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.