Gutter Magic with Scott Loomis

We grabbed coffee with Scott Loomis, owner of Loomis Construction, to get the inside scoop on gutter care.

Scott: "Depends on your trees. If you've got oaks, maples, or pines within 30 feet of your house? They make a difference. They'll cut your cleaning needs from twice a year to maybe once every two years. BUT—and this is important—you still need to check them. I've seen gutter guards clogged with pine needles and maple spinners. They're helpers, not miracles."

Scott: "A full pizza. Not even a joke. Still in the box. We think a delivery guy threw it on the roof as a prank and it slid into the gutter. But the award goes to the family of seven squirrels we relocated. They'd built a three-bedroom, two-bath situation up there."

Scott: "If your house is one story, you're comfortable on ladders, and you have a helper to hold the ladder? Sure. Two-story homes? No way. The risk isn't worth it. I've been doing this for 25 years and I still use a harness on steep roofs. Your life insurance doesn't care about your $200 savings."

Scott: "Three signs: One, if your gutters are sagging or pulling away from the house. Two, if you see cracks or holes (water is escaping where it shouldn't). Three, if they're more than 15-20 years old and made of vinyl or thin aluminum—they've lived a good life, let them retire."

Scott: "Two things: First, use a leaf blower to clear debris off your roof before it slides into gutters. Takes 10 minutes, saves you a service call. Second, after heavy rain, go outside and watch your gutters. You should see water flowing smoothly through downspouts. If you see waterfalls or overflows, call a pro."

"Mark your calendar RIGHT NOW for late October and April. Those are your gutter cleaning months. Don't think about it, don't debate it, just do it. Your foundation will thank you."