Don’t let ‘simple’ home improvements turn into a foundation-cracking nightmare. Whether you’re hanging a single downspout or installing a full seamless system, these guides bring 30 years of job-site experience directly to your ladder. I’ll show you how to calculate the correct pitch, choose the right hangers, and ensure your home stays dry—the first time.
Let’s be honest. Nobody notices a gutter when it’s working. But the second those corners start dripping onto the flowerbeds—or worse, the foundation—everybody notices. In my 31 years as a contractor, I’ve seen thousands of mitered corners. And I’ve seen almost as many failures. Most people think a leaky miter is a sealing problem. They … Read more
A few days ago, I let you know that my new eBook, “Confessions of a Gutter Guard Contractor,” was under a 72-hour review. I’m happy to report the “inspectors” at Amazon have signed off—the book is officially live and available for download! After three decades in the trenches and on the ladders, I’ve seen it all. I … Read more
By C. David Chase Exactly 31 years ago, I opened the doors to my first specialized guttering company. But my time on the ladder goes back even further—all the way to April of 1985. Over the last 33 years, I’ve seen the industry change from “built-to-last” craftsmanship to “built-to-sell” marketing. I’ve watched $15-a-foot “Cadillac” systems fail foundations, … Read more
Walk into any big-box hardware store and you’ll see an entire aisle of hammers. You’ve got wooden handles, fiberglass grips, 22-ounce framing “beasts,” and lightweight titanium options that cost more than a cordless drill. To a DIYer, it looks like a simple choice. To a pro who has spent 30 years with a tool hanging … Read more
If you’ve been in the gutter business for more than a week, you know the “End Cap Headache.” You’ve seen the jobs where a guy tried to get by using standard pliers or, heaven forbid, just a heavy bead of sealant to hold an end cap in place. The result? Leaks, sagging, and a callback … Read more
If you’ve lived through a Tennessee spring, you know the “Yellow Dust.” Between the heavy pollen, the oak tassels, and the maple “helicopters,” our gutters don’t just face rain—they face a sticky, grimy sludge. Most homeowners are talked into “Solid Hood” or “Surface Tension” guards. You’ve seen them—the ones that look like a helmet for … Read more
The Contractor’s Take: I’ve spent 30 years replacing the old “spike and ferrule” systems that have backed out of fascia boards like a loose tooth. When a spike pulls out, the hole is wallowed out and ruined. These Bulder hangers are the “fix” and the “future.” They use a heavy-duty #12 screw with a Type … Read more
The Contractor’s Take After 31 years, I’ve seen homeowners try to sink hidden hangers with a standard 1-inch bit and a prayer. It doesn’t work. To drive a hanger home through a heavy aluminum gutter into the fascia, you need reach and you need precision. This is the exact setup I carry in my Milwaukee … Read more
When most homeowners walk into a big-box hardware store, they are immediately drawn to the 18-volt or 20-volt tool section. The logic is simple: More voltage must mean a better tool. They imagine themselves driving 6-inch deck screws with a driver that looks like it belongs on a construction site. But after three decades in the gutter … Read more
After 31 years in the gutter business, I’ve seen a lot of guys try to “muscle” their way through a job with the wrong tools. If you’re using standard straight-cutting snips (the kind you find in the bargain bin at the big-box store), you know the routine: twisting the metal, grunting to get through a … Read more