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Exterior window shutters have been a prominent and highly-functional feature of homes and provincial buildings since the early ages. With an ability to redefine the entire aesthetics of the property, window shutters are used by the people as a protection against bad weather and to maintain the privacy of their premises.

Shutters come in distinct designs and styles. Some of the most common ones you will come across are – louvered shutters, raised panel shutters, board-and-batten shutters plantation shutters, cafe style shutters, and cut-out shutters. These unique styles are available in vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, composite, and faux wood with each having a different installation method and pros and cons. Hence, you need to do a proper evaluation before making your final call.

As a homeowner, you should always look out for smart ways to improve your home. And, window shutters are indeed an incredible choice to fulfill that purpose. Following are the key reasons to convince our readers to install high-quality exterior window shutters in their homes today:

To Enhance the Curb’s Appeal

People always want to improve the looks of their property but the decorative options available in the market are at times not in their price range. However, by using indoor or outdoor shutters, you can add an attractive element to your house without having to spend a lot.

You can easily find affordable shutter material options and transform your old and plain house exteriors into a gem.

To Ensure Privacy

Shutters are known to give a classic touch to every property. They have been around for long and are the perfect epitome of beauty and elegance. Besides, they are a viable solution for house areas facing a public space to ensure that there are no prying eyes.

The best part is that you can open these shutters at an angle to allow a good flow of sunlight and fresh air and don’t even have to compromise on your privacy.

To Improve Energy Efficiency

With increasing rate of global warming, there is an urgent need to create an eco-friendly planet. And the first step towards it is to embrace energy-efficient solutions. But since most of the energy-efficient technologies are on an expensive end, you can resort to window shutters as a cheaper alternative.

By fitting your windows with shutters, you can enjoy a sufficient amount of natural lighting in your home and save your light consumption and energy bills.

To Regulate Temperature

Window shutters act as an effective layer of insulation and manage the thermal temperature of your home pretty well. Whether it is about keeping the house cool during summers or trapping the warm air during the cold days, you can successfully regulate the indoor environment without any hassle.

You can even use these shutters as noise barriers if your neighbor decides to throw a party or there is too much traffic in your street.

When you are a homeowner, you cannot neglect regular maintenance and repairs that your home needs. Experts say that one should have 1% of the home’s purchase price available for repairs every year.

Replacing windows, repairing gutters, repairing bathroom and kitchen, replacing rugs and carpets are few of the things that you may need to do, in order to keep your home in good condition.

Additionally, one also needs to take care of the most crucial parts of the house that are soffits and fascia.

Soffits and fascia provide a more finished look to your home and help in protecting the roof by keeping out debris, water and rodents. Thus, it is important to keep them in good condition.

However, over time, due to harsh weather conditions and low maintenance, they may need replacement.

Now, you might be wondering how to determine that soffits and fascia of your home need replacement. Let us help you then! The following are the few signs that indicate it’s time to hire soffits and fascia replacement company.

1. Cracks and flaking paint – When you notice cracked and flaking paint on your soffits or fascia then it may be time for a replacement. Moreover, cracked paint harm the curb appeal of your home, and if you are planning to sell your home in the near future, then potential buyers may not buy it. This issue can even cause water to leak into your home. It can worsen the condition and can lead to the growth of mold in your home.

1. Presence of pests in the home – Nothing can be more annoying than having pests in the house. Especially in winters pests search for shelter in your home. Bugs and rodents can cause severe damage to the home, and it is only soffits and fascia that keep them out of your attic and roof. So, if you ever hear noise above your head or find signs of droppings and nests in your attic, then there might be some issue with your fascia and soffits. Get it checked at the earliest and if required then get the soffits and fascia replaced.

1. Lack of Ventilation – Soffits help in providing proper ventilation. Moreover, they help in preventing heat and moisture from entering your home. If you are not getting adequate ventilation, then your soffits may be damaged and need replacement.

1. Suspicion of Asbestos – Asbestos is a hazardous material and can cause health issues. Thus, if you ever suspect that asbestos is used in your soffits and fascia, prefer calling the professionals immediately. Experts will examine it thoroughly, and if found, they will devise a safe removal plan.

1. Leaky gutters – It is the fascia that provides structural support to your eaves. If it gets damaged, then gutters don’t get the needed support, and they may begin to leak. Leaky gutters can prove to be disastrous for your home. So, experts suggest getting the fascia examined and replaced if necessary.

Whether you are building a new house or renovating it, you will require gutter installers at some point of life. Gutters are the most crucial part of any house as they protect the foundation of the home, prevent basement flooding, protect your landscaping and prevent erosion. Because of the significant role that gutters play in our lives, it is important to get them installed by a professional. And in order to ensure that you only hire a professional gutter installation company, ask them the following questions.

#1 Are you licensed? 

License is the indication that the company you are hiring is reliable and can be trusted for the services. A company which holds the license is permitted by the higher authorities to provide the specific services. Furthermore, gutter installation is quite a critical task and demand expertise which only licensed professional can guarantee. So, always ask about the license before hiring a gutter installation company.

