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One of the least popular homeowner honey-do tasks right up there with toilet scrubbing or cat litter emptying is (yuck) gutter cleaning. You could install gutter guards as a way to simplify this annoying chore, but are they really worth the cost? Lets take a look at what gutter guards are, exactly, and what they can do for your home.

First, whats a gutter for? And why does it need cleaning?A gutter is a trough made of metal or vinyl, which edges the bottom of your roof. Often called rain gutters, these devices collect rain and melted snow running off your roof and channel them safely away from your homes foundation, via a type of tube known as a downspout. Unfortunately, rain gutters also tend to collect what we scientifically refer to as gunk. Here are some unwanted items that often end up in gutters:

fallen leavestree branches and twigspine needlesseeds (which, left alone, may eventually sprout into baby plants right there in the gutter)mossdust and dirtpollennests home to birds, wasps, or small rodentsanimal droppingstennis balls and other toys

Without regular gutter cleaning, all these things can block your gutters and eventually prevent water from draining off through the downspout system as intended. Instead, it will end up soaking into your fascia boards, walls, and/or foundation, where it may do thousands of dollars worth of damage and even threaten the structural integrity of your home.

In winter, water backup will freeze, resulting in ice dams which can tear off the gutter installation, downspout, fascia, etc., etc.

What are gutter guards?Designed to minimize gutter cleaning, gutter guards are covers which keep out debris and allow rainwater and snowmelt to flow freely through your gutters. They can be included in the gutter installation or retrofitted at a later date.

There are 5 basic types of gutter guards:Screen gutter guards are the most common and cheapest type, which are uncomplicated to install as a DIY project. Just cut PVC or aluminum screening to the dimensions you need and drop or slide it into place. However, standard screen gutter guards dont filter out smallish items like pine needles.

Foam gutter guards are extremely porous foam strips that are inserted in the gutter. Water passes readily through the foam, but solids are trapped on top. These are super simple for the home handyperson to put in place.

Brush gutter guards work similarly to foam. Place them inside the gutter and theyll allow water to pass through, yet trap any solid particles in their bristles. This is another excellent do-it-yourself choice.

Micromesh gutter guards have tiny holes, capable of filtering out almost every size of debris. They should be installed by an experienced roofing pro, either mounted under your roof shingles or attached to your fascia and to your gutter. For durability, choose surgical stainless steel mesh.Surface tension gutter guards are curved covers that guide water into the rain gutters, while solids slide harmlessly off the guards and onto the ground. Once again, find a professional roofer to install these.

Do gutter guards eliminate gutter cleaning completely?The good news is that gutter guards can cut down significantly on gutter cleaning work and the clogs that result when cleaning is neglected. The bad news is that they are unlikely to eliminate this job completely from your home maintenance checklist.

You will have to budget a certain amount of time to remove rubbish from the gutter guards themselves. This is a lot less trouble than old-school gutter cleaning, though, and only needs to be done every couple of years ... as opposed to at least twice annually without gutter guards.

The average cost to install 200 running feet of mid-range gutter guards is $1,500-2,000. (Cheap gutter guards tend to be poor quality, which may need frequent repair or replacement.) Do the math and decide whether you feel the added convenience is worth it to you personally.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

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Networx: Gutter guards simplify cleaning but are they worth the cost? - Aledo Times Record

By MIKE CHRISTEN mchristen@c-dh.net

Students at Mt. Pleasant High School are simultaneously working to battle the Zika virus and earn credit toward an associate degree.

If you are lucky, they might even do some house work for you, too.

The schools mechatronics and AP environmental science classes are working together in an attempt to reduce the citys mosquito population in an effort find ways to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

Students in the environmental science class made their first presentation of their new project in front of fellow students and local residents at the Mt. Pleasant Community Center last week.

As the mechatronics students continue the work they began last year designing and building both an aerial and aquatic drone to test samples of stagnant water across middle Tennessee, the environmental science class has been working to collect and record Mt. Pleasants current mosquito population.

After taking samples of stagnant water for the past two weeks, the class will soon begin encouraging members of the community to implement methods to reduce the mosquito population.

The students remind the community the most important thing to keep in mind was to avoid letting water lay stagnant.

