The Importance of Gutters and Downspouts

Posted on February 25, 2021 by admin

When moving into or remodeling a home, you might come to a point in which you ask yourself whether or not gutters and downspouts are necessary. Many homeowners wrestle with the idea of installing a gutter and downspout system since it is an expensive investment and clogged gutters can cause a serious amount of costly damages. But this perspective is a risky one to have, and choosing to forgo gutter and downspout installation for the sake of saving money is not a wise nor lucrative decision.

Continue reading to learn 3 important reasons why your home requires a quality gutter and downspout system.

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Problems Associated With Gutters and Downspouts

Before discussing the reasons why gutters and downspouts are so important, let’s first address a common misunderstanding that can cost you in the long run. It is wrongly believed by many home and property owners that gutter systems are a risk because they can become clogged and cause costly damage; so, as a result, they forgo them in hopes to prevent flooding and foundation issues. But forgoing a gutter system is the real risk! You need gutters and downspouts whether you are a residential or commercial property owner.

Without a gutter and downspout system, rainwater and melted snow will run over the sides of your home, rather than through a directed, enclosed system. As a result, it would cause massive water pooling issues every time it rains. Even a light rain shower would pose water accumulation risks, and overtime, such pooling will lead to costly structural foundation problems. Many people misinterpret gutters as a risk, but they only cause this issue when they become clogged, which can be easily prevented with a little routine maintenance.

Why You Need a Quality Gutter System

► Soil Erosion Prevention. When homes are built to code, they are built on a slight slope so that water runoff is directed away from the home’s foundation. Without gutters and downspouts, water flow is not guided properly, and the soil supporting the foundation of the property will massively erode overtime. After a while, water run-off will flow towards the home rather than away. This causes the foundation to settle, and you can even experience uneven or buckling floors, cracked ceilings, and wall cracks, inside the home.

► Basement Flood Prevention. Water has weight, and when soil becomes saturated with water, it is naturally heavier. Without gutters and downspouts, water accumulation weighs down the soil and adds excessive pressure on the foundation. Over time, basement walls will begin to push forward, warp, and crack. It can also lead to mold and mildew damage.

► Siding Protection. Unguided water flow will carry dirt, sediment, and debris with it wherever it goes. As it runs down your siding, it will leave behind stains, and eventually cause it to rot away. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth. Not only is this detrimental to your home’s curb appeal, but it also negatively impacts your home’s overall value since siding rot can jeopardize its structural integrity.

Advice to Walk Away With

Talk to a licensed general contractor about repairing or installing a gutter downspout system on your home. They have the knowledge and resources to provide professional assessments and solutions for water runoff , siding repairs, basement renovations, foundation repairs, and more.

Are you looking for qualified basement remodeling or siding contractors in Indianapolis, Indiana? Call Restoration By L&B LLC at 317-454-3612 for the most competitive general contractor rates around!

You Should Also Take a Look at:

Tips for Proper Gutter Maintenance
How to Assess the Cost of a Basement Remodel
Tips for Home Siding Maintenance

3 Ways to Safely Remove a Broken Light Bulb

Posted on July 22, 2020 by admin

Incandescent light bulbs are surely an unparalleled commodity within any residential or commercial property. Unfortunately, they have a steadfast tendency to shatter within the fixtures. As a result, many fingers and hands get sliced open upon repeated, anxious attempts to untwist a broken light bulb’s threaded base from its socket. Fortunately, there are ways to safely remove a broken incandescent light bulb from its fixture. You can use needle nose pliers, a commercial bulb extractor, or even a raw potato.

Continue reading to learn all three methods, including who you can call for professional handyman services when your property’s lighting systems need an upgrade or repair.

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Broken Light Bulb Removal Hacks

Regardless of which method you choose to remove a broken light bulb from its fixture, be sure to always begin by turning off the electricity to the outlet you’re working with. Many victims have been electrocuted during such attempts. So, be sure to protect yourself from this very possible danger by simply cutting the electricity before getting started. If you’re working with a lamp, simply unplug it from the outlet. If you’re working directly from an outlet, you’ll need to switch the fuse to cut the electricity temporarily.

❶ The Needle-Nose Pliers Method

Got a set of needle nose pliers on hand? If so, try these first when you have a broken light bulb to detach. Simply grab the metal rim of the light bulb’s threaded base with the needle-nose pliers, and then gently twist in the left direction. If you can’t seem to get a good enough grip with the pliers, try bending the rim in words just slightly. Otherwise, move on to another method.

