Did You Know?

A common problem with eavestroughs is leaking corners. If done correctly, a resealed corner will last as long as a new one which is approximately 15-20 years. In these tough economical times, we will save you thousands by resealing rather than replacing eaves.

People believe, or are being told, that there is no solution to this problem:

Eight times out of ten, they have been subjected to dishonest contractors that want higher profit margins and have convinced an unknowing client that they need a complete replacement. They may also not know how to do repairs, which requires a very skilled technician.

There is another scenario where contractors have not learned  how to correctly seal a corner or a seam and  put caulking over the existing dirt and old caulking. Both of these scenarios cause people to waste money on inadequate repairs that will not stand the test of time or investing thousands that could have been saved by hiring a professional from our company.

There is however a solution: leaking eaves can be fixed! We have fixed numerous leaking corners and have saved many people lots of money.

A correct repair involves an inspection. We must determine if the water is constantly standing still in the corner or if the water can be moved away by realigning the eavestrough or adding a downspout. Corners can even be replaced and custom made to fit.

The steps that we take to ensure the corner will not leak are as follows. We remove the old caulking and clean all the dirt and grime built up. The corner needs to be lightly sanded for the caulking to adhere and then thoroughly dried. Above and beyond that, our experts then apply a top quality sealant to the edges to grip the metal needed when installing new eaves. Our team of trained experts will go the extra mile and test the new joint with water. We at Armstrong and Nelson can potentially save you a lot of money with our time-tested expertise.

Eavestroughs and downpipes work together with roofs to protect a house from water damage. Shingles shed the water into the eavestroughs which continues to flow to the downpipes and carry it away from your home. An important part of this system is a dripedge; a L-shaped flashing which is installed under the last row of the shingles and over the back of the eavestrough.

Dripedges serve a number of functions: it protects exposed fascia boards and improves the rooflines appearance by covering visible wood with colour coordinated flashing. The flashing keeps the shingle edges from excessive curling and directs water from the roof into the eavestroughs.

Shingles are sometimes installed without enough overhang at the edges or the eavestrough can become loose and pull away slightly from the house. When this happens, water gets behind the eavestrough and rots the fascia soffit boards, and then travels into the structure of the house. The solution is a properly sized dripedge, which is installed correctly, and in turn saves you money.

Ice dams occur when melted snow freezes and builds up at the edge of a roof blocking the flow to the ground. This water builds up and runs under the shingles and into the house which can cause major damage to the interior of your home.

When an attic is not properly insulated and ventilated, it can also cause ice dams. Heat from the house rises into the attic, melting the snow on the roof which causes the water to trickle down to the overhang. The roof remains cold as it is not directly above the house and the water then freezes, which forms a dam. When this happens, any water that may start to melt will then build up behind this dam forcing the water and ice to go under the shingles.

With the environment changing over the years, it is imperative to protect your eaves. We suggest that you install leaf guards and have your attic properly insulated and ventilated. It is also sometimes necessary to use de-icing cables. These cables are heated electrical cables which are installed on the roof edge or areas where ice is likely to form. Despite their name, they don’t melt all the ice off, but provide a channel for the melted water to flow down the roof into your eavestroughs and down to the ground. This is why it is important to have your downspouts directed correctly– it will prevent water from entering your home.

Due to the delicate circumstances of electrical heat and water and the potential for fires, our experts have been trained to correctly install and maintain de-icing cables. This again will save you costly damage that could occur if you choose a company that has no properly trained staff to install the cables.

Eaves that are clean are less likely to develop ice-dams. If the eaves are leaky or its seams are left broken, dampness can occur, which can also lead to blistered paint and siding material rotting—all of which contribute to the development of ice build-up. Keep the eaves clean and seal all the leaks, making sure the downpipes are large enough and the eaves are in good alignment. This will do a great deal to prevent the occurance of ice dams.