One of the most common places for mosquitoes to lay eggs are gutters, so the students, assisted by their peers, will offer a gutter cleaning service on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

We wanted to reach out to the community, Nicholas Wilkes said. This is to help the community and aid our own research.

Students will take samples of the stagnant water and then clean the gutters at no charge.

For more information or to request the service call (931) 379-5583.

We dont just want to experiment on campus, Phoebe Hurt said. Not only will we be getting the samples we need but we will be helping the community.

Students do ask that participants live near walking distance to the school.

The teenage researchers will again take samples in the coming weeks to see if there is a change in the local mosquito population.

The results will be recorded and entered as part of the Lexis Eco Challenge, a national STEM competition for grades 612 that awards a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships to eligible teachers, students, and schools each year

This year we hope to make use of some of the resources we got last year, mechatronics instructor Armin Begtrup said. We will have some real data we can point to. The kids have the motivation and I am loving the collaboration between the classes.

Students participating in the project will earn college credit hours following the school districts partnership with Columbia State and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

Although the project will give students a head-start in college showing the similarities between the scientific method and the fundamentals of design and engineering, Begtrup said the projects most importantly giving students a valuable life skill that that they can use no matter what profession they eventually choose.

Learning the content is one thing, but teaching these students how to work and think collaboratively is really what we are doing, Begtrup said. They are learning how to approach a problem and create a solution. That is how the real world works.

Last year, some participating seniors earned scholarships based on their work on the project.

Kem Pounders, an experienced educator at Mt. Pleasant High School, is instructing the young environmental scientists.

The collaboration builds the strengths between science and engineering, Pounder said. We dont need to be isolated, we need to be working together for every project that we do.

For more information on the project visit http://www.tinyurl.com/zikazappers.

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Young scientists want to clean your gutters - Columbia Daily Herald

By KEN LAHMERSReporter

MACEDONIA City Council recently approved an ordinance to amend the zoning code to increase the maximum permissible height of buildings from three stories to four in a B-1 convenience business district.

Council also is considering ordinances which would increase the maximum permissible height of buildings by one story in B-2 community shopping, B-3 general business, B-4 highway business and business office districts.

Those measures remained on second reading at Councils Aug. 17 meeting.

Councilwoman Sylvia Hanneken voted against the increase in height in a B-1 convenience business district, saying she would rather the ordinance go to a third reading so citizens would have additional time to comment.

"The height revisions were considering are radical changes and could have a major impact on residents," she said. "I think were not giving citizens all possible opportunities to understand them."

Other Council members noted the issue had been on Councils agenda since the end of May and most of the input received from residents has been positive.

Mayor Joseph Migliorini explained a major hotel chain is interested in building a four-story structure in the B-1 district, and "this is an opportunity to take advantage of increased revenue for the city and the addition of jobs."

He added since the zoning code was adopted many years ago, the city now has improved firefighting equipment such as an aerial ladder truck, and can provide better protection for higher buildings. "The fire department has no objection to increasing the height," he said.

OTHER MATTERS

Council recently approved legislation to continue setting aside funds to offer services for senior citizens.

One measure authorizes the re-establishment of a refuse collection subsidy, one authorizes the mayor to enter into an agreement with Valley View Properties for a gutter cleaning program this fall and one provides for a snow removal program for the coming winter.

According to Sharon Sopata, administrative assistant for the service department, 99 total senior citizens participated in the programs last year.

The city will appropriate up to $15,000 for the refuse collection program and up to $5,250 for the gutter cleaning program. Snow removal will be provided at a cost not to exceed $12.50 per push.

The services will continue thanks in part to voters passage in May of a 0.5 percent income tax increase, which is providing an additional $2 million per year in revenue.

For the refuse collection, all applicants must be at least 65 years old and/or seriously disabled. For the other two programs they must be at least 65 and/or disabled and have no one living in their residence who is capable of performing the snow removal or gutter cleaning tasks.

Applicants must provide proof of age and/or disability and proof of income, and they must fit into certain income guidelines. The snow removal program will provide one push of snow within a 24-hour period when new snowfall exceeds 3 inches.

Eligible persons can contact the service department for information about the programs and how to sign up.

Members passed ordinances confirming the mayors promotion of Sean Hathaway to police sergeant and the appointment of Daniel Edwards as a full-time firefighter. Edwards is moving from part-time to full-time to replace a departed full-timer.