❷ The Raw Potato Method

If you have some raw potatoes in the pantry, you can use one to safely unscrew a shattered light bulb from its fixture. Simply slice your potato in half longways, then patted dry with paper towel. Then, just push the cut side of the potato down on top of the broken light bulb, and after you have good insertion, twist to the left to unscrew the bulb from its base. This is a great method, just be sure to throw the potato in the trash so that no one eats it when you’re done.

❸ The Commercial Bulb Extractor Method

If these two methods don’t work, opt for a set of commercial bulb extractors. They’re basically a specialized set of pliers that are specifically used to extract shattered light bulbs, or just hard-to-remove light bulbs, from lighting systems. You can purchase a commercial broken bulb extractor online or at your local home improvement store. They are utilized in the same way as needle-nose pliers, but they come with the rubber tips that provide better grip.

Where to Get Handyman Services in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Restoration By L&B LLC at 317-454-3612 for Indianapolis home remodeling and handyman services for kitchens, basements, bathrooms, patios, and more. Owner and general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer all your questions about home renovation services. And don’t forget; we guarantee to BEAT any prices quoted by our competition!

Fall Home Maintenance Tips – Inside and Out

Posted on October 16, 2015 by admin

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Now that fall seems to officially be here, it is the perfect time of year to take care of all those minor household maintenance projects you’ve been putting off since the start of the summer. From inside to out, there are several chores you can do to prevent frustrating breakdowns and repairs this winter. Continue reading to learn some important interior and exterior household maintenance tips that will save you time and money each year!

Indoor Home Maintenance

Inside the home, there are a few places that need inspected, and a few appliances that need a little routine service. This is important since catching a small problem early on is the best method for preventing breakdowns and costly repair bills. For starters, be sure to have your HVAC, water heater, and water softener serviced by a licensed professional. This includes inspections, flushes, filter changes, cleaning, and more.

Also, have your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors inspected. Test each device to see that it is still operational, and replace the batteries. Do this for all emergency flash lights too. On the subject of lights, this is the perfect opportunity to
replace all bulbs and burnt lamps around the house too.

Make structural repairs, like broken shelves, cracked banisters, warped floorboards, ripped carpet, painting projects, and more. Once the cold weather hits, it is difficult to have enough daylight to finish such projects on top of all other life commitments.

Exterior

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Check out the gutters and roof. Clean out all dirt, debris, leaves, twigs, and branches from your gutters; and then do the same for all rain spouts, down spouts, and outdoor drains. Fall is the perfect time of year to have your roof replaced or repaired. Check on your roof to see if you think it needs any service or repair before winter time.

Also clear away all debris from your outdoor condenser unit. Be sure leaves and twigs are not cluttered around the box. If there is water accumulation around your condenser unit, or anywhere else outside your home, have your property inspected for drainage issues.

On the subject of drainage, use this opportunity to drain all garden hoses and store them away so they are not damaged by freezing temperatures and snow. Store away all patio, porch, and deck furniture as well. Once the snow comes, furniture materials and cushions are vulnerable to damage. If you cannot store away outdoor furniture, simply purchase outdoor tarps and place them over all your belongings. Use rocks or heavy bricks to keep the tarps secure to the ground.

To maintain or improve your home’s energy efficiency, inspect or re-caulk all windows and doors. You can also trim bushes around windows to let in more natural sun and heat for the fall and winter. AS for trees, have then pruned and topped to avoid fallen trees and storm damages this winter.

Restoration By L & B, LLC

General Contractors Indianapolis Indiana 317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L & B, LLC at 317-454-3612 for professional home maintenance services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and licensed general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer your questions about professional handyman work, services, prices, availability, and more. We offer free estimates, residential service, commercial service, and we will beat any price guaranteed! Call 317-454-3612 to inquire about our licensed home repair services in Indianapolis, IN today.

Indoor and Outdoor Home Maintenance Advice for Fall

Posted on November 5, 2014 by admin

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Fall is officially here! The colorful leaves spread across our lawns, the bountiful pumpkin harvests, and the stealthy on-set of cooler temperatures are just a few signs that reveal the official start of the season. Autumn is a beautiful time of year, and a productive one as well. The change of scenery and colder weather is a reminder of what’s to come, and seems to jump start our motivation to prepare for the winter climates and precipitation. There are several ways to prepare your property, indoor and outdoor, for winter weather. Continue reading to learn a few tips for interior and exterior home maintenance, and who to call for professional assistance and services.

Seasonal Upkeep for Residential Properties

Fall is the perfect time of year to start making interior and exterior inspections to your home, and implementing effective preventative maintenance to prepare your property for winter. It is strongly recommended to consult or hire a professional Indianapolis handyman or general contractor to provide the more intrusive and tedious projects, or ones that require the use of specialized or dangerous equipment; such as roofing repair, ladders, power tools, and more. Whether you choose to do most of your seasonal home maintenance on your own, or wish to outsource professional services, consider the following areas to start with:

Exterior Home Maintenance

Start outside by removing all furniture and cushions from your exterior patio and deck areas. Be sure to clean them and store them in a cool, dry place for the season. If you do not have room to store outdoor furniture, simply purchase furniture covers to protect them from winter elements. Next, locate all the garden and lawn hoses on your property and be sure to drain them completely. Roll them up and fix any kinks, and then store them inside as well. At this time, you may want to inspect the condition of your spigots, and make any necessary replacements. If your property has automatic sprinklers, be sure they are in good condition and prepped for snow and ice.

Since winter-time brings about large snow storms and harsh climates, it is important to take care of any trees touching or close-by your home. Trim them back, or secure them so they cannot break windows, damage siding, or cause interference with cables and utility lines. If there are large trees next to the area you park your cars, it is wise to have those trees trimmed or secured to protect your vehicles in the case of a fallen tree or branch. Also, inspect and clean out gutters, and check for loose roof shingles and siding. These diminish the quality of your home’s insulation and can lead to increased utility bills and energy costs. Attemept to rake the majority of fallen leaves and tree branches from your yard as well. Also, check the caulk around windows and doors. Have them repaired or replaced for better insulation and energy efficiency. Be sure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected as well. You may want to also consider having your concrete pavement sidewalks, or curbs sealed to prevent cracks from freezing water.

The next area to pay attention to is a big one. We’re talking about water leaks and foundation problems beneath the home. It may require professional plumbing service or diagnostics to accurately locate, asses, and diagnose a slab leak or underground water leak. An underground leak can be caused by cracked or corroded pipes, which can leak water beneath a home, and within its foundation. When this water freezes, it can break more plumbing pipes and lead to costly plumbing and structural damage repairs. Have a professional provide an inspection for water leaks, plumbing leaks, or underground slab leaks if you are concerned you may have one present in your home. Fixing any water leaks before freezing temperatures are upon us is highly recommended and vital for all homes and properties.

Interior Home Maintenance

Once you have completed the outdoor portion of seasonal home maintenance, it is time to get started indoors. Begin by inspecting all the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Change their batteries and test them to be sure they are operational. While you have the batteries out, go ahead and replace all flashlight batteries in the case of storm and weather emergencies. Don’t throw away batteries that still have partial use; instead, use them in items that are not as vital for safety and protection; like toys and remote controls. Also be sure to check your fire extinguisher and see that its re-charged and ready to go.

Next, replace all the light bulbs in your lamps and interior lighting. This is actually something that should be done for both indoor and outdoor preventative maintenance. Always recycle old light bulbs that contain mercury! Mercury is toxic to soil and other natural elements in our surrounding Eco-system.

Fall is also a good time for plumbing appliance maintenance. Be sure to service and flush your hot water heater and have it inspected for any needed parts-replacement or cleaning. Also, have your water softener serviced as well. The other appliance that needs to be serviced, cleaned, and inspected for winter preparation is your HVAC system. Remember, prevention is less expensive than repair.

Restoration By L & B, LLC

General Contractors Indianapolis Indiana 317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L & B, LLC at 317-454-3612 for information about home remodeling, handyman service, and home repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and general contractor, Lee Elliot, and his team of highly trained and qualified general contractors, provide a wide range of handyman services for residential and commercial properties. Our services ranges from general handyman services to major restoration and repair services, and everything in between. Our remodeling contractors are happy to answer your questions about plumbing repair or re-piping services, exterior painting services, general home repairs, and more. Call 317-454-3612 today and learn more about seasonal home maintenance and repair in Indianapolis, IN.