Gutter Frequently Asked Questions - continue

4- How long do gutters last?
 

The most commonly used gutter, continuous aluminum, should last as long as a good quality asphalt roof. That is about 20-25 years.
 

5- What types of gutters do you install and what should we put on our house?
 

We install continuous aluminum gutter, steel gutter, and copper gutter. Most houses have existing continuous aluminum gutters which are very economical and a serviceable, long lasting product. Steel is normally used for larger, commercial applications or in homes with steel roofs. Copper is a specialized product used in high end houses. It can last for hundreds of years, but is a more expensive product than the other two. We use both 5" and 6" gutters. Your gutters should be tailored to your home's requirements.
 

6- What about vinyl gutters?
 

The expression ‘This could end badly’ fits vinyl gutters to a T. They are sold by lumberyards in lengths to homeowners who want to install their own gutters. The vast majority of them leak badly, sag and twist. We replace many vinyl gutters with continuous aluminum gutters.
 

7- Why do you use continuous aluminum gutters?
 

We are able to reduce the number of joins by making the gutters to the proper length on site. We bring a truck-mounted continuous gutter machine to your house and custom fit the gutters as we make them. By manufacturing gutters in lengths up to 50’, we can usually reduce joins to the corners only, which dramatically reduces the potential for leakage.
 

8- Do you remove the existing gutters and dispose of them?
 

Yes, that is part of the service we provide.
 

9- Do you need to replace the wood fascia behind the gutters?
 

In most cases it is not required. If there are some areas which are rotten, we may need to replace individual boards so that we have solid wood to attach the new gutters to.
 

10- Do I pay extra for replacing fascia?
 

If we can see that the wood is rotten when we do our estimate, we will include it in the price and note which areas are to be replaced. If it is not visible, we will notify you during the course of the job and price the additional cost to you before proceeding.
 

11- Can I paint the fascia before you install the new gutters?
 

We can remove the existing gutters and come back another day to install. We need to know well in advance that this is what you want. There may be a small additional charge due to the increased travel time.
 

12- Can you coat the wood with something so I don’t need to maintain it?
 

Yes, we can clad the wood in the same type of aluminum material that the gutters are made of. You can have your choice of 17 colours and we can make the fascia cladding a different colour than the gutters at no extra charge. This cladding will pay dividends for years down the road in reduced maintenance costs.
 

13- Why do my existing gutters have holes in them?
 

This is very unusual, but not unheard of. Very often this is caused by chemicals that some companies apply as an after-market treatment to wood shingle roofs to control moss and algae.
 

14- My gutters are only a few years old and water is leaking between them and the fascia. The gutters look in good shape and the roof is brand new. What could cause this?
 

We can’t be sure without seeing your house, but sometimes when you have a house reroofed, the roofers will cut the shingles too short and water will flow behind the gutters rather than into them. A roofer may be able to install aluminum flashings under the edge of the shingles and over the gutters to direct the water to where it belongs. We recommend that you address this situation before the fascia boards are damaged and need to be replaced.
 

15- How long does it take to install gutters? Do I need to take time off work to be there?
 

Most gutters can be installed in a day or less. We need access to electricity but otherwise are totally self sufficient; you do not need to be home. We do need to be sure that watch dogs are kept in and gates unlocked.
 

16- Water is flowing over the sides of my gutters. My neighbor says they are plugged. How does this happen and what do I do about it? 
 

This unfortunately is a very common issue and should be dealt with before the exterior of your house is damaged, or water begins to pool next to your foundation and leak into the house. Usually gutters are plugged where the downpipes attach to them. Gutters should be cleaned of leaves, moss, pine needles etc. at least once a year. The downpipes should be disconnected from the perimeter drains and flushed. If you have trees close to your house, you should probably have your gutters cleaned spring and fall. Notice that we say ‘have them cleaned’. Every year, we hear first hand stories of people who are injured while attempting to clean their gutters. Companies who are in the business of cleaning gutters normally charge very reasonable prices and can save you from serious injury. Professional gutter cleaners also do not damage your gutters by leaning ladders against them. We do not offer gutter cleaning but can recomment an approved company.

17- What type of gutters do you recommend for my house? I am getting a new roof, either tile or steel?
 

First off, we need to mention that we manufacture and install SNAP-IT steel roofing. We usually use 6” wide steel gutters for steel and tile roofs, due to the rate that water flows off them. The additional width helps to deal with the increased velocity of the water and the steel material is necessary for structural rigidity on the larger gutter.
 

18- Are you covered by insurance in case someone is hurt working on my property?
 

Yes, we are well covered. Most homeowners do not realize that if an uninsured or underinsured worker is injured on their property, they may be liable for damages. These could be ruinous in the case of a seriously injured person who may never work again. Legally, all workers in B.C. must be covered under the WorkSafeBC program. To find out if a company is registered with WorkSafeBC and their premiums are up to date, you can create a clearance letter for them online at WorkSafeBC and follow the prompts to create a report called a clearance letter.

Our WorkSafeBC number is 401297 if you would like to create a clearance letter for Irwin Industries. That is the minimum legal requirement. At Irwin we participate in a voluntary program called the COR program. Companies enrolled in this program receive a small discount on their WorkSafeBC premiums. In return we are required to provide additional training to employees in first aid and jobsite safety. We are held to a much higher standard than companies who adhere to the minimum WorkSafeBC standards. BC Construction Safety Association regularly inspects us for compliance to the COR standards.

A company should also have a third party liability insurance policy for a minimum of one million dollars. Our liability policy at the moment is in the amount of $3,000,000. If you ask the company you are considering employing for a copy of the front page of their liability insurance policy, that page will have the effective date and the amount of their coverage on it.
 

19- Are you members of the Better Business Bureau? How does that benefit me?
 

The Better Business Bureau offers consumers a great deal of protection if you deal with an accredited business. The BBB will intercede on your behalf and pressure accredited businesses to resolve customer issues. The BBB has no leverage with non accredited companies and is limited to pointing out that they have unresolved complaints. This does not affect their ratings since they are not rated to begin with and are certainly not accountable to the BBB.
 

20- Do you require a deposit before you start?
 

We normally do not take deposits for gutters on smaller residential jobs. Please pay us promptly on receipt of invoice. In the case of a larger multiple stage project, we may ask for progress payments. These will be negotiated in advance and we will never bill for more work than we have performed to date.
 

21- Do you accept credit cards?
 

We accept Visa and Mastercard.
 

22- Are your gutters strong enough to lean a ladder against?
 

Please do not lean ladders against our gutters or anyone else’s gutters. This practice leads to many injuries each year and can damage any gutter. You should use open rung ladder stand offs on your ladder. These are U shaped aluminum pipes that fit into the sides of your ladder. Ladder stand offs rest on your roof or siding, keeping your ladder from damaging the gutters and stabilizing your ladder to prevent it from slipping. They are very inexpensive and may save your life. 

23- I collect rainwater for my garden. Sometimes I need the water in the barrel but other times the barrel is full and I don’t want it to overflow. How can you help?
 

We can install a water diverter which looks like an upside down Y. You can move the water flow to one side or the other with a lever.
 

24- Can you match my trim colour?
 

Good question. We have about 17 different colours to choose from. We can bring colour samples to your house so you can see how closely they match. If you would like to paint your gutters and/or downpipes for a more exact match, the baked on enamel finish provides an excellent base for latex paint.
 

25- Your office and plant is in Victoria. What is your service area? 
 

We work in Victoria, Sooke and the Saanich Peninsula of course. We also send crews to most of the Gulf Islands. We have estimators and crews stationed in the mid island who cover all of the mid and south island. All our estimators and work crews can be contacted through the main office.
 

26- Do you have a drive by list with customer’s names and phone numbers so I can see your work and contact previous customers?
 

Due to privacy concerns, we are unable to release that information on this site. Your Irwin estimator may be able to help with more information.
 

27- I have heard of some kind of screen that goes over gutters to keep leaves out of gutters. Are these a good idea?
 

Yes, these are a great idea. We manufacture and install a gutter protection system called Gutterguard. Gutter protection systems are an excellent insurance policy for your home. By preventing leaves and other debris from blocking gutters, a good gutter protection system can prevent blockage of downpipes and a buildup of debris in storm drains. Another major benefit is of course dramatically reducing the need to clean gutters, a potentially hazardous and oft neglected task.
 

28- I will still need to clean my gutters?
 

Yes, no gutter protection system totally eliminates the need to clean gutters, but you will at least cut your need to do so in half or possibly less as well as reducing the risk of blockages between cleanings.
 

29- Will these types of products affect the warranty on my new roof?
 

No, none of the products that we install will interfere with your roof warranty.
 

30- I just had new gutters installed a couple of years ago, can you put Gutterguard on existing gutters?
 

Usually we can. Our systems can be used with virtually any existing continuous aluminum gutter system. We can not install Gutterguard onto vinyl or sectional gutter. We also will not put Gutterguard onto improperly installed gutters, including gutters which sag, leak or bend. 
 

31- Will my gutters overflow in a torrential rain if I have Gutterguard put on?
 

No, we have been manufacturing and installing Gutterguard in extreme locations for many years now, and they have proven effective under all weather conditions. The primary reason gutters overflow is because of blocked downpipes. This problem is greatly reduced by the installation of Gutterguard. Secondary causes of overflow could be insufficient numbers of downpipes in relation to the roof area or older gutters which are too narrow, for instance a 4” rather than a 5” wide gutter. This will not occur if we have installed Gutterguards since if we see either of those issues, we draw them to your attention prior to installing Gutterguards.
 

32- Won’t wet leaves stick to the Gutterguard and plug the perforations?
 

They may stick temporarily but when they dry out, they will just blow off the Gutterguard as they would off the roof. The surface area of the Gutterguard is large enough that it would take a vast amount of leaves coming down at one time to create a problem.
 

33- Do you need to drill holes in my roof to install Gutterguard?
 

No, all our fasteners go into the aluminum gutters, not the roof.
 

34- What type of maintenance does Gutterguard require?
 

In most areas wind will blow dried plant material off Gutterguard. In some areas which are under an overhang or in a corner where wind can’t blow debris off, you may need to sweep the Gutterguard with a broom or a gloved hand. You should also take off the trap door and flush out the gutters with a garden hose.
 

35- I have seen similar looking products at lumberyards, what is the difference?
 

Most of these products are made of vinyl, which is not rigid enough to stand up to the occasional heavy snow we may receive. Vinyl often sags between the fasteners allowing leaves to get into the gutters. Many of the lumberyard products have holes which are too large and still allow too much debris into the gutters. In short, they do not provide maintenance free protection like Gutterguard, particularly over a number of years, and are not used professionally. 
 

36- What is a leaf trap?
 

A leaf trap is a ‘clean out box’ installed in a downpipe. If you are surrounded by trees, you should probably have a Gutterguard system installed in conjunction with leaf traps. The Gutterguard will greatly reduce the need to clean gutters and prevent blockage of downpipes. The leaf traps will catch the small amount of debris that flows through the Gutterguard and are very easily cleaned from ground level. 
 

37- Why do my old white gutters have dark vertical streaks down the face of them?
 

This is called tiger striping and is caused by soot, pollen or other fine particles in the atmosphere which have landed on the edge of the gutter and been washed down its face. 
 

38- How do I clean the marks off?
 

Our material manufacturer recommends using dishwater soap in warm water and scrubbing with a soft bristle brush. 
 

39- How do I get a quote?
 

You can call us at 250 382-5154 to have an estimator come to your home. You can e mail us at: irwin@irwinvi.com.

All our Victoria and up island calls are routed to our main office and the estimators are dispatched from that office