Lehigh Valley Seamless Gutters
CALL US NOW: 610-262-0919

How to Repair Gutter Seam

How to Repair Gutter Seam

The most excellent gutters that are particularly tailored to meet your homes needs are seamless gutter systems. Their superior advantages far outweigh those of the traditional gutter systems, which are conventional and come in standard lengths, and initially require to be cut and pieced together so as to fit them in a home. If not cut uniformly, a home is simply predisposed to leaks, which damage the entire wood the gutter is attached to. The question is how to repair gutter seam. But worry not, seams can be resealed.

There are ways on how to repair gutter seam when it starts to leak on the wood of the gutter it is attached to. Notwithstanding the misinformation and confusion that surrounds the sealing of gutters, resealing is done as part of normal maintenance. However, installers many times fail to seal the connections rightly. So, seams and joints contract and expand, and sealers break down over time especially if they are sensitive to silicone or if the silicone is old and needs reapplying.

How to Repair Gutter Seam

If you are planning on re-applying or removing entirely the existing sealants on a gutter, it is very important that you ensure the new sealant is compatible with the gutter material and not overall sensitive to it, as it will not appropriately seal the broken seam. One excellent sealant for gutters that are made of aluminum coil stock, or are galvanized or made of vinyl, is Geocel. It is mostly made in aluminum grey. To learn how to repair gutter seam using Geocel, read on.

The sealant, by the way, is readily available on any gutter and roofing supply outlets. To apply the sealant, make certain that the surface is very dry and clean. You can, however, apply this tripolymer when the weather conditions are wet. (It is recommended to do the former). Then initially remove mildew and any grime on the gutter and clean off the surface entirely. Use an Emory cloth to remove any rust, after firstly gently removing any corrosion using a wire brush.

how to repair gutter seam

Then wear protective plastic gloves and use a small plastic spreader to evenly spread the sealer on the broken seam of the gutter. You should press the sealer on from a warm tube to ensure its smooth flow when learning how to repair gutter seam. Toss away the spreader and gloves once you are done cleaning up the sealed seam with the powerful product that is xylene or lacquer thinner, and voila! That is how to repair a gutter seam using the Geocel sealant.

If your gutter has large gaping holes, you can patch the holes using a sealant or, alternatively, you can replace the whole section of gutter. Gutter holes that can be patched are those of up to ¼ inch. Clogged gutters will speed up the break down of gutter seams. It pays to have your gutters cleaned.

Fix Leaky Gutters

How to Fix Leaky Gutters


fix leaky gutters


Fix Leaky Gutters – Metal



Fix Leaky Gutters – Plastic



Frozen Downspouts


What can you do about this?

Prevention:  Downspouts freeze quickly if the water flow is stopped somewhere along the way.

frozen downspouts


In the recent storm, the heavy wet snow was enough to block water flow at the bottom, if the ends weren’t shoveled clear.  Because of the thawing and refreezing this week, downspouts also froze up at the elbows. Prevention involves clearing the ends of the downspouts and also keeping an eye on the elbow joints.

Downspouts collected ice inside, where the downspouts were dented or bent. Long-term prevention involves checking for bends and dings in the downspouts before winter sets in.

 Action: On line advice about frozen downspouts varies. Some say just leave it alone. Others recommend taking ice-melt to the gutters (see below.) A few say heat the gutters to clear them. One recommends whacking the gutter (from an upstairs window) with a baseball bat. Yet another recommends running electrical heat tape to prevent melting.

 What to look for to prevent a big problem?

The main reason that you don’t want your gutters icing up is two-fold. The worst thing that can happen is for the melting ice to find its way into your house.  The second worst thing that can happen is that the ice in the backed-up gutter gets heavy enough to tear the gutter off the house.

Ice Dam

Prevention: To prevent water in your house, your roof should be installed with a sheet of rubber under it. This way, if water collects on the edge of the roof, it won’t find its way through the waterproofing. The second prevention measure is to keep your roof cold. This means insulating and ventilating your roof surface. (This is also good for lowering your heating bills.) A warm roof allows snow to melt at the bottom edge, then refreeze overnight. Then, the subsequent melting the next day increases the build-up of  ice that will melt the next day, and so on. The more melting water, the more weight and pressure; these are conditions that favor water finding its easiest route down is through the wood behind your gutters. The third preventative measure is to make sure your gutters are draining well before the winter sets in. Most gutters collect leaves and debris that can impede to flow enough to allow freezing, even if the downspouts are clear. Clear and check the flow in your gutters sometime in the fall, after the leaves have fallen and before the cold sets in.

