Q:  Why do our homes need gutters?

A: Gutters and downspouts stop water from falling directly off the roof and down the side of your house, preventing damage to siding and exteriors. Gutters also prevent water from collecting near the foundation, which can end up in your basement or cause corrosion to your landscaping. A proper gutter installation will also prevent water from dripping onto walkways, entrances and driveways.

Q:  What kind of gutter services does North Shore Home Services offer?

A:  We can clean your gutters, replace broken outlets, re-attach down pipes falling away, repair leaky corners, re-slope gutters that are not draining properly, and even replace damaged section of gutters.  If there are no visible dents in your gutters or down pipes, we can do a major refurbishment that could save you money.  Ask our knowledgeable staff!Refurbishment could mean replacing your home’s wooden fascia. Call North Shore Home Services — our experts will visit your home, give you an exact price estimate and install new fascia as needed.

Q: How do gutters get clogged?

A: Debris lands on the roof and accumulates in the gutters, eventually obstructing the drainage of water.  Leaves and needles are a major source of blockage.  We have also discovered balls, beer cans, seeds, peanuts and small branches clogging up a gutter system.

Q: What kind of damage can occur when gutters get clogged?

A: If the drain capacity of the gutters is compromised, water will spill over and drip down the sides of the house. This may eventually cause damage to the siding, splash into windows, doors and possibly the foundation.  It will also compromise the seals that keep your household water tight.  Ground erosion will also start happening on your landscaping.

Q: How often should gutters be cleaned?

A: This depends entirely on location and weather conditions.  Generally it’s a good practice to have your gutters checked at least twice a year – in the spring and early fall before the leaves start to fall to ensure you gutters are working before the November rains start.  In houses surrounded by trees, it may be necessary to clean out the gutters three or even four times per year: in the late summer or early Autumn before the leaves fall;  December after the leaves fall; and in the spring, to clear out dead twigs and seeds that accumulate at the beginning of the growing season.We’ve had customers with needle trees around their house that require their flat roof or gutters to be cleared monthly.  Wind and rain shakes these trees every month of the year creating blockages.

Q: What’s a funnel and clean out box—and does your home need one?

A: The funnel allows gutter debris to easily pass into the downspout, where it can flow into the clean out box for easy debris removal.

Q:  How long should my gutters last?

A:  Typical gutter installations today are made from pre-finished aluminum. Pre-finished aluminum is very durable and comes with a 40 year manufacturer’s warranty against corrosion.————————————

Q:  Does screening work?

A:  Our answer will be different than most companies.  We believe most screening inherently DOES NOT work 100% on its own.  We have developed a system that combined with screening,  flush out any smaller, loose debris like pine needles or the tiny granules from your roof.  We use a funnel, easy flow outlets and a clean out filter box system on down pipes to clean out debris.Replacement of fascia is normal when a home approaches 20 years of age, but sometimes it’s needed earlier — if there’s rot due to bad gutter installation, for example. Call North Shore Home Services for a complete inspection by our specialists.

Q:  Is the photo of the three men hanging from the gutter real or edited?

A: This photo is real and has not been doctored in any way. Three men can hang from an gutter installed with the Fixa-Tech® continuous fastening system.

Exterior Building Maintenance:

Q:  Can North Shore Home Services remove rust marks on a driveway?

A:   Yes we can. With years of experience, North Shore Home Services has perfected a system to remove rust marks from any concrete or metal surface without damaging the surface.

Q:  Will power washing wreck my surface?

A:  General rule of thumb:  If you can rub your finger over a surface and paint flakes off, or causes some type of slight damage – then a power washer will also cause that.  An experienced user should not “rip”  wood or paint off a surface.

Q:  Should I power wash or steam clean my surface?

A:  Power washing with an experienced user is still the preferred method to clean any concrete, stucco or vinyl surface.Steam cleaning uses 1/3 the pressure or “P.S.I.” and hot water.  Hot water cleans your dishes better than cold water right?  Same with Steam Cleaning.  You can use this method to clean more delicate surfaces, such as cedar or vinyl siding, slate, or limestone, or other surface that require a delicate touch.  Steam Cleaning is also the only method to remove oil based products such as gum, grease, or oil marks.  Does washing your greasy bacon pan work well with cold water?

Q:  What’s the difference between using a tucker pole and hand cleaning the glass I have?

A:  Using a tucker pole is both a quicker and cheaper method.  The upside is we can keep your costs down and clean the frames as well as the windows.  The downside is that a tucker pole leaves water on your windows when complete which won’t leave the glass with that “crystal clean” look after we clean the windows using the squeegee method.Any other questions?  Call our experienced and knowledgeable staff today and we will be glad to answer them!