debris, it can get soaked and heavy, causing sagging. This can throw off the slope of the gutters and even when you remove the debris, they can be bent out of shape and not work properly. In worst-case scenarios, the gutters can detach from the house and fall – which can cause damage to anyone or anything underneath them, as well as ruining the fascia boards they were attached to!
For these reasons, you need to be sure your gutters are cleaned at least once a year. If you have many trees around your home that shed a greater amount of leaves and debris you might have to clean them more frequently. If this is the case, you might want to consider getting gutter screens installed as well. Screens easily pop into place over the top of the gutters and allow water in, but block most other debris from getting inside the gutters and backing them up. Screens will not be a magical get-out-of-cleaning-your-gutters-free card. You will still need to pay attention and clear out debris that makes its way past the screens and also anything that might settle on them. It’s a far easier task, but it still must be done.
At Prestigious Raingutters, we’ve been working on rain gutters all over the Los Angeles and Ventura Counties for over 25 years. We can help you install screens on your gutters in LA and the Valley. We can also help you clean them! We are licensed and insured and we provide free estimates. Give us a call today! 1-800-993-1193

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters, Uncategorized | Tagged aluminum, brackets, cleaning, Drainage, gutter cleaning, gutter guards, gutters, Gutters in Los Angeles, hollywood, LA, los angeles, northridge, prestigious, Prestigious Raingutters, rain, rain chains, rain gutters, Rain Gutters LA, rain gutters Los Angeles, raingutters, reseda, san fernando valley, San Fernando Valley rain gutters, santa monica, Southern California, tarzana, the valley, Ventura | Leave a comment

There’s a First Time for Everything!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by prestigiousraingutters

If this is your first time installing rain gutters on your home, here’s a quick guide for you so you’ll know what to expect!

It helps to do a little research so you have some idea of what gutters you’re going to want. The two main decisions you’ll need to make are what MATERIAL you’re going to want to use, and what STYLE you’ll want installed. Of course we’re happy to help you make these choices, but it’s usually helpful when you know what your opinions are before hand and you’ve done a little research. You’re in the right place for that already! Our website has photos and this very blog is chock-full of information for you! Scroll through our previous posts to find all sorts of useful information on which styles and materials might be right for you!

Once you do that, the first step to get the ball rolling is the estimate. Here at Prestigious, our estimates are always FREE. 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 still need to come out and see the property first hand. The estimator looks at many things, 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… We need to see all these things in order to know exactly how we’re going to install your gutters, and what the price will be. This is a great time to ask any questions! Our estimator will be happy to explain everything and offer advice 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 back to schedule! We will set up a time to come out and put up your brand new gutters just the way we have outlined in the estimate.

When the crew arrives, they will promptly do the job agreed upon. If you are getting seamless aluminum gutters, they will often 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. Our workers have been installing gutters for a LONG time, and they’re all friendly and happy to make adjustments or answer questions.

When the job is finished and you are satisfied with the work, you may give the workers a check made out to Prestigious Raingutters 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 over the phone for us to process payment.

We have a 5 year warranty on all new 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. We appreciate your positive reviews on Google, Yelp, Angie’s List, etc.

Now that you know what to expect, give us a call to get started with a free estimate! 800-993-1193

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters, Uncategorized | Tagged getting gutters in LA, gutter guide, how to get gutters, LA rain gutters, Los Angeles Rain Gutters, Prestigious Raingutters, rain gutters, Ventura County gutters, what to expect | Leave a comment

Clean Those Gutters, SoCal!

