Why PVC Gutter Is The Best

Choosing PVC gutters have more advantage than having aluminum gutters for many reasons. With this type of material for gutter, you will no longer deal with dents and bending which is in the case of the metal counterparts. You immediately gain many benefits because it is primarily plastic. If you think it's time to replace your home gutter system, you should have strong consideration for using PVC instead of aluminum or tin. PVC gutters give us 7 reasons why it is advantageous to use:

Beauty

Since this material is plastic, it can come in a variety of designs and colors that are very attractive. Most of the time, you make custom orders to achieve this and customization usually comes with a prize, even so it will still be cheaper compared to metal gutters. Some want their gutters to match their home exteriors and most gutter companies can do this for you. They also maintain their color well because the color of the gutter is actually part of the material itself, so you won't have to worry about painting. Choosing this superior product contributes to a more sustainable living.

Durable and Robust

This material can stand up well even in the harshest of weather. It is water and moist resistant and PVC can never freeze, rust or corrode. This can carry 20 to 50 times it's weight like in the case of snow, water, debris, and other masses like leaning trees or falling branches. These are why PVC is better than metal and wood gutters.

Flexibility

PVC gutters do not lose its shape and can never get distorted even on extended carrying of weight. This gutter type is manufactured to be able to bow with the weight. Unlike metal gutters and most especially wood gutters, PVC never bends, dent, and twist. It goes back to its original form even when stressed. Again, these make PVC a superior gutter material.

Installation

It's lightweight and clips together well and fasten securely onto brackets attached to the house that's why it's very easy to install. Complete home installation jobs can be finished in a day with the right tool even if it needs to be properly mounted and pitched. Working with PVC is less burdensome compared to other material.

Price

Since plastic is considered the cheapest construction material there is, PVC gutters whose actually a plastic can be less expensive than installing metal or hardwood. And another good thing about PVC, it wouldn't look cheap after you installed it on your home. Just make sure you hire the right guttering contractor that is well-trained so you don't have to deal with poor workmanship when you have already eliminated poor material along the way.

Strength

With PVC, the gutters are formed on a continuous unit, that's why it is strong. It is even stronger than metal gutters that has paint to scratch or has welded seams to corrode over time. The weight of snow, ice, masses, and leaning branches have no effect to PVC gutters. Also, it blemishes less and if it does, it can be cleaned or not visible.

Environment Friendly

The durable nature of PVC's means there is actually less production being made by companies, it is also non-toxic and can be recycled. It is non combustible (doesn't cause fire and doesn't spread fire) and don't emit dangerous gasses when heated. All these make this type of gutter environmentally friendly.

Do's and Don'ts of Written Estimates

Understanding written estimate can be daunting most of the time, but you're getting work to your home done without this, you may be making a huge mistake. Written estimates will also tell you what type of contractor you are hiring. You can measure their knowledge on the project by looking at the estimates they came up with. You can also predict how diligent they will be if they finish your project by looking at their written estimates. 

1. Time-table - Study how long will it require for your project to be accomplished. It is very essential to determine how long will your contractor work vis a vie the size and scope of your project. You can create your own timeline and schedule that will show how long will it require contractors completing the actual specified work, then compare the estimate submitted to you and the one you just created. Make use of your scheduler to tidy up the actions required to get the job done. Remember this information can be searched through the internet (contractor websites, product review sites, home improvement blogs, etc.)

2. Costs - Determine how much will it take for the project to be done. Know the price of the materials required to get the job done. Include the cost of the subcontractors just to be sure. Also, you can make use of your time-table to determine the number of hours you are likely to have to pay your contractor and their workers. Include the prize of any kind of insurance coverage they may have to do this type of work.

3. Estimate Write-up - This should also record labor, subcontractors, warranty, and rentals. Labor should include your employees' work as well as your own. Rentals should definitely be included on your record, since this also created a negative cash flow on your budget. If the contractor wishes to charge a special type of warranty, you should also include this on your estimate write-up. Don't forget when you write all these expenses down to categorize each based on what expense will it belong (e.g. Labor, materials, sub-contractors, warranties, rentals, etc.)

