PROJECT OVERVIEW

As a new homeowner in the post-Covid world, sometimes you don’t know exactly what you’re buying. With interest rates at historic lows, motivated buyers were everywhere, and bidding wars were frustrating. In many cases, home inspections were waived to speed up the process. This was partially the case for Kevin’s house.

To secure his bid and appear more attractive to the seller, he waived the home inspection for his current residence in Malden’s West End. As expected, some additional carpentry and painting work was required—work that had been undisclosed by the previous owner. The gutter system also needed additional attention and TLC.

As a local Malden seamless gutter installation business, Boston Gutter Solutions was Kevin’s first choice. We arrived promptly to evaluate the site.

Assessment and First Glance – the first step in all of our gutter services!

When we inspected the functionality of the gutters on the problematic first level, we quickly realized how badly they had been neglected. No gutter cleaning had been done for at least two seasons. The gutters were visibly detaching from the fascia board in multiple places and appeared to be over 20 years old.

The fascia boards were also deteriorating, crumbling from rot. Rainwater was discharging behind the fascia boards, risking further damage to the soffits and siding. In heavy weather conditions, water pooled on the wooden deck, peeling away the decking coating and potentially creating a hazard.

The scope of work was relatively straightforward, and the necessary materials and time for completion were quickly determined. We proposed a solution and presented the gutter installation cost to Kevin. Shortly after, we were hired to carry out the project. Additionally, we provided a quote for gutter guards.

Execution of the roof gutters installation process.

Even on relatively small jobs, we never compromise on the quality of our work or materials. We scheduled a single day to complete the work, including the demolition and disposal of the old materials. The property is located on the highlands of Malden, which presented a hilly job site that required creative thinking. We positioned our ladders to maximize reach on the uneven terrain while maintaining safety and compliance with OSHA standards.

We planned to use one seamless 5” K-style gutter, 35 feet in length. Kevin preferred wood fascia boards, so we selected the appropriate 10” width. Typically, the presence of rot in the fascia boards also indicates potential damage to the rafter tails, so we prepared to address that as well. Once all the variables were considered, we were ready to proceed.

Gutter Installation and Project Completion

The installation process required a bit more ingenuity than expected, but nothing outside of the norm. The one-day timeframe was sufficient to complete the work. As anticipated, we addressed the rafter tail damage.

The most challenging part was the lack of space for maneuvering. Once we prepared the gutter piece for installation, lifting and securing it in place was tricky due to the power supply line on one side, the sloped terrain, and the narrow deck, which limited our movement options.

Getting the correct pitch was crucial, as there was only one downspout, which was placed through a newly cut hole in the deck and discharged away from the foundation. Despite these challenges, we found a way to complete the job in a timely manner.

Results

Kevin was thrilled with the new look of his property. During the final walkaround, we took the time to explain and break down the entire process. Educating our clients about gutter installation is a top priority for us, and Kevin appreciated the attention to detail.

We both agreed that regular gutter cleaning and professional maintenance would be key to prolonging the system’s lifespan.

Now, Kevin can rest assured that his property’s exterior is well-protected from the elements. We look forward to working with him again for future gutter cleaning or installation needs.