Roof Heat Tape

Action: If you see awesome quantities of ice collecting in your gutters and your downspouts are frozen, you may want to take evasive action. The tried and true method is to fill a stocking with ice melt and put it in the gutter. If this is a chronic problem that happens every year, using an ice rake to clear the snow near the bottom of the roof may be an option (depending on how high your roof is.)

The last-ditch and most expensive and inefficient method is to install heat tape to melt the snow and prevent the refreezing.

Frozen Downspouts

Frozen Downspouts was written by :

How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned

How often should gutters be cleaned?

It depends! Some houses can go for a couple of years between cleanings. Others need cleaning twice a year or more. Each situation is different

Develop a history

Starting out to find how often cleaning is needed the gutters and down spouts should be checked twice a year for signs of blockage, leaks and possible overflowing. If you live in a high rainfall area or have a lot of trees hanging over the house you may want to increase the frequency of checking the gutter system. As you check the system and track the need for cleaning after a season or two it will be very clear what is needed for gutter cleaning frequency

how often should gutters be cleaned

For those who can not see any of the gutters from inside the house and do not climb ladders checking the system for blockage can be relatively easy. On clear days check of signs of mold or streaking on places the gutters may over flow. Observe the siding for discolorations indicating water leaks. Just when it starts to rain go to the out let of he downspouts and if water does not flow very soon after the start of a heavy rain you know that something is blocking either the gutters or leaders. If you want to stay dry and the garden hose spray can reach the roof the same test can be done of the system by spraying water on the roof and simulating a rain, checking the water flows down the system as it saturates the roof and fills the gutter.

This way you do not have to clean the gutters more often than needed. Regardless if you are doing it yourself or paying some one to climb up and clean the gutters no one wants to waste time energy or money on something that is not needed.

Cleaning frequency

Prior to having a history on when gutter cleaning is need for a house follow this rule of thumb. Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned and checked for signs of necessary repairs at least twice a year. Typically, the best times to do this are spring when the tree seed pods and flower debris are down and fall when the leaves are down but take care not to wait so long a prolonged freeze sets in. Each year this window of opportunity can be very different. The late fall option can be difficult if put off too long and you get into snow and freezing weather were it is not safe or practical to work on gutters. If you suspect a problem or live in an extremely rainy climate, then perhaps, you should check and clean the gutters more frequently. If there are a lot of trees that are high or over hang the roof then the need for cleaning will naturally increase the frequency. Some people cannot tell in advance the need for gutter cleaning so just wait till the gutters show a problem then have them cleaned. This method can stretch out the need for cleaning but also lead to a sudden death playoff with problems in the winter being the hardest to resolve if there are freezing conditions. If you live in an area that winter is cold enough for freezing then you can get ice dams in the gutters and water pouring into the house as melting snow from the heat inside works up under the roof since the ice blocks the normal flow of water off the roof. As you keep track of how much material is removed at cleaning, how full the gutters are and if there are blocked downspouts you will know what the right frequency is. Most houses always have bad spot and areas of guttering that stays clear.

“How Often Gutters Should Be Cleaned”

Was written By Dana Huntley of Gutter Cleaning Hampton


How To Quiet Noisy Gutters

How to Quiet Noisy Gutters

Noisy gutters can drive you insane and you will be asking yourself “do I really need gutters on my home”? A house does not look right with out having rain gutters on it and they serve a purpose to your home. A well maintained roof will keep water out of your home, but if there are no gutters and downspouts on your home the water running off your roof will enter your home thru the basement. So, the answer is yes. You do need gutters on your home. How to quiet noisy gutters is the question you need answered.

If your have noisy gutters from water overflowing, you will need to do a few things to the gutters on a regular basis. If you have had a storm and branches or leaves get into the gutters then, when the rain gathers in the gutters, it will not flow properly out of your seamless gutters. This will cause either a waterfall over the gutters. If you do not want to take the time out to clean out the gutters on a regular basis you will want to place a rain gutter covering over it. This will catch all the leaves and branches and stop them from getting into the gutter itself.

Leaking joints is another reason for dripping gutters. Although this may not cause any noise, it will depend on what is underneath the drip. This may not make your list of how to quiet noisy gutters, but it still will need to be fixed. A small leak over time can cause extensive damage to your home.