#2 Do you have insurance? 

Do you want to get into trouble because the worker fell off your roof while working at your home? Obviously not! So, ask about the insurance beforehand and then move on for the further hiring process. Absence of insurance paper is a sign of unprofessionalism. Therefore, never hire an uninsured company.

#3 Can you provide any references?

A reputable company always keep a record of past clients and love to provide references. You can talk to their previous clients and can clear all your doubts about the company. If in case the gutter installer does not give the recommendations, then hire someone else. You can even check reviews and testimonials on their website to assure yourself.

#4 How much time will you take to complete the job? 

Generally, gutter installation projects take one day for its completion. Anyhow, you should ask the company about its availability and the duration of your project. It is important to ask so that the work is done in your presence and you need not reschedule it. This will avoid inconvenience too.

#5 Can you provide cost estimates in writing? 

If the contractor is not ready to give the written cost estimates, then immediately shift to some other gutter installation company. A professional contractor believes in following business ethics. For the ease of the client, they always provide them with the precise estimates of the cost that will be incurred by the project.

#6 Who will be present at the site for supervision? 

The person with whom you signed the contract may not be present at the gutter installation site. Be sure to ask about the supervisor of the project so that you can reach him in case any trouble arises. If possible, meet them in person.

#7 Do you install gutter covers? 

Most of the contractors these days cover the gutters to prevent leaves and debris from sliding in. Prefer hiring the gutter installation company who provide gutter covers.

Who doesn’t want to live in a proper functioning and appealing house? Everyone wants to! Thus, improving the curb appeal of the home with time is mandatory.

Boosting the exterior look of the house serves two purposes –

• You will enjoy living in a beautiful house that people will acknowledge.
• The overall value of your home increases. So, if you plan to sell your house in the near future, then you can get a high Return on Investment.

There are several factors that need to be considered to improve the attractiveness of the house. Ignoring even one can degrade the value of your home. To help you know how to enhance the beauty of the house, we are here with five ways. Following them can surely add to its worth and grace.

1. Add some greenery and flowers – One of the best ways to intensify the beauty of the house is to add some fresh flowers and plants. You can invest in setting up a garden. If in case you don’t have that much money then you can add some planters to your entryways and windows. They can effectively accentuate the charm of your house.

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1. Change your mailbox – Replace your old mailbox and house number with something stylish and elegant. It is the easiest and cheapest way to add to the beauty of the house’s exterior.

1. Update your front door – The front door plays a significant role in strengthening the curb appeal of the home. Moreover, it is the first thing that your visitors notice. So, it has to be in good condition all the time. You may just need to repaint the door and tada it blings! Thus, it is advised to reface your front doors to have an impactful home entrance.

1. Consider repairing the eavestrough – Eavestrough in lousy conditions can prove to be very damaging for your house. Damaged eaves can weaken the foundation of your house. Moreover, they take away the charm of your home and make it look dull and old. Ruined gutters can also leave a negative impression of yours on your guests. It is the crucial component of your house and needs to be repaired or replaced (if required) on time.

Eavestrough repair experts in Toronto can help you in improving the condition of your gutters. Moreover, it is advised to get the eavestrough checked every six months to make sure their proper functioning. It will thus prevent the outer grace of your house from degrading.

5. Consider power washing – Power washing can remove years of dirt gathered on your siding, driveway, porch, and walkway. If you don’t own a power washer, then you can borrow it from a friend or neighbor. Else, you can hire power washing services. They can do the job for you in a better way.

Gutters are one of the most parts of a household. They protect our homes against water leaking and clogging during rains and snowstorms. They play a major part in protecting the foundations of the home, leakage in home, soil erosion, and preventing the basements from flooding. If you don’t have a gutter in your house, then you need to install it the sooner, the better. Without gutters, it can be fatal to the structure of your house leading to massive damage. It can be a daunting task to find a reliable and experienced gutter contractor. But if one tries to look for one, using the available sources, a professional gutter contractor can be hired. The quality of gutters matter a lot when it comes to choosing them for the safety of the structure of your house. In order to have a professional gutter system, people hire gutter contractors for it. Gutter contractors arrange for the entire process of installing gutters in your household, ranging from raw materials to manual labor implemented in it. Some expert gutter contractors provide stainless steel mesh or aluminum guards. Professional gutter contractors also help in detecting problems like wood rotting in your home’s fascia or water logging in the sides, etc. There are few tips that one needs to keep in mind in order to hire the best gutter contractor:

• Online Reviews

One should do complete research by reading online reviews of gutter contractors. Asking friends and family may also be beneficial since they might have got personal experiences too. A gutter company that is well known in the area is beneficial as it will know the local conditions in your area.

• Insurance

Insurance is also an important part to note of the company. One should be confirmed before hiring a gutter contractor, that they are authentic and know about their projects and work that they do. The compensation for the employees and the liability all should be covered in insurance.

