Expert Advice on Home Improvement

It’s important to keep your gutters and downspouts clean to prevent them from clogging. Elbows in downspouts are the worst culprits, and the flexible metal cable of a plumber’s snake is the best way to clean them out. Once the clog is clear, insert a garden hose in the downspout and turn on the water to flush out any debris. Watch this video to learn more. Watch this video.

Roof leaks can be hard to find, since they often run down the underside of sheathing or rafters to show up far from their actual source. The best time to try and find a leak is when it’s raining outside, or you can also mimic rain conditions by spraying water on the roof. Watch this video to see how to find roof leaks in your home. Watch this video.

Watch this video to see the importance of keeping your gutters and downspouts clean. Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow and rot the eaves on your home, leading to costly repair. Watch this video.

Watch this video to find out how to repair damaged roof shingles, replace a roof flange, as well as clean and maintain roof valleys on your home. Watch this video.

Watch this video to find out how to inspect, clean, and make minor repairs to a roof to prevent leaks from damaging your home. Watch this video.

Gutters are a common way to handle rain running off a roof, but if your house doesn’t have gutters, you can still keep rainwater away from doors by installing a rain diverter. Watch this video to see how. Watch this video.

Gutters are often installed using aluminum gutter spikes and ferrules which can bend easily and work loose over time. Replacing them with steel gutter screws and rigid plastic ferrules provides a more secure alternative and will prevent them from pulling loose or sagging. Watch this video.

Clogged overflowing gutters can lead to rotten fascia boards and even cause damage to the foundation. Clean them during dry weather starting at the downspout and working back. Wear gloves and use a gardening trowel or a scoop made from a plastic container. After the gutters are clean, use a garden hose to wash out the inside, and check to be sure the downspouts are flowing freely. Watch this video.

Here’s a handy tip to help you clean out the gutters without having to climb onto your roof or a ladder. Create a long spray-wand from PVC pipe (1/2″ works well) with a “U” shape at one end. Watch this video.

Extension ladders are a must for painting on higher areas of the home. But where do you put the paint? Create your own hanging device from a wooden dowel purchased at the home center. Choose the largest dowel that will fit inside the hollow rungs of the ladder (usually 5/8″ to 1″). Watch this video.