Remember, when comparing estimates on gutter system installation or on other home improvement projects for example, costs usually differ geographically and same with materials as they are always tied up with the current economic climate. Comparing estimations are often only applicable for a given period.

Paying Your Guttering Expert With Ease

Many of us may not have experienced how to deal with guttering contractors. Since changing your gutter is a huge home improvement investment, making payments, paying upfront, and exploring payment options can be very stressful. We understand that we are not just talking about fifty to a hundred dollars here but hundreds or maybe thousands more. This article was created to aid homeowners in managing their finances during a guttering project. 

Always remember to stay away from having to pay so much money upfront to your contactor, and make it a habit to ask for their company’s official invoice with the license number, tax identification number, and complete company contact information. It is best to ensure all the fields required to be filled-out or signed-out on the receipt have been properly filled. Paying through check or credit card will be easier, since you can monitor your own spending just by accessing charges on your online bill, compared to invoices and per line charge. 

Just like with any huge home improvement projects, you are letting other people get in your territory, so be cautious in showing-off your cash. You’ll never know if everyone on your project team can be trusted. If you are required to make an upfront payment based on the contract, never pay more than one-fourth the actual prize, if you can pay lesser, much better. Check the estimates before making upfront payments. Be sure you won’t go over the prize of the materials they will use for the project. If the contract says you have to pay over the benchmarks I mentioned, look for another certified and licensed contractor in your area to compare rates and to open you options on other company who would offer you cost efficiency (not necessarily cheap). 

Workers Compensation is a very important thing to consider when paying your guttering contractor. If the company provides insurance to their workers, you are protected to any financial responsibilities brought by worker casualties. And just to set your expectation, the assurance that your workers will be compensated and you will not be sued or not be responsible with mishaps comes with an additional prize. This is not an aesthetic charge, this is a requirement, and so make sure you include in your initial estimates and when building a strategic project plan. 

The total amount you will spend to finish your gutter project will certainly be based on a lot of things like cost of the materials during that time, changes on insurance costs, fluctuation of the global market, and others. It is best you prepare your spending by keeping all these things in mind.

The Cheapest Project Bid is Not Always the Best 

All guttering contractors are experienced with managing and working on different guttering projects, and as homeowners, we are not professionals when it comes to home improvement project management. Certainly we would think that the lowest bid to complete the project is the best deal there is. We are aware that projects like these are expensive, that’s why we find ways to work within the budget. This mindset would definitely place us in great disadvantage in the end.

There are many reasons why ‘choosing the lowest contractor bid’ is a wrong strategy and a wrong mindset. If you prepared an estimate and a planned to manage the project expenses accordingly, we can never trust the lowest bidder not to cut corners; they will always find ways to earn their target revenue, therefore, they are forced to cut corners to make up the difference from your demands. Another strategy is agreeing on a lower contract cost, but it will later force you to pay for modifications or force you to accept ‘work omission’ when the work is being done. You are now left with no choice (due to lack of knowledge and experience) but to acknowledge the contractor’s charge and let them perform this additional work, So, instead of obtaining a project that works comfortably within your budget, you would eventually end up getting a substandard work which will result for you have to pay for re-work and ending up on a more expensive and unreasonable project cost.

Remember companies need to make money and hit their target income all the time to survive, since this is the case, businessmen know almost all the techniques just to reduce their out of pocket expenses for their customers. There are many ways to cut expenses in any home improvement task, for example, using inexperienced workforce and the use of low quality materials. Keep in mind that there is still no assurance you are getting high quality gutters even if the guttering company passes the home inspections.

If the lowest bidding guttering company gives you a quote that is 15% cheaper than the average guttering service in Australia, you have to raise a red flag, because  the expenses for similar projects like labor costs, workers insurance, as well as the materials being used by contractors, do not differ that much. Acknowledge that any guttering project will require ample amount of time, high quality materials, and cost planning, so you would come up with something of high quality. 

