Do You See What I See

When it comes to gutters we never usually never pay them much attention, unless they start having physical defects that are visible of course. We have had more than one call stating ” the gutter is pulled away from the home”. Usually no one knows why. How can this happen? Well often times we find the gutter is secured to the home via the fascia board. The fascia board is the only barrier between your rafter tails and your attic. Using the support structure of the home the fascia board is secured in place. The gutter will then be secured to the fascia board.

That’s A Wrap On Fascia Board

Fascia boards gonna need some TLC

When the gutters pull away there are a couple of issues that it could be however, the most common issues are; the gutters have accumulated enough weight at some point to pull itself away or the fascia boards are bad. Without protection the fascia board can become rotted, swollen, or even just split apart. As the wood begins to deteriorate it will force the screws, spikes, or any object in the wood securing the gutter out. When this happens we see the gutter dip in spots or pull away all together. Your gutters potentially are fine in this case and the support system just needs some attention.

Here at Professional Gutter and Drain we would always recommend checking the fascia board for fascia wrap ( an aluminum wrap that protect the wood from moisture) in order to minimize the repairs needed. Time will claim all but with a little insight and good timing you can stay ahead of the times!

Solar Powered Roofing Tiles

Energy has always been a constant in the development of humanity. From fire to electricity we have utilized these elements as fuel to build and grow. As consumption of energy steadily increases experts and visionaries look for creative and effective solutions to ensure we will be ready to meet the demands of tomorrow. Alternative energy has and will continue to grow in popularity and potential. Promising to deliver the energy we need without any of the harmful by-products the current energy choices produce.

Solar energy is among the most readily available renewable energy we currently know about. Our very own fusion reactor in the sky has been sending us wave after waver of energy. The planet around us has produced and sustained life as a result of this energy. Recognizing this potent energy source scientists have developed ever more efficient ways of harnessing this power. Today we utilize what is known as a Photo-voltaic (PV) for creating shingles! Imagine your whole home covered in small solar panels, potentially decreasing your energy bill by 40 percent to 70 percent.

Unfortunately Solar Panels Don’t Grow On Trees

A bright idea, solar energy

This material is made from thin film solar cells (TFSC) which is comprised of copper indium gallium selenide, a semi-conductor allowing for a conversion rate of 10 percent to 12 percent. There is a more capable product available however, it tends to be a lot more expensive. This product is known as Mono-crystalline silicon (Mono-Si). This is a high demand material and will cost quite a bit more for only a small increase in conversion rates, 15 percent to 20 percent.

As the world moves forward we all will have to become more creative with solutions to our everyday problems. Fortunately for everyone, experts exist. Whether it be solar roofing panels or your homes drainage system, someone is always ready to assist. Allowing us to focus on more important aspects for the future, such as that anniversary you almost forgot!

Source:

Solar Power Authority

Pig Skin, Drain lines, and Gutters

Super Bowl LI has certainly given us something to talk about in the best, or worst way, depending on your team. We all watched a dominant lead get destroyed, fast. Without digging to deep we can all see the Falcons became negligent with their lead. Whether it be Football, personal goals, or your responsibilities it is always a good idea to stay ahead!

Super Bowl LI

Spring is just around the corner and that means so is the rain. Just like Tom Brady destroyed the Falcons the rain can bring a similar kind of destruction to your home. During this time of year we would like to emphasize the importance of the drainage systems that protect your home. Gutters may have become clogged with debris. Drain lines can develop issues from the freezing temperatures as well. Here at Professional Gutter and Drain we are dedicated to helping you stay ahead of your drainage problems. Don’t let your home become a Super Bowl LI.

Water Volume Vs. Your Drainage System 

Knowing Is Half The Battle

Knowing the correct size gutter to install or have installed on your home can be beneficial to any homeowner. Customers call us about gutter overflow issues everyday. Sometimes debris simply needs to be removed. Other times we simply need to adjust the pitch. Now while we do everything in we can to determine the issue and use the right crew for the job we have times where the homeowner simply doesn’t know. They are not sure why this is happening. They clean the gutters twice a year and someone has checked the pitch and found it to be correct. So now what? While we like to think every home built has the correct size gutter we live in a world where fact-checking has become a necessity. So let’s check the facts on water volume.

Numbers Never Lie, Says Pi

We can easily determine if our gutters are capable of handling the water volume using a simple formula. First we will need to determine the square footage of your roof, we will refer to his as the “roof drainage area”. If you don’t know this your local county auditor should have this information. Now that we have the roof drainage area we need to determine our roof pitch. You can look for a roof pitch tool online to help if you are unsure. Now your roof pitch will have a “roof pitch factor” that correlates to the pitch. These are as follows:

12/12 pitch is 1.3

9/12 or 11/12 is 1.2

6/12 or 8/12 is 1.1

4/12 or 5/12 is 1.05

3/12 is 1

Now multiply your roof drainage area by your roof pitch factor. Now that you have this number we only have one more step, accounting for the maximum rainfall intensity in your area. This is something you will have to research as it varies city to city. Multiply the answer from the previous equation by the maximum rainfall intensity. This will give you the number you’re looking for.

5″ K-style gutters can hold an average maximum ( depending on pitch and amount of downspouts) of 5,520 square feet. 6″ K-style gutters can hold an average maximum of  7,960 square feet. If you find your number is close to the maximum average and don’t want to upgrade your size you can always look to ensure your pitch is optimal for your gutters to increase the rate of drainage or, you can add additional downspouts for the same effect. Downspouts should be placed at least every forty feet of gutter.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/how-to-size-gutters-and-downspouts