How to quiet noisy gutters

Not only would you need to keep the gutter cleaned out but if you want to solve the annoying dripping problem that creates noisy gutters that can last long after it stops raining, you can do a couple of different things to help this. You can place decorative down spout chains on the down spout to give the rain a place to flow instead of the rain water falling for several feet, then hitting the down spout elbow and making the annoying noise. You can also put an insert in the elbow that will quiet noisy gutters.

When you have a noisy gutter you will want to fix the problem quickly because that noise can drive you bananas especially if those noisy gutters are outside your bedroom. Even though gutters are extremely important pieces to the structure of the house, they do not have to be annoying or hard to live with. You can have quiet gutters if you just take the time to install the inserts into your downspouts elbows or put up a decorative down spout chain. This is how to quiet noisy gutters.

Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters and Downspouts A Look of Distinction

A house is not a house without gutters and downspouts. The roof of a structure can be rendered useless without gutters and downspouts. They are what I call the indispensables given their importance. Going beyond its fundamental function, a house cannot aesthetically be acceptable without gutters and downspouts. It just doesn’t feel right if you ask me. I don’t think builders and architects will ever push through a project without these two in the plan. It is downright silly and utterly wrong.

In the same way, I am pretty sure architects are using these two to accentuate the color scheme of the house that they are designing. In fact, I believe most homeowners are trying different ways to highlight their gutters and downspouts. The reason for this is that it gives them a certain taste of distinction. It differentiates and highlights the features of their house. The angles are the most common head turners. It creates a powerful impression of the size and architectural design that is present in the building.

Looking at modern architectural concepts, some downspouts are shaped in line with the shape of the house. Some are even in tune with the color scheme, design concept and roofing structure. Others, well they just like to make it stand out. Gutters and downspouts usually create a powerful illusion that makes the roof discontinuous with the walls. Attractive roofing will not stand out as you need these two together to complement its design.

Given this scenario, the function of the gutters and downspouts now goes beyond collecting water. If it is not properly maintained, the image of the house can be severely damaged. It can destroy interior and exterior walls, ceiling and even the roof. If the downpour is heavy, floor tiles can also be critically damaged. If the gutters and downspouts are clogged, water will flow down like a river from the roof leaving water marks in the painted wall. This is why they cannot and should never malfunction. The danger it creates is just the starting point. If these remained unfixed, the house will look dilapidated and old. Total renovation will be required if this happens. Sometimes even a reconstruction is inevitable. In fact, a lot of houses nowadays just leave leaking gutters and detached downspouts. This should never be the case. These structures should always be fixed and given its due attention. Cost must be secondary at this point given that the ambiance, the feel and the value of the house is directly related to these two.

gutters and downspouts

How can the house be considered a prime estate if the most noticeable part is destroyed? I don’t think anyone will invest on a property that has a leaking roof or with flowing water similar to Niagara Falls. Point of the matter still remains; never miss out on the most distinguishing part of the house, the gutters and downspouts. It is important to constantly look for ways on how maintain these integral parts. It is also very critical to note that gutters and downspout gives a certain flavor to the house. It separates the average from the great ones.

6″ Rain Gutters

What You Need to Know About 6″ Rain Gutters


Rain gutters are mainly composed of 2 main parts – the gutter and the downspout. There are also 2 kinds of rain gutters – seamless and sectional. The latter is pop riveted together if it is aluminum. If the rain gutters are galvanized or copper they can be pop riveted or soldered together. The seamless type features seams for the downspouts and corners. As the seamless type lasts longer and is leak proof, it’s preferred by many people these days.  Soldered copper rain gutters will last the longest, but the cost keeps it from being the preferred material. A professional contractor is needed to manufacture the 6” seamless gutter on site.

What is the purpose of 6″ rain gutters?

As its name suggests, a rain gutter is a trough situated at the bottom edge of the roof to gather and control rain water run-off. This way, the foundation of the house is protected from becoming flooded by water. Rain gutters come in various shapes, types and sizes. These include half-round or U shapes and K configurations.

6" rain gutters

Many residential rain gutters are available in 2 sizes – 5” and 6” and are made of galvanized steel, copper or aluminum. The usual 5” K-style rain gutters come with 2” by 3” downspouts. 6” rain gutters, on the other hand, use a 3” by 4” downspout.

One foot of a 5” inch K-style rain gutter can hold 1.2 gallons of water. For the 6” rain gutters, it can hold 2.0 gallons of water. Seamless aluminum is the most common residential gutter type. Initially only offered in silver, early aluminum rain gutters were painted white and ultimately painted in different colors to match the roof, trim and house siding, making rain gutters not just useful, but also a design feature. 