Council also adopted resolutions confirming the appointments of Patrick Velotta as a member of the planning commission,Jessica Brandt as a member of the civil service commission and Terry Repak to the board of zoning and building code appeals.

Council OKd a resolution authorizing the city engineer to advertise for bids for the Sioux Lane culvert replacement project.

Members also authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the villages of Glenwillow and Oakwood and city of Twinsburg to make improvements at the intersection of Richmond, Broadway, Shepard and Ravenna roads, and approved service payments in lieu of taxes for the owners of the Ambassadors Football parcel at South Bedford and Highland roads.

Email: klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-541-9400 ext. 4189

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Height of buildings to increase; hotel eyes Macedonia site - Columbus Parent

Are you having problems with a flooded basement? Maybe its because you didnt clean your gutters. Keeping the rain gutters on your roof cleaned out prevents a lot of seemingly unrelated problems that homeowners seldom think about. When your gutters are clogged and you see rain water running over the top, its not only making messy puddles and trenches on the ground surrounding your home, that rain water has the potential to do a lot of very costly damage.

What you can see soaking into the ground around the home can be soaking into the foundation of the home. When the water freezes during the winter, it causes cracks in the foundation. If you have a basement down there, those cracks can lead to basement flooding. Those leafs and twigs in the gutters become heavy when they soak up water. The gutters can fall off your house. Falling gutters take down outside lighting and even break windows on the way down. But the unseen and most costly damage comes when water backs up under the roof. This causes the roof sheeting to rot (under the shingles or whatever roof top you have), or the trusses to rot, and water can even run down into the walls rotting wall studs, shorting out electrical systems, and water coming in the home. If you dont clean out those gutters, the time may come when you literally no longer have a roof over your head.

You need to clean those gutters at least every spring and autumn. In some regions you may need to do this again late in the autumn after all of the leafs have fallen. While youre at it, you need to check the downspouts to be sure these are draining properly. A blocked downspout will still cause water to backup into the gutters even if the gutters have been cleaned.

Regular gutter cleaning is low cost. It is physical work but its not technically challenging nor does it require expensive tools. To start with, you need is a sturdy ladder in good repair. A sturdy ladder is critical. Never climb a ladder with broken or damaged rungs. Never use a ladder that is shaky or that has a tendency to lean sideways. Houses built on a slope or hillside can be a challenge for propping up a steady ladder. There are attachments available to lengthen the downhill leg of a ladder. This can make the difference between a ladder being steady or falling over when the ladder slants sideways because one foot of the ladder is in a hole or drops off an inch or two on a downhill slope.

The other common tools you need are a pair of work gloves, a handheld garden trowel, a five-gallon bucket, and a garden hose. A good trick is wiring the bucket onto the ladder at a height close to the rain gutter level. That way, you dont have to hold onto the bucket while scooping out the debris. Something else smart to do is check the weather forecast before planning to climb the ladder.

Never clean the gutters from the top of the roof. If you try this, youll be right at the edge of the roof and risk falling off. Start cleaning the gutters at the end nearest the downspout. Use the trowel and your gloved hands to first take out the large twigs, leafs, and other debris. Keep your body centered on the ladder (inside the vertical rails). Work one arm length of the gutter at a time. Get down, move the ladder, and work the next arm length. This takes a little time but a lot less time than a trip to the emergency room with a broken leg or arm from a fall. Also, if you use a ladder that leans against the house, there will be a small diagram on the side of the ladder leg showing you when the bottom of the ladder is the proper distance from the house. Its a little 90-degree diagram (L) that will be vertical and horizontal when the ladder is leaning against the house correctly.

After you clean the large debris out, check to make sure the downspout is draining properly. Use the garden hose to run water down the spout. The water should not back up when you run plenty of water through it. This also helps flush out any small debris that might in there. Once youre sure the downspout is clean, hose out the length of the gutters of any dirt and small debris that didnt come out with the trowel. Afterwards, check one more time to be sure the downspout is flowing freely. Thats all there is to this twice a year chore. Put your tools away.

