Gutter News & Information

Petty theft has always been a problem in this country, but it seems to become more common when the economy is sluggish. This is especially true in the subcategory of metal theft. Because of the value of recycled metal, thieves will pilfer almost any type of metal – from raw materials like wiring, flashing, and sheet metal to finished products such as fencing, manhole covers… and gutters. Yes, gutters.

Summertime is here, and that means you can finally enjoy all those outdoor activities that you yearned for while you were snowbound. Like swimming. Playing in the park. Trips to the lake. And that all-American favorite: backyard barbecues.

But summer also means the return of mosquitoes. Those nasty pests can swarm around your family and friends and turn a fun barbecue into a teeth-gnashing, skin-slapping disaster.

So how do you prevent those pesky mosquitoes from wrecking your next barbecue? Here are six tips to keep those biting insects at bay.

Rain: most of us get it, most of us don’t want it.  But there are ways to turn rain from a day-ruining nuisance to something that can help save you money, get you out of a pinch, and help save the planet.  Even just a rain barrel under your rain gutters can save you a fortune.  Here’s how…

1. Using Rainwater Cuts Your Water Bill
The most obvious benefit of rainwater is pretty simple: it’s free, and depending on where you are, it can be an, shall we say, abundant resource.  For homeowners, this free water can cut down on costs substantially.

You see it all the time in movies: somebody is about to fall off a roof, and they’re stuck clinging for dear life … to a gutter.  But how often does this actually happen?  Well, at least once, and it saved a life.

A little boy in Henrico, VA, was simply trying to get his mother’s attention.  His mom happened to be outside, so the four year old pulled a chair over to the window, stood on it, and started calling to his mother.  Unfortunately, he also leaned against the screen…and it gave way, with the boy falling two stories.

A rain gutter regatta is a fantastic event for kids and their parents. No, really!

Rain gutter regattas are usually led by scouting troops, day campers, or church groups, and give parents a chance watch their children create “seaworthy vessels” from balsa wood, plastic, and metal. The kids then use their lung power to propel the sailboats down a ten-foot long, water-filled rain gutter.

On an individual basis, rain gutter regattas give each child an opportunity to design and construct something (largely) by themselves, and then test their skills against their peers in a friendly contest. This entire undertaking helps build confidence, creativity, and their competitive spirit.