Shopping For 6″ Rain Gutters    

The most common materials are copper, aluminum, and galvanized steel. Determine which material suits your home. Steel is more affordable than copper, but it’s not as durable. Copper can be expensive and is used for certain types of houses, it is the most attractive. But regardless of the material you choose, make sure to pick the thickest material that you can afford. Keep in mind that the thicker the gutter material, the more durable and stronger it will be.

6" rain gutters

When shopping for rain gutters, the size is always an important consideration. Gutters are usually available in 5″ and 6″ sizes. 6″ rain gutters are best for those people with larger roofs as they can hold more water. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of rainstorms, you may consider using 6″ rain gutters.

Another consideration is the type of rain gutter you will get. The most popular type is the K-style, but you can also go for square-shape and half-round ones.  Your choice will depend on your home’s design. Copper gutters are left in their natural state. The patina over the years will give your home a look of distinction. If using aluminum or galvanized you will need to pick a color.  You may pick a color to match the current color of the roof. The most common choice is to match the color of the trim of your home. Another choice can be to pick an accent color that is different then the trim of your home.  

The Purpose Of 6″ Rain Gutters

You 6″ rain gutters will serve 2 purposes. First to protect your home from the damage that can be caused by water. Second rain gutters will give your home a look of class. Pick a color and size that will make you proud of your home.

Siding Hail Damage

Siding Hail Damage

Hail damage can take place during the entire year and may bring damage to the siding of the home. There have been several indicators of siding hail damage. It is highly essential to detect them right away before they bring out bigger problems in your home’s property. There are also various kinds of siding and it will be helpful if you try to get to know about them, most especially the siding of your house.

vinyl siding hail damage

Vinyl is the most common type of siding used by many home owners and even business owners. The second and third generation vinyl has been considered better compared to its first generation. The older vinyl siding is usually thinner compared to other modern sidings. The thicker gauge sidings had not been manufactured previously. For this reason, it is also more susceptible to damages. Once hailstorm hit vinyl siding, this creates cracks and holes. The thinner gauge siding is still manufactured. When replacing make sure your contractor is using the thicker gauge.

The good news is that siding hail damage may still be repaired depending on the kind of damage occurred. But keep in mind that it requires immediate attention before it is too late. When the siding has been several years old, the chance is that it will lose its flexibility. Cracks may start to appear but the stone should be 1.25” in diameter in order to have your vinyl siding punctured. Metal siding and wood siding would show dents. These dents are visible depending on the impact and size of hail. Aside from that, paint gets cracked when it comes to wood siding.

When you experienced damage to the siding, such damage will be sustained into 1 or 2 elevations. It is due to the fact that the storm typically travels through a single direction. And in a particular storm, wind may swirl into different directions. Thus, a storm may affect all sides of your home. This in not usually the case, one side is normally damaged.

aluminum siding hail damage

The siding hail damage with aluminum may be distinct. Aluminum is generally affected by wind and hail. It may blow off the house due to strong winds and may be severely dented through hail.

Siding Hail Damage Repair

There are various siding hail damage that siding contractors offer repair services for. All you have to do is to look for the best one to do the repair to your siding hail damage. Regardless of the type of siding your home has, you will always find a repair company that can bring back the beauty of your home’s roof and siding including the soffit, fascia and gutters.

Make sure that you consider the most essential factors in choosing a company for you. Siding hail damage may be totally devastating to you. Do not let this devastation cause you to sign with the first contractor that comes to your door. The out of town contractor is usually the first to come to your door. They move around the country following the storms. Once they are done in your area they are gone. You will never see them again. If there is anything that needs attention after they are gone you are stuck. The insurance company is not responsible for their work. Going with a local contractor is your best bet. They will be there to answer the phone once the work is done.

Fix Your Siding Hail Damage Now

Once you observed unusual changes to the siding of your house, do not hesitate to consult a local siding hail damage company. In this way, you will be able to ensure the safety and protection of your home and family.

Gutter Systems Part Of Home Maintenance

Gutter Systems Part Of Home Maintenance

Home maintenance is an integral component of our lives and as homeowners it is very important to ensure that our house is in tiptop shape. We cannot stick to the old adage, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality given that it is not simply rational to let the house fall apart. The “it’s still okay” syndrome will do more harm than good and will be very costly for us in the long run.

The most common repair and maintenance project on any house is the roof and gutter system. This is due to the fact that these sections are the most exposed part to extreme weather conditions. No matter how tough and expensive the materials you used for these, Mother Nature will definitely take a toll on it whether you like it or not.

