The Craziest Downspouts Ever

The Hardware Aisle over at This Old House has a terrific item about these Rube Goldberg-style rain gutters installed on a house in Germany. The rain runs down a water ladder and even flows through trumpets that play a tune. I just wonder what the neighbors think. Read the full story at This Old House.

Preventing Ice Dams

Contrary to popular belief, gutters don’t cause ice dams. While snow and ice can building up in your gutters, the root of the problem is heat loss through your roof. I ran across this nice article by BCI Contractor which explains that by keeping your attic at the same temperature as the outside, you keep snow from melting on the roof and forming an ice dam around your gutters. Good insulation and proper ventilation helps avoid problems. Worth a read.

Why Rain Gutters Attract Icicles

Ever wonder why your gutters act like a magnet for icicles? I ran across a nice little article explaining why: Icicles form when snow or ice melts off a surface or object and runs or drips into an area where it can freeze again. What makes eaves and rain gutters such great places for icicles to form is their proximity to both direct sunshine and interior heat escaping from inside a home or other building. Technorati Profile

Rain Chains and Ice

Dear DW Guttters,Rain Chains are great for northern climates. When frozen, the rain chain forms an interesting ice sculpture. The only area of concern is with the extra weight the ice will add to the gutter, especially with the standard “gutter clip” that is available free with every chain. I would recommend using the rain chain installation kit in place of the clip, for extra strength.

Rain Chains and Ice

I am interested in offering rain chains to my clients in the north east area. My question/concern is how do the chains hold up in the winter with the ice and snow?

Frozen gutter machine rollers

my gutter machine does not want to make gutter when it gets really, really cold out. Seems like the material doesn’t get pulled through the machine cause there is a bit of ice or frost on the rollers. the rollers still spin but it seems that the rollers slide off the coil like it is an ice rink. i don’t have indoor storage so the truck and machine have to stay outside all winter. wondering if there is any spray or liquid that i can spray on the rollers that won’t damage the rollers or damage the bearings, sprocket, or chains. Any help would be great.Thanks.JB

Soldering Zinc

Does anyone know the correct tools/methods for soldering zinc sheet. I’ve been told that it can’t be soldered when it’s cold outside because it will crack. Regular solder doesn’t seem to work or solder as easy as regular copper or lead coated copper.Anyone have any ideas?

Gutter Puller

When we used to do tear offs – we had a tool that made removing the gutters a breeze – and it didn’t damage the roof shingles. It could only be used on walkable roofs. Basically, I’d stand on the roof with a piece of angle iron that was about 4 ft. tall. At the top was another piece of angle iron that was welded horizontally like a “t” and was used for the handles and leverage. At the bottom was a 4″ diameter steel tube. There was a hook at the bottom that was about 4 inches wide that hooked the gutter where you’d hook a hidden hanger. After hooking the lip of the gutter, you’d pull back on… Continue reading »