Extremely Dangerous Hazard Tree Removal
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In my last post I talked about gutters on one of my client’s homes being clogged constantly by the needles that are falling from a fir tree that is right next to her home.
Trees are beautiful and offer a lot of value to a home but they can cause damage to a home in many ways, too, including dropping their debris on the roof constantly, their roots can damage foundations, basements, side walks, driveways, water and sewer lines.
And, worst of all, they can crush a home by falling on it in a high wind.
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If you can spot a crack or other damage in a tree before it falls then it is often time to take it out before it causes damage to your home or property.
Now, when the tree is only 10 – 15 feet tall it is fairly easy and straightforward as to how to cut it down and turn it into firewood.
But, when the tree is a 100 – 150 feet tall fir or cedar how can you cut it down and not have it end up crushing your home?
Well, watch this video below and you’ll see how some professional foresters remove three hazard trees which were ready to fall. The trees were very close to buildings in a kids camp. It is absolutely amazing to see how precise and careful they are.
Warning: Don’t try this at home on your own! Call in the professionals.
Gutter Cleaning Season Begins
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Yesterday was the first time this summer that I had to get up on a clients roof and try to clean out the gutters. The early rains and winds had been a worry to her and she was right to be worried. With a huge fir tree right beside the house, needles constantly drift down onto the roof and the rains wash them all towards the down spouts. In no time at all these gutters can and do clog up.
I’m sure I could be up on that roof almost everyday trying to clear out the gutters and they would still clog up shortly after I got back down on the ground. There seems to be no end to it. The tree is a beautiful shade giving feature in the backyard but it is an enemy of the roof and gutter system.
I love trees. Unfortunately, they can cause lots work for homeowners or expenses for homeowners to keep their home in good condition. I get lots of calls in the fall to clean out gutters. Some are packed full of leaves, evergreen needles, dirt, granules from the shingles, twigs and even bones and shells that were dropped in there by birds. It is amazing what can be found in them.
Gutter cleaning is something that you have to have done at least once a year and more likely 2 – 4 times a year depending on what you have around your home ie. trees.
It is not a fun job but those gutters have to be kept clear to keep the water flowing through them and then down the downspouts to the perimeter drains and away from your home. It’s gotta be done one way or another.
Over the course of the past few years I have come across different types of screens or covers that some homeowners have put in the gutters or had installed over them to keep them clear.
Well, they only seem to sort of work some of the times. The screens are large enough to let a small twig the size of a pen get through them along with all the pollution that comes down in the rain and the granules from the shingles. The metal cover types usually have holes that are large enough to let evergreen needles to pass through them and they get clogged easily.
Whether there have been covers or screens on, you still need to get those gutters cleaned out because stuff still gets through them and clogs the downspouts. And now it takes 2 – 3 times long to clean out the gutters because you have to fight with those covers by taking them out or off and putting back in place. Oh what fun it is! Yeah, right.
So, up until now there hasn’t been anything that has jumped out at me as being worth the money to go through the hassle of having covers installed only to have them partially work. If you’re gonna put covers on then they should keep everything out except the water from the rain.
In the video below you’ll see a gutter cover which looks like it was well designed and a lot of thought went into it. It really seems to work. It looks like they figured out a way to keep all the debris out and just let the rain water in. Amazing!
If you’re tired of cleaning your gutters or having someone else clean them for you, then this might me a solution that you might want to seriously take a look at.
As for me, I’m off to clean out some clogged gutters. These torrential rains that we’ve been getting this week are overflowing one of my clients gutters and causing quite a mess on the outside of his home.
Gutter Cleaning By Hand
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Gutter cleaning is one of those things that needs to be done at least once a year and quite likely even more than that depending on the are that you live in. If you have trees with leaves or needles on then you can expect to clean them a number of times throughout the year to keep the water flowing through the gutters and down the downspouts.
Let’s be frank about this. It is not a fun or glorious job but it is one of those things that has to get down. There are many methods to get them clean but I have found that the only way to really get them cleaned out not cause more mess on the outside of your home on the ground below is to just get up to the eaves either on the ladder or walking along the roof (if it is not too steep) and clean out the debris by hand and or with a scoop as you see below. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find in there.
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I’ve found everything from leaves, twigs, rocks, candy wrappers and nails in there. So, wear gloves and be very careful on the ladder. Safety is your first and most important concern.
Enjoy the video.
Gutter Cleaning Using a Scoop From The Roof Top.
Tips, tricks & techniques for gutter cleaning and repairs.