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Five Home Improvement Projects to Consider in 2020

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Over the past decade, home improvement has been on the rise. This is largely driven by homeowners who are staying in their homes longer and choosing to update rather than move. According to a recent report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, spending on home improvement projects has increased by more 50% since 2010 with aging homeowners responsible for a large amount of this spend. Among the most popular home improvements were new windows and doors, roofing, and landscaping.

At Exterior Source, we’re continuing to see investment into home exterior projects that have a large ROI. As we enter a new year, we expect to see home improvement projects on the rise among homeowners.

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3 Things Homeowners Often Overlook

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As a homeowner, there are a lot of things that require your attention or regular maintenance. Most of these items, like mowing the yard, taking out the trash, or cleaning off the sidewalks, may seem obvious. Others can be a little easier to ignore. But sometimes the maintenance tasks that are the easiest to overlook are the most important. Here are a few home maintenance items that shouldn’t be overlooked to prevent more serious problems in the future. [Read more…]

The Scary Truth About Cleaning Gutters

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For many homeowners, cleaning gutters is an important part of maintaining the curb appeal and functionality of their homes. This is especially true during the fall months when leaves are steadily dropping onto their roofs and into the gutters.

What makes this home maintenance chore different from regular maintenance tasks, however, is the potential risk of serious injury. Cleaning gutters requires climbing a ladder, sometimes to rather scary heights, although you don’t have to be very high off the ground to risk falling from a ladder. Before you think that this would never happen to you, it’s important to realize that ladder accidents can be caused by several different reasons, including:

1. Older ladders that become weak and unstable
2. Contact with electrical wiring
3. Snagging clothing on the roof or ladder
4. Uneven ground below the ladder

Regardless of the cause, ladder accidents can lead to severe injury. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 500,000 people are treated every year for ladder-related accidents. Out of that number, 300 of those accidents are fatal. While cleaning your gutters may seem important, falling from a ladder is just not worth the risk.

At Exterior Source, we advocate for a solution that not only removes ladders from the equation but also improves the curb appeal and overall look of your home: LeafGuard Gutter Systems. This seamless gutter system comes with a built-in hood that covers the top of the gutter to keep leaves out. The hood is designed with a specific curve to help rainwater slide into the gutter while debris, such as leaves and pine needles, roll right off. This keeps your gutters clog-free and functioning properly. Unlike add-on gutter hoods that can be attached to your existing gutters, LeafGuard gutters are roll-formed from one continuous piece of aluminum, so there are no seams and cracks.

LeafGuard is so confident of their product that they offer a clog-free guarantee, meaning if your gutters clog we’ll come out to clean them ourselves. Stop risking injury with rickety ladders and get LeafGuard!

How to Prevent Leaf-Related Issues This Fall

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Fall foliage is one of the most beautiful things about the autumn season. Colorful leaves speckle the ground and make great piles for the kids to play in. But, while they may be pretty to look at, leaves can cause a number of problems for your home. Here are some leaf-related concerns you should look out for this fall.

Gutter issues
Leaves are the number one problem when it comes to gutters. Falling leaves can accumulate quickly in open gutters, causing water to back up and water damage issues to escalate. Be sure to inspect your gutters regularly to ensure water is flowing freely and being directed away from your house.

If clogged gutters are a regular occurrence for you, consider having a LeafGuard® gutter system installed.  Thanks to its built-in hood which covers the top of the gutter, it keeps leaves out while letting water pass through, making gutter cleaning a distant memory.  Plus, LeafGuard is guaranteed not to clog, or they’ll be cleaned for free!

Slipping hazards
Leaves that do make it to the ground can pose a slipping hazard, especially if they are wet. Be cautious of leaf-covered sidewalks or pavement. Raking or blowing these areas regularly will help prevent any unnecessary accidents from occurring.

Pest problems
As you’re raking and collecting leaves this fall, be sure not to leave the piles sitting around. Pests, like beetles, mites, and termites, are attracted to leaf litter and often make their homes in piles of dead leaves. These are not animals you want taking up residence near your home! Properly disposing of leaf piles will help prevent possible headaches for you down the road.