Most frequently replaced between these two are the gutters. Over time, the gutter system usually gets damaged due to the volume of water and accumulation of debris like leaves, twigs and stuff. If you try to analyze it, the look and feel of a house is very much dependent on the state of its gutters. A leaking and damaged gutter system appears to generate an impression that the house is very old and poorly maintained. It immediately brings down the value of the house and it also lowers the aura of the human inhabitants.

This is the reason why, this needs to be immediately fixed even before it is fully broken. Remember, it’s a system. One panel breaks down, everything else follows.

Types Of Gutter Systems

The common issue here is cost and it is always the main barrier for it to be fixed. There are two alternatives to choose from when replacing and installing the gutter system. First, there is the seamless gutter system, which is commonly installed by professionals and the other, the traditional pre-made gutters that you can buy from any hardware store. Both systems can be installed by a professional or by a handyman like yourself.Components of gutter systems

The most common is aluminum given that they don’t rust similar to the old galvanized gutters. There are several colors but white and brown are the standard trim. Custom colors are available to match your house.

Seamless gutter and Traditional Pre-Made gutter have both pros and cons. Seamless gutter systems have lesser tendencies to develop leaks because they are made on-site. The only places they can leak are at the end caps or a miter. If you are planning on installing them yourself, this will raise another problem. You will need to find a contractor with a gutter machine that is willing to come out and run out the seamless gutters. The pre-made gutters need to be short enough for you to haul from the store to your home. These lengths can be from 10’ – 30’. The choice of hangers will be limited by the store stock. Buying on line will give you the largest choice.

Every joint is an increased chance of a leak. Seamless gutter system is your best choice when doing home maintenance.

Advantages of Installing Gutter Guards

Advantages of Installing Gutter Guards

            Advantages of installing gutter guards, here are a few questions to ask yourself. Have you ever experienced a clogged gutter filled with water, mosquitoes, or other insects? Have you ever cleaned your gutter due to leaves and debris blocking the flow of rainwater? Have you ever experienced falling down the roof and hurting yourself while cleaning the gutter just to ensure that you don’t put your family and property in danger due to overflowing water?

If your answer is yes to all of these, then you have a serious problem that can be solved with a very simple solution: GUTTER GUARDS. Most of the homeowners nowadays are trying to cut down on maintenance cost without fully understanding the underlying expense brought about by the damages that simple water and debris accumulation can do to your roof. Do you think it’s not scary? Think again about the advantages of installing gutter guards.

Advantages of Installing Gutter Guards

Erratic and extreme weather occurrences have posed a grave threat to human lives and properties. The roof on our house is our first line of defense against these weather conditions and not ensuring that it’s properly taken cared of may not be a wise thing to do. Granting that there may be a small probability from being immediately damaged by simple rain or snow, the constant bombardment of debris, heat, cold and rainwater will definitely take its toll. I’m not only referring to the body of the roof itself, but also the destruction it can bring to the surrounding gutters that serve as pathway to water. This should raise alarm bells in your head to the advantages of installing gutter guards.

Exposing your gutter to the risk of being blocked by debris poses a clear and present danger that cannot be ignored. You cannot allow yourself to be a victim of carelessness and indecisiveness. This is not prudent. The advantage of installing gutter guards is not unreasonable starting at a cost of around $600 for a townhouse. This amount can be the tipping point for you and your family’s safety. As the saying goes, “The benefit outweighs the underlying cost.”

There are numerous types of gutter guards: mesh, wire, vinyl and aluminum. They act as a powerful filter that prevents debris from accumulating in your gutter. Imagine a gutter guard that ensures only water can pass through.

Gutter guards can be installed by Holencik Gutters. Installation has numerous advantages. I have summarized them into five key points.

1.      Prevents stagnant water from accumulating that can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, spiders and other disease carrying insects.

2.      Greatly reduces fire risk when dry leaves and other fire hazards accumulate in the gutter

3.      Ensures regular and smooth flow of rainwater by ensuring that no debris is blocking the pathway

4.      Prevents corroding or rusting of your gutter by ensuring that moisture caused by rainwater don’t last

5.      Eliminates the necessity of constant cleaning due to the role of gutter guards in ensuring that big debris doesn’t block the path of water.

Given these benefits, the advantages of installing gutter guards are essential. We should not hesitate putting them on your gutter system. Let’s enjoy life and keep your home safe.

%d bloggers like this: