SERVING TORONTO AND DURHAM REGION

 

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Your Roof is your Home's first line of defense against the elements of nature.

Your Home's safety, energy efficiency and structural integrity all depend on the condition of your Roof and the proper function of its Exterior Plumbing System — more commonly known as the "Eavestroughs" or "Gutters" (or Eaves for short).

Your Roof and Eavestrough work in-tandem providing a crucial role in preventing water related leaks and structural damages to both the Exterior and Interior of your Home. As time passes, this "first line of defense" will exhibit vulnerabilities that can result in more serious issues if left unmaintaned and ignored.

 

Why is it important to clean your Eavestroughs?

Overflowing Gutters can cause a whole host of problems for your Home.

Eavestroughs play an important role as the final stage of your Roofs function by collecting water spill-off and safely carrying it through the Downspouts / Downpipes away from the exterior of your Home and its foundation walls.

In order for this to occur, the Eaves and Downspouts need to remain clear and free of obstruction at all times.

Granular loss from roof shingles, dirt, wildlife material, seedlings, plant growth, leaves, and other tree debris typically accumulate inside of Eavestroughs, impeding the flow of water and drainage through your Gutters and connecting Downpipes. Once this system becomes obstructed, any accumulated water inside the Eaves has no place to go, resulting in overflow onto your property and increasing the risk of water damage to both the exterior and interior of your Home — leading to very costly repairs.

When water backs up in the Eavestrough, it can sit against the Roofs wood the Gutter is attached to and cause the Fascia to rot and weaken. Water overflowing the inside edge may damage siding or brickwork and seep through your Home's walls.

Water leaking into the Home can damage insulation, impact electrical systems, cause costly damages to your ceilings, floors and walls, foundation and basement, and quickly turn to mold which can be more involved to have professionally contained and removed so it doesn't spread to the rest of your home and cause a health hazard to you and your family, or tenants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granular loss from your Roofs Shingles along with dirt accumulate inside your Eavestroughs overtime. This creates a virtual sandbox of heavy sludge inside the Eaves that prevents water from flowing freely, impacting the Gutters and Downpipes ability to effectively drain water away from the Roof and your Home. Most homeowners are not aware of this and assume they don't need to clean their Eavestroughs if they don't have any trees near their house until experiencing drainage issues resulting in overflows, leaks and subsequent water damages to their home. Only then, learning this is not the case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to Roof Granule, fallen debris from nearby trees will clog your Eavestroughs and Downpipes. Whichever the case, both cause obstruction and prevent proper drainage leading to leaks, overflows and risk of structural damages to the exterior and interior of your Home if not cleaned a minimum of 2-times per year during the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. This is especially important before Winter. Fall maintenance is crucial to water flow after ice and snow melts, greatly reducing the impact of Ice-Dams that can damage both the Roof and Eavestroughs and lead to leaks inside your Home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Eavestroughs become full of water or ice as a result of being obstructed, it puts an excessive weight strain on the Roof and Fascia from pulling the Eavestrough down and away from the house leading to damaged, warped or sagging Gutters that no longer function or drain properly. This can expose wood and other openings for Pests, and lead to Roof Leaks and many other costly repairs.

Worse, the Eavestroughs and Downpipes can lead to collapsing off the Roof of your Home causing interior leaking, damage to the Roof, exterior of the House and property below — or injury to persons below. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An excess of water sitting in the Eavestrough can soften Roof materials. As a result, the Wood and Shingles can become fragile and easy to damage. This attracts bugs and creates an invitation for common pests such as Raccoons and Squirrels to gain access into your Home to make dens in your attics or walls. Birds commonly make nests inside Eavestroughs (often clogging Gutters during rain season) and will take advantage of any such access carrying with them Fleas, Ticks, Bed Bugs, and Mites, all commonly found on birds. This can lead to other Pest Infestations inside your Home such as Bats, Rodents, Cockroaches, Insects and Termites. All due to clogged, improperly draining, overflowing Gutters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can we do to prevent these issues?

The most effective way to prevent drainage issues and overflowing Gutters is regular cleaning, throughout the year. This helps keep debris and clogs at bay and allows water to flow freely away from the house.

Home Inspectors recommend to have Eavestroughs cleaned and inspected for proper drainage a minimum of 2-times per year as an essential means of preventative maintenance and protection of your Home and its value.

Depending on the condition of your Roof and the amount of debris it collects from its surroundings, you may need more frequent maintenance. If your Eavestroughs are prone to clogs, overflows and drainage issues, or have trees around your property that shed and drop debris on your roof, consider the added protection of installing Gutter Guards / Leaf Guards.

A properly installed Gutter Guard effectively keeps debris out and allows water to flow freely through your Eavestroughs and Downpipes all year round without the need of regular cleaning. Gutter Guards prevent smaller particles of dirt and shingle granule from building up, carrying them more easily through unobstructed Gutter and flushed down the drain, providing the benefit of a "self-cleaning system".

Gutter Guards are also a cost-effective choice, eliminating the associated costs of on-going regular cleaning every year.

This option is best suited for Home Owners who value peace of mind and maximum protection of their Home. 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you need Repair or Replacement?

If your Eavestroughs are pooling water or slow to drain despite of being clear of debris or obstruction, they are most likely in need of further Maintenance or Repair. If they're still intact and in decent shape, they may be adjusted or repaired without the need of a full replacement.

This can be due to age and normal wear, or caused by an improper installation, when the Eavestroughs lack the sufficient slope needed for water to be able to move effectively to the Downspout. This can be corrected with a Resloping Adjustment. There may also be areas where the Eavestrough have become loose and require a Resecuring Adjustment to restore them back into proper alignment.    

Some Home's don't have enough Downspouts installed for adequate drainage. This can lead to slower drainage and pooling of water, resulting in overflows. Installling an additional Downspout can correct these problem areas.

Sometimes Downspouts/Downpipes aren't located in an ideal location causing issues with the water terminating out of them into an area that's either not safe or wanted. This can be corrected by disconnecting and Rerouting Downspouts to another area of the Home or Disconnecting Downspouts and Installing New Downspouts in safer, more practical areas. Other times, a Rain Barrel may be required.

 

If your Eavestroughs are showing signs of age and wear from being weathered and weighed down over the years by debris, water, ice and snow buildup, they may just need a little TLC to bring them back up to optimal working condition with a few updates and corrections.

Older Eavestrough tend to have outdated hardware causing the Gutters to loosen and become detached from the house. A Hardware Upgrade will permanently Resecure Loose or Sagging Eavestroughs back into there original position where they can function effectively as new again. 

Older Eavestrough also tend to use outdated smaller sized Gutter and Downpipe that can get clogged and obstructed more easily from their smaller volume of drainage. Upgrading to current larger sized Gutter and Downpipe increases the volume of drainage, helping to correct this.

Depending on the state and condition of your Eavestroughs, they may require a Repair or Replacement.

Sometimes a Partial Replacement of a section of Eavestrough or Downpipe is all that's needed to correct a problem.

If your Eavestroughs have extensive damage or issues that go beyond normal repair, a Full Replacement of all new Eavestrough and Downspouts would be in order.

Whichever the case, we'll have the knowledge and expertise to help inform you on making the right decision and provide you with a thorough inspection and quote that best suits your needs.

         

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Wait For Repairs

It can be tempting to put off Roof Repairs until they are necessary. Unfortunately, small problems can quickly become big problems when it comes to your Roof. Even one tiny leak can cause extensive damage to both the Roof and the interior of your Home. It is far better and often cheaper to get repairs done now rather than wait until later. 

One of the most obvious cause of leaks that can happen any time of the year, is Damaged Shingles.

Even if the damage looks underwhelming, such as a small area of broken, cracked or curled Shingles, it can lead to significant problems for your home. Damages could include rotting of the Roofs underlying wood (also known as Decking or Sheathing) and lead to greater risk of water damages and significant cost of repair.

Lifted, torn, or missing Shingles caused by weather damage, wildlife, age, or poor installation, can leave the underlying Roof Decking exposed to the elements and cause leaks if not repaired promptly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damaged or missing Shingles creates an invitation for Pests to gain entry into your Home.

