Let’s be honest. Nobody notices a gutter when it’s working. But the second those corners start dripping onto the flowerbeds—or worse, the foundation—everybody notices. In my 31 years as a contractor, I’ve seen thousands of mitered corners. And I’ve seen almost as many failures. Most people think a leaky miter is a sealing problem. They … Read more
A few days ago, I let you know that my new eBook, “Confessions of a Gutter Guard Contractor,” was under a 72-hour review. I’m happy to report the “inspectors” at Amazon have signed off—the book is officially live and available for download! After three decades in the trenches and on the ladders, I’ve seen it all. I … Read more
By C. David Chase Exactly 31 years ago, I opened the doors to my first specialized guttering company. But my time on the ladder goes back even further—all the way to April of 1985. Over the last 33 years, I’ve seen the industry change from “built-to-last” craftsmanship to “built-to-sell” marketing. I’ve watched $15-a-foot “Cadillac” systems fail foundations, … Read more
Walk into any big-box hardware store and you’ll see an entire aisle of hammers. You’ve got wooden handles, fiberglass grips, 22-ounce framing “beasts,” and lightweight titanium options that cost more than a cordless drill. To a DIYer, it looks like a simple choice. To a pro who has spent 30 years with a tool hanging … Read more
If you’ve been in the gutter business for more than a week, you know the “End Cap Headache.” You’ve seen the jobs where a guy tried to get by using standard pliers or, heaven forbid, just a heavy bead of sealant to hold an end cap in place. The result? Leaks, sagging, and a callback … Read more
If you’ve ever tried to join two sections of downspout only to find they are exactly the same size, you know the frustration. You try to squeeze the corners with standard pliers, or worse, you try to “force” them together, resulting in a jagged, leaking mess that looks like a “Silicon” amateur did the work. … Read more
If you’ve lived through a Tennessee spring, you know the “Yellow Dust.” Between the heavy pollen, the oak tassels, and the maple “helicopters,” our gutters don’t just face rain—they face a sticky, grimy sludge. Most homeowners are talked into “Solid Hood” or “Surface Tension” guards. You’ve seen them—the ones that look like a helmet for … Read more
The Contractor’s Take: I’ve spent 30 years replacing the old “spike and ferrule” systems that have backed out of fascia boards like a loose tooth. When a spike pulls out, the hole is wallowed out and ruined. These Bulder hangers are the “fix” and the “future.” They use a heavy-duty #12 screw with a Type … Read more
If you want to know if a gutter installer is a pro or just a guy with a ladder, look at his miters. If you see the heads of hex-screws (zip screws) sticking out of the corners, you’re looking at a failure waiting to happen. In my 31 years in the business, I’ve held a … Read more
The Contractor’s Take After 31 years, I’ve seen homeowners try to sink hidden hangers with a standard 1-inch bit and a prayer. It doesn’t work. To drive a hanger home through a heavy aluminum gutter into the fascia, you need reach and you need precision. This is the exact setup I carry in my Milwaukee … Read more