The Art of Gutter Care

Have you imagined living in a home with no gutter? What do you think will happen? Can you imagine how much damage it would bring to your landscape and the foundations of your home? 

The art of having long lasting gutters is simply by not neglecting it. Cleaning is only required a couple of times a year, especially during fall. If you regularly clean your gutters, you don’t need to hire a contractor to do the maintenance or do the cleaning for you; you can do it again on your own, unless you encounter a problem that would require professional help. Before you start, you may want to prepare everything you’ll need before going up the gutters like: a ladder, bucket or trash bags, water hose, and cleaning gloves, sometimes a wood chopper or saw. 

Here are the steps on how to do this: 

1.   Remove debris - This usually stores water which causes your gutter to deteriorate. It also blocks water from evaporating or going down the downspout which will then make the gutter carry unnecessary weight and soon cause problems. Pick-up debris using your hand and make sure you don't push the debris down the downspout, the opening of the downspout should be completely clean and free of anything that can cause it to clog. 
2.    Flush the gutter with water - Rinse small debris. Caked-on dirt needs to be flushed with water to soften, so it is easily removed.
3.    Check the frame – It should be even and not falling-off. Usually, when part of the gutter is falling-off, there is a problem on its foundation and may require professional help. What you can do is identify what causes it to fall-off, and let the contractor do the rest.
4.    Chop of tree branches that rest on the gutters - You probably know why. The pressure causes irregularities that would later cause your gutter to weaken and fall-off.

Remember the art of keeping your gutter and downspouts clean. Cleaning and regular spot checking of your gutter system is a necessary home maintenance project and it is not a hard process. Doing this regularly will ensure you a safe and a happy home.

Easy Fall Guttering is a leading provider of high-quality guttering systems. Their patented Easy Fall Bracket is the main component of the guttering systems that they are offering. Easy Fall Guttering is committed in providing each and every customer guttering systems made from high-quality materials that lasts a really long time, if not a lifetime. Aside from that, Easy Fall Guttering is composed of some of some of the best guttering professionals in the businesses today, allowing them to provide top-notch guttering services to all their customers – addressing their every need.

Easy Fall Guttering Pty Ltd is located at Level 5 Nexus Building, 4 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153. You may contact Easy Fall Guttering at 02 8896 4396.

When do you need new gutters?

Our gutters are very dependent on how much we care for it in the past. Replacement of your gutters may be a financial nightmare, but there’s something you can do about it. But don’t feel bad if you were busy and were not able to invest enough care, you can easily find professional help when it's required.


Before deciding if you need a gutter replacement or a repair, carefully examine your gutter system first for signs of damage, degeneration, and loose fasteners. Just make sure when you do your examination, prevent walking around your roof because it may even cause further problems on the frameworks of your gutters and of course your roof. Use the step ladder to get the right view and if you see problems, don’t fix it without knowing what to do.


So, do you need new gutters? I have prepared a checklist which you can answer with yes or no, make sure you answer after inspection and check the decision below after you answer:


1.Our gutters are vinyl/plastic;
2.I see small holes in the gutter level;
3.I see curling and blistering on the edges;
4.The gutter fasteners are slightly detached;
5.Level gutters are not draining as expected;
6.The gutters are sloping towards the downspout;
7.We experience unnecessary leakage when it rains;
8.The mitered corners doesn’t look good and has leaks;
9.I see sever rusting/chemical damage (through and through the material).

If you answered yes on more than four (4) items on the checklist, you should consider your gutters replaced, if not, you still need professional service to have your gutters fixed (check your local directory for a service professional). If you’re a first-timer in replacing your home gutters, you have to understand what you are getting in to, and at least have enough time to consult with a gutter service professional and plan for this investment.

Remember, periodically cleaning and inspecting your gutters will save you from out of budget gutter repair and replacement.

Easy Fall Guttering is a leading provider of high-quality guttering systems. Their patented Easy Fall Bracket is the main component of the guttering systems that they are offering. Easy Fall Guttering is committed in providing each and every customer guttering systems made from high-quality materials that lasts a really long time, if not a lifetime. Aside from that, Easy Fall Guttering is composed of some of some of the best guttering professionals in the businesses today, allowing them to provide top-notch guttering services to all their customers – addressing their every need.

Easy Fall Guttering Pty Ltd is located at Level 5 Nexus Building, 4 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153. You may contact Easy Fall Guttering at 02 8896 4396.

Keeping Your Gutters in Good Shape with the Correct Fall

If you have been paying attention to your gutters lately, you might have noticed how some parts of it are now rusted or corroded, and even how some parts are about to fall off. That is probably the result of incorrect fall of your gutters. The fall of your gutter is very important in keeping your gutters from being rusted or from complete breaking down. During heavy rain, an improperly set rain gutter will cause rainwater, leaves, debris and other dirt from being totally drained causing them to be trapped in your gutter. These cause problems such as rust, corrosion, seeping and damping issues.

Because of that, you should always take into serious consideration the fall of your gutters. To do this, you should only hire professionals to install your gutters so that you can be assured that your gutters will be installed with the correct fall. A correctly installed gutter will allow continuous drainage of water, dirt and other debris, allowing your gutters to effectively clean itself from dirt.

Some people, who try to save money, only end spending more by improperly installing their gutters. There are several dangers that rusted gutters bring. A rusted gutter may fall off any minute, and when it hits someone, may cause severe injuries that may need to be treated in hospitals.

Other advantages of a correctly installed gutters, with a correct falls, is that you don’t have to continuously check on your gutters for debris that may have been lodged in it, effectively impeding the flow of your gutter when it rains. A gutter full of debris will cause rain water to overflow during hard rain. The overflowing water may seep into your roof and into your ceiling, causing water to enter your home. A gutter that does not allow water to freely flow may even collapse due to heavy accumulation of water.

For any home, it is important to keep the gutters clean and free flowing so that it is protected from rust and corrosion caused by stagnated water and dirt. To do this, one must always take into consideration the proper fall of their home’s gutters so that water, leaves, dirt and other debris are drained effectively. With gutters that are installed properly and with the right fall, the effort needed to keep your gutters well maintained is also reduced substantially too. So, be sure to avoid corroded gutters by asking for professional help when installing gutters.

Easy Fall Guttering is a leading provider of high-quality guttering systems. Their patented Easy Fall Bracket is the main component of the guttering systems that they are offering. Easy Fall Guttering is committed in providing each and every customer guttering systems made from high-quality materials that lasts a really long time, if not a lifetime. Aside from that, Easy Fall Guttering is composed of some of some of the best guttering professionals in the businesses today, allowing them to provide top-notch guttering services to all their customers – addressing their every need.

Easy Fall Guttering Pty Ltd is located at Level 5 Nexus Building, 4 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153. You may contact Easy Fall Guttering at 02 8896 4396.

Proper Maintenance Of Your Gutter System

Autumn has come and it is the time to check on your gutter system more often than usual. This is the season when your gutter tends to accumulate dirt and debris that will lessen the effectiveness of the system. It is always best to maintain the functionality of the gutter system to avoid damages the rain might do to your house due to faulty or not properly maintained gutter. Here are a few maintenance tips for your gutter system.

• Always make sure that the gutter system is free from debris and dirt. Accumulation of such even in small amounts can cause the down spout to clog. This will in turn slow down the outgoing water from the gutter. And if the downpour is heavy, it may cause an overflow that can lead to damages to your ceilings and walls.
• Hose down the dirt from the gutter. When dirt has already accumulated, chances are that it already hardened and may be difficult to remove manually.
• When it has been a long time after the last maintenance of your gutter or it has already rained before you were able to clean it, chances are that there are debris that entered the down spout and the pipes. Try to pour a pail of water into the down spout and check the outflow of the water. If it is too slow, you will need to de-clog the pipes.
• Check for rusts in the gutter. If these rusts are not addressed early, they will cause the gutter to have holes and water to drip from them. Depending on the location, it may cause the water to get into the ceilings of walls. Moreover, these spots will grow bigger until properly repaired.
• If your gutter system already has many damages or that it needs to be maintained more often than usual, maybe it"s time to think of overhauling your gutter system to a better one. It may cost more than just repairing it but it will be a cost saver in the long run since repairing and maintaining it more often will accumulate costs.