Posted on November 25, 2013 by prestigiousraingutters

Having gutters is wonderful! It means you saved yourself hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars in repair costs associated with water damage! But you can’t just stick your gutters up on the house and forget about them… You have to maintain them so that they continue to work properly.
Gutters catch water that falls off your roof. Unfortunately, they catch other things that happen to fall off your roof as well, such as trash, leaves, twigs, etc. This debris can clog up your gutters and then when water rolls off your roof into the gutters, it can’t drain down the downspouts the way it’s supposed to. The water then overflows and cascades off the house. This can cause as much damage as it would if there were no gutters to begin with! And if there is enough debris, it can get soaked and heavy, and your gutters can begin sagging. This can throw off the slope of the gutters and even when you remove the debris, they can be bent out of shape and not work properly. In worst-case scenarios, the gutters can rip of the house and fall – which causes damage to anyone or anything underneath them, as well as ruining the fascia boards they were attached to, and clearly the gutters themselves.
For these reasons, you need to be sure your gutters are cleaned at LEAST once a year. If you have many trees around your home that shed a greater amount of leaves and twigs and berries and what-not, you might have to clean them more frequently. If this is the case, you might want to consider getting gutter screens installed as well. Screens easily pop into place over the top of the gutters and allow water in, but block most other debris from getting inside the gutters and backing them up. Screens will not be a magical get-out-of-cleaning-your-gutters-free card. You will still need to pay attention and clear out debris that makes its way past the screening and also anything that might settle on top of and block the screens themselves. It’s a far easier task, but still must be done.
At Prestigious Raingutters, we’ve been working on rain gutters all over the Los Angeles and Ventura Counties for over 25 years. We can help you install screens on your gutters in LA and the Valley. We can also help you clean them! We are fully licensed and insured and we give free estimates. Give us a call today! 1-800-993-1193

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters, Uncategorized | Tagged aluminum gutters, copper gutters, downpouts, gutter cleaers, gutter cleaning, gutter screens, los angeles, rain gutters, raingutters, steel gutters, the valley | Leave a comment

Will Aluminum Last?

Posted on October 28, 2013 by prestigiousraingutters

In the last 20 or so years, aluminum gutters have become all the rage. But they are so light-weight and thin, how long can they really last? Everyone knows that steel and copper gutters last for decades! There are many homes built in the 20s that still have their original, functioning steel and/or copper gutters. So why should I consider aluminum over the tried & true steel or copper gutters I’m accustomed to?

There are many advantages of using aluminum rain gutters. First and foremost – lack of seams! Aluminum gutters can be made seamlessly. A coil of material is placed into a special machine which extrudes the rain gutter to the exact length you need! Other types of material typically come in 10 foot sections which then need to be connected to eachother. A 40 foot section of roof line might have 3 seams in it, which need to be sealed or soldered. These joins are usually the first places which begin to leak over time. But using aluminum, the entire 40 foot length would be one continuous piece, eliminating such concerns.
Another advantage – color! Steel gutters look like… steel. If you want them to match your house or your trim, you will need to paint them. However, aluminum gutters come in a wide variety of colors! The gutters we use at Prestigious Raingutters have a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer against chipping or flaking. Steel gutters will most likely need to be repainted at some point in their life span, whereas aluminum gutters will hold their color.
And with the economy the way it is, the biggest advantage aluminum can offer to some people – PRICE! The cost of aluminum is significantly less than other types of materials.
But are they able to stand up to the test of time? Yes! Aluminum doesn’t rust the way steel does, and with proper maintenance, aluminum gutters can last just as long as steel or copper.

What’s proper maintenance, you ask? Well… Aluminum is a light-weight material, therefore it is slightly easier to ding and dent than a heavy steel gutter, so be careful when leaning ladders against them or doing anything else than might put pressure on them. Keep other metals from coming into contact with your aluminum gutters. Especially if you are very close to the salty ocean air, because this speeds up electrolysis. Most importantly, keep your gutters clean! Debris clogging your gutters not only decreases their functionality, but it also can damage the gutters themselves, so be sure to clean them out at least once a year – the optimum time for this is right at the end of summer before the first fall rains begin. Adding screens to your gutters can help keep debris out, but it is not an excuse to stop cleaning them entirely. If you do these things, there’s no reason your gutters won’t be able to last you decades.

At Prestigious Raingutters, we have over 25 years of experience installing and maintaining seamless aluminum gutters in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Give us a call for a free estimate! 800-993-1193

Posted in Rain Gutter Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley Rain Gutters, Uncategorized | Tagged aluminum gutters, copper gutters, LA, los angeles, pros and cons, rain gutters, seamless gutters, steel gutters, the valley, Ventura | Leave a comment