If the downspout isnt flowing freely, you may have some more work to do. First, try flushing it out from the top using a spray attachment on your garden hose. If that doesnt work, try flushing from the bottom going up. If the downspout goes underground, you might need to disconnect it at ground level and spray up the spout as well as underground. If these tricks dont work, try unplugging it with a plumbers snake or pressure washer before calling in a professional.

While youre cleaning the gutters and downspouts, look for any damage to the entire system. The most common is for the gutters to be pulling away from the roof. If it is, youre probably going to need to make a trip to the hardware store for some replacement hardware or need to call in a professional. Another thing to look for are leaks at the joints and corners. These can usually be sealed by cleaning the area thoroughly and applying some silicon sealant.

Please leave a comment about your own experiences with gutter cleaning or if you have questions/comments about this article.

Author bio: Brian Kline has been investing in real estate for more than 35 years and writing about real estate investing for 10 years. He also draws upon 30 plus years of business experience including 12 years as a manager at Boeing Aircraft Company. Brian currently lives at Lake Cushman, Washington. A vacation destination, a few short miles from a national forest. With the Pacific Ocean a couple of miles in the opposite direction.

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Do My Gutters need Cleaning or Replacing - RealtyBizNews

HILLSDALE, N.J. The Reserve at Arden Place, an active adult community in Hillsdale, has homes for sale at $895,000.

Every home at Arden Place is a single-family, detached home designed for active adults. Each home includes agreat room with a fireplace, kitchen with granite breakfast bar, master bedroom suite, two walk-in closets, platform soaking tub and lavish shower, formal living/den/office, laundry with utility sink and full-size, two-car on grade garage with one or two steps.

The 36 homes will be set on 14, landscaped acres, each with a backyard, paver patios and more.

The condominium fee covers all outdoor maintenance including lawn, shrub, landscaping and tree care, street and driveway cleaning, snow and ice removal from driveways, walkway, steps and stoop, along with gutter cleaning and roof maintenance.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ZILLOW LINK.

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Homes In Active Adult Hillsdale Community Hit Real Estate Market - Pascack Valley Daily Voice

Locally owned and operated since 2004, Greenawalt Roofing has built a reputation of excellence since its founding, as well as a long list of satisfied customers who helped to vote the company the Readers Choice No. 1 favorite roofer in Lancaster County.

At Greenawalt Roofing Company you will find fully trained and insured employees. They specialize in residential and commercial roof repair and replacement, and provide a free gutter cleaning with all roof replacement projects.

But Greenawalt Roofing is more than great roofs. They also offer additional exterior services, including seamless spouting, siding, windows and doors.

The roofing industry has recognized Greenawalts reputation for professionalism and knowledge, featuring the companys educational article for contractors in its nationally published Roofing Magazine.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment Saturday and Sunday.

For more information and helpful tips, or to schedule a free roof assessment and estimate, visit http://www.greenawaltroofing.com or call 717-898-6000.

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Greenawalt Roofing family-owned and operated since 2004 - LancasterOnline

Officials this week approved a $32,780 contract for a Darien-based company to do masonry repairs to the town-owned Schoolhouse Apartments building on South Avenue.

The Schoolhouse Apartments building was constructed in 1931 as New Canaans first junior high school, complementing the original New Canaan High School, built in 1927 (now the New Canaan Police Department next door). Credit: Michael Dinan

The funds will come from the senior living facility itself, through HUD, according to Bill Oestmann, superintendent of buildings with the New Canaan Department of Public Works.

[Schoolhouse officials] had went out and got some quotes to do repairs on the buildings and sidewalks and they were confused because the numbers were so crazyall the quotes were something differentso explained to them at that time that these policies had been implemented there, that the town owns all that property, we are liable for all that stuff, so we will mange the project, they are going to give us all the funds through HUD, Oestmann said at the meeting, held in Town Hall. They had no problem with that.

He added: And at the end of the day, the town owns the building and so we want the work done properly so it will last.

The 1931-built Schoolhouse Apartments originally had been constructed as New Canaans first junior high school, and it was built in a stylebrick, with a cupolathat complemented the original New Canaan High School (now the New Canaan Police Department), which opened in 1927(the same year Karl Chevrolet was founded).

Oestmann said DPW officials met with contractors and after the project went out to bid it garnered estimates that varied widelysome $20,000 between them. A company called FGS Masonry put in a bid for $29,800, which comes to $32,780 with a 10 percent contingency add-on.