Take advantage of this season to check and maintain your gutter system. You may not need it now but if the time comes that you need it to function well and it has not been properly maintained, it can cause damage to your house and the cost might be higher than if you maintained your gutter system. It is always better to prevent damages rather than fix it. Besides, the gutter system has been installed for a reason and function, so it is best to maintain it for it to function effectively.

The GREAT down under Guttering make-over winners!!!

Easy Fall Guttering Promotion Winners Announced!!!

Paul Axford is very pleased to announce that on Monday 6^th February, 2012, “The Easy Fall Guttering Promotion” draw took place (NSW Permit No LTPS/11/01664).

 

Paul Axford is the  all-Australian Inventor of the Easy Fall Guttering System.

 

The lucky winners are:

1^st Prize of $7,000 Guttering:  Peter Ducat of Raymond Terrace, NSW, and 

2^nd Prize of $2,500 Leaf-Guard:  Glenn Sewell of Miranda, NSW.

 

Peter  (pictured below with Paul) is an extremely happy winner, as he has had ongoing guttering problems, and was actually getting quotes to have something done about it!!  How good is that?? Congratulations Peter!!

 

And congratulations to Glenn, on winning 2^nd Prize!!

Glenn, our second prize winner (pictured below with Paul), was happy to win the Leaf-guard for his home, and because he required new guttering, decided to upgrade to the full system.

Don’t forget, our next competition is in full swing, and will be drawn on 16^th May, 2012, so don’t delay! For more information go to our competition page and follow the links.  (click here to join:  ttp://www.easyfall.com.au/wineasyfallguttering.html)

We wish you the best of luck!!

Home Improvement New Year's Resolutions

The New Year gives us all the opportunity to set things straight and start anew. We sometimes even put up a New Year’s resolution list of the things we are going to prioritize the most for the fresh year ahead. We even look at ourselves and think about some changes we can do to improve the way we behave, look or deal with people.

Have you thought about fine-tuning your New Year’s resolution list a weensy bit? After all, we are talking about new beginnings and changes for 2012. One of the things that should show up on your New Year’s resolution list is a home improvement project.

Whether you’re initially thinking about a new paint job, replacing broken louvers on your windows or cleaning your roofs, it is important that you check all the facets of your home in order to find out what home improvement jobs you have to get done. Rank them in order of importance and set up a home improvement plan.

Here’s a checklist of some of the things you may have to look at:

• Air conditioning system – The summer season in Australia is far from over. Temperature’s rising and your air conditioning system should be fully functional. Remove dust build ups and other debris from the vents or have it serviced.
• Roof – You don’t have to wait until the next snap of nonstop rain showers come along before you check your roof to repair holes, cracks and splits. You can simply pick up a multi-purpose silicone sealant from the hardware store to repair the said damages. It works well with any roofing (even window) materials such as metal, aluminum, galvanized iron and PVC. Consider hiring a roof specialist if you think you can’t manage to go up the roof by yourself.
• Gutters – Take advantage of the clear weather to inspect your gutters for leaking joints and rusting seams. Extreme rain and sun exposure from the past year may have also caused the gutters to sag and to be out of place. These problems can totally compromise your gutters’ performance. You should also be prepared to invest for a new guttering system if necessary if you find damages that are too overwhelming for you to fix.

These are just some of the aspects of your home that could possibly need some quick fix or serious repair task. Create a spreadsheet itemizing the budget, timeline and the importance of having a specific home improvement project done. Meet the schedules you set and turn your home improvement nightmares to home improvement dreams that do come true.

Easy Fall Guttering can help you with all your guttering problems. Visit their website to find out how.