• Detailed writings

Writings are also very important part while choosing a gutter contractor. All the project details, the prices, deals, items that will be used, the working time, etc should be well mentioned in writing.

• Company products

You should also inquire about the kind of products that the contractor uses and do they match with the type of gutters that you need for your home. Usually seamless gutters which are professionally installed serve most beneficial.

• Gutter guards

In order to prevent yourself from cleaning gutters, gutter guards are a necessity. Spending so many hours in cleaning the gutters can be cumbersome too. Rotten leaves, mud, dust, insects, etc can clog your gutters if gutter guards are not present. So to prevent that, you must ask the contractor if they provide these guards.

Thus, a gutter installation is important for the safety of one’s home. If you are investing so much in this process, then make sure you make a prudent decision in choosing a professional gutter contractor.

When talking about the well-being of the home, gutters are an integral part. They are actually the unsung hero of the house. If maintained properly, they can go a long way and can protect you against rain and moisture-related problems. Well-maintained and high-quality gutters do last for a long time, but nothing lasts forever. Gutters also require replacement after a certain period. Read on the article to know the signs that tell its time for new gutters.

1. Seam Stress –

Traditional gutters have seams after every 10 feet. Such gutters are vulnerable at the seam, where two horizontal sections meet. Signs of stressed seams includes – separating of the seams, or bending of gutters. A minor problem can be fixed by re-applying the seam, but in worse cases, there is a need of complete gutter replacement.

Nowadays, seamless gutters are easily available in the market. So, whenever you plan to get new gutters installed, make sure that they are seamless.

2. Cracks in the gutter –

Small holes in the gutter can easily turn into big cracks. The cracks function as a hole at the bottom of the bucket. The water from the cracked gutter slowly seeps into the foundation of the house and weaken it. So never ignore the crack even if it is small in size. Be aware, as the cracks can defeat the purpose of the drainage system. Call the expert and get the new gutter installed on time.

3. Peeling of the paint –

Trust me on this; if your gutters are not functioning up to the mark, then they can seriously ruin the paint of your house. Keep a check on the paint of exterior siding of the house. If it has peeled away, then the possibility is there that the nearest gutter is not in good condition. If the paint is peeling from more than one area, then not the gutter repair but its replacement is required.

4. Mildew –

If you ever find mold or mildew in an area that used to remain dry earlier then damaged gutter is most likely the cause. If this problem persists there even after the repair of gutters, then it’s time to get the new gutters installed.

5. Rotten wood –

If the wooden windows and doors start rotting, then moisture is the reason behind it. The wooden material slowly becomes soft, and you have to get it replaced. It will even hurt your wallet. Who likes unwanted expenditures? None! So keep a check on the gutters of the home for any leak or crack. A little rotten exterior wood element can be the cause of malfunctioning gutters.

If you find any of the above-mentioned signs in your house, then get the gutters checked by a professional gutter repairing company immediately.

Are you planning to hire a gutter contractor for your new house?

If yes, then make sure you hire only an experienced and professional gutter contractor. To ascertain that you hire experts, the following are the questions that you should never forget to ask.

1. Do you have a license?

Having a license is proof that the company is allowed by authorities to extend particular services. You can even rely on the company easily if they are licensed.

2. Are you insured?

Prefer hiring a company that is insured; it is a sign of professionalism. You will be protected from any unwanted financial exposure in the future if they have insurance. So don’t forget to ask about the insurance papers.

3. Can you provide any references?

If the gutter installing company is experienced, then they will surely have references from the previous projects. And a company who believes in providing high-quality services to their customers will never hesitate in giving references. You can check the reviews of their past clients on their website or social media accounts.

4. In how much time the job will be completed?

Most of the gutter installation projects get completed in a day. But you should know this thing beforehand about how much time the company is going to take. Also, don’t forget to ask about the rescheduling procedure in case of bad weather.

5. Can you provide a cost estimate in writing?

A professional contractor will never say no to this question. He will provide you the details of all the materials that will be used for gutter installation along with the costing. So if you hear a no, then move to some other contractor.

6. Who will supervise the gutter installation process?

The person with whom you signed the contract might not be the one who will be present on site. So, don’t forget to ask about the project supervisor. After all, he is going to work at your place. If possible, meet that person. The behavior and communication skills of the supervisor will let you know if he is trustworthy and professional or not.

7. Will you use seamless gutters?

If the answer is yes, then make sure that the distance between the adjacent seams is not less than 10 feet. Lesser the seams, lower will be the chance of leaks to form.

8. Do you provide a warranty for your labor and products?

Find a contractor who is ready to stand behind the work of labors. A well-reputed company will always have well-trained and trustworthy staff. Furthermore, don’t forget to ask about the guarantee of the products that will be used. If possible, get it in writing.

9. Do you install gutter guards?

Gutter guards are really important if you don’t want to clean the gutters more often. Guards prevent leaves and debris from sliding into the gutters.