Local Wildlife such as Squirrels and Raccoons commonly frequent rooftops, causing further damage to these vulnerable areas in effort to gain access. This is a common scenario for pregnant female Raccoon or Squirrel seeking safe and warm shelter inside your attic to raise their new born Kits. Unfortunately, the damages they create will lead to greater leaks and water damages inside your Home if not repaired as soon as possible. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once on your Roof, Raccoons and Squirrels will look for other vulnerable areas such as Roof Vents to gain access into your Home.

UV Rays and exposure to the elements can deteriorate the materials and construction of Roof Vents causing them to become weaker and more susceptible to damage. A damaged Roof Vent will develop into Pest Infestations and Roof leaks if not replaced.

Raccoons and Squirrels will chew, claw and pry their way into Roof Vents causing damage to them and gaining entry inside your Home.

Various types of Roof Vents range in size, material and construction. Most Home's have Attic, Bathroom and Plumbing Stack Vents.

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most common Roof Vents susceptible to causing leaks and water damages inside your Home is the Plumbing Stack.

(This Vertical Pipe sticking out of your Roof connects to every Plumbing Fixture inside your home including the sewer line. It neutralizes air pressure inside the pipes so your Plumbing flows smoothly and exhausts toxic vapours from your sewer line outside the Home).

Overtime, the Rubber Seal and Flange around the base of the Plumbing Stack pipe deteriorates from UV ray damage, causing cracks that develop into larger openings and leaks inside the Home if not replaced.

Openings at the base of the Plumbing Stack are also invitation for smaller Pests like Squirrels and Mice to gain easy entry into your Home and cause a host of problems—such as destroying your insulation and chewing of electrical wires, to name a few.

A damaged Plumbing Stack should be replaced as soon as possible. A tiny crack or hole might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but when it's letting water in for months or years unnoticed, it can cause major damage such as wood rot and mold in your attic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A more obvious opening on your Roof for common Pest Infestation is the Chimney. It might seem odd, but Raccoons can shimmey their way up and down a Chimney opening with ease to make themselves a warm and cozy nest.

We can prevent this by installing a high-quality Stainless Steel Chimney Cap secured over the opening of your Chimney.

This also prevents rain and snow from entering, while protecting the structural integrity of your Chimney from costly damage repairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another way to "cut down" on these Pesky Roof invaders is to trim any overgrown trees and branches directly over and onto your Roof. This may not stop a determined Pest from finding other ways, but it will limit their easiest way onto your Roof in the first place.

Trimming of these branches will also decrease tree debris onto your Roof and inside your Eavestroughs to help keep them draining and clog free.

Trees near your house can be a hazard, especially if they are not properly maintained. Generally, the end of a branch should be no closer to your house than 6 feet. However, it is not a good idea to have tree branches hanging over your roof at any distance.

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule Routine Maintenance and Inspection

Your Roof and Eavestroughs are the foundation for preventative maintenance of your Home.

It's a good idea to have your Home's Roof and Eavestroughs regularly maintained and inspected to spot any developing problems and get them corrected, rather than pay the significantly greater repair costs after more severe and extensive damages occur.

 

Our Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• EAVESTROUGH / GUTTER CLEANING

• EAVESTROUGH / GUTTER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT

• EAVESTROUGH / GUTTER LEAK SEALING

• LEAF FILTER / LEAF GUARD INSTALLATION

• DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION • REDIRECT/REROUTING • INSTALLATION

• RE-SECURING (DETACHED / FALLEN EAVESTROUGH & DOWNSPOUTS)

• HARDWARE UPGRADES (CURRENT SPECS AND SIZES)

 

 

• RAIN BARREL INSTALLATION

• ROOF REPAIRS (PARTIAL AND FULL REPLACEMENT)

• REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED SHINGLES, VENTS & PLUMBING STACKS

• VINYL AND ALUMINUM SIDING REPAIR

• CHIMNEY CAP INSTALLATION

• TRIMMING OF OVERGROWN TREE BRANCHES ON-TOP OR OVER ROOF

• EXTERIOR WINDOW CLEANING