First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Selectmen Beth Jones and Nick Williams voted 3-0 in favor of the contract.

We are very comfortable with FGS Masonry to cover everything we want for that project, so the contract is actually contingent on us receiving all the funds and putting it into a special project [account], Oestmann said.

Jones urged the town to close the dedicated account as soon as it is done.

Williams asked whether the Schoolhouse Apartments building is one of the 40-plus town-owned structures being studied by a selectmen-appointed committee. Oestmann said yes.

So we are responsible as a town for that infrastructure. Williams said.

Oestmann responded that responsibilities are laid out in detail in the Schoolhouse Apartments lease with New Canaan.

But they have been very proactive in assisting us and not putting any big burdens on us, he said. We do gutter cleaning over there, we do minor repairs. We take care of everything for the daycare portion of the building.

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Town Approves $32780 Contract for Masonry Repairs at Schoolhouse Apartments; Senior Living Facility To Secure ... - New Canaanite

Roof Cleaning

Keeping your roof free of debris or moss is extremely important for the longevity of your roof. Roof cleaning in Portland can significantly extend the life of your roof. All Around Maintenance INC offers complete cleaning solutions for a variety of roof types, and will guarantee youanabsolutely spotless roof.

Many customers are unaware of the benefits of roof cleaning. They incorrectly assume that roofs are specifically designed to withstand natural wear. Though they are designed to hold up to the elements, this can be severely compromised by biological agents. Roof cleaning corrects these imbalances, allowing your roof and gutter system to function at its best. After our technicians are finished cleaning your roof in Portland, youll enjoy the following:

Our experience and knowledge allows us to safely clean all roof materials. Just some of the roof types we clean most often include:

Our team of roof cleaning professionals have the required skills and experience to safely clean your roof. You may be wondering why professional help is necessary. How difficult can it be to clean a roof? While the physical danger may be obvious, this is compounded when a dirty roof is slippery from dirt, rain, and moss. All it takes is one slip to cause major injury. Injury isnt your only concern though, we have the skills, experience, and equipment required to get the most from your roof cleaning.

Our local technicians have been cleaning roofs in Portland since 1999. Thats over a decade and a half performing high quality work in and around the Portland Metro area. We know the best time for cleaning, what treatments work best on Northwest moss varieties, and how to safely clean without damaging your roofing. Experience makes all the difference, so experience exceptional roof cleaning from our team today.

Roof cleaning is a difficult skill to acquire. Just because you can start a pressure washer and scrub with a brush doesnt mean you know how to use them. There are a variety of factors that determine how and what methods we use to clean a roof. These include the age of the roof, existing damage, level of dirt, and most importantly, material. Different material types are best served by specific motions and pressures. Inexperienced pressure washing and scrubbing can strip and damage a roof. Why risk your whole roof by self cleaning?

We use the most reliable commercial grade equipment and treatment methods to clean and treat your roof. Our equipment is much more exacting than non-commercial options. When it comes to a detail like water pressure, it can truly mean the difference between a spotless roof and a damaged roof. Our moss treatments are formulated specifically to provide the best results in a wet environment. Our signature hand cleaning, pressure washing, and treatment methods ensure you get a complete roof cleaning that continues to protect.

Its never too late to invest in the health of your roof. Save money, reduce pests, and protect your home with our roof cleaning in Portland. Call (503) 209-2023 or contact us today and experience the All Around difference.

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Roof Cleaning Portland | All Around Maintenance INC

Gutter cleaning in Northern Virginia is a daunting task, but Gutterman Services is up for the challenge! The natural beauty of this area is breathtaking, but so is the mess of leaves and debris it leaves behind in your gutters. Maintaining gutters which are clean and free of obstruction is an important part of keeping a clean house or office.

Chris Pauly began cleaning gutters while in high school in the 80s. Many years later Gutterman Services is the premier gutter cleaning company in Northern Virginia. Armed with experience and knowledge, we have provided the best gutter services in the area for over twenty-six years!

Most companies use a leaf blower to clean out your gutters. We take a more focused approach.

Our Gutter Cleaning service includes:

Gutterman Services also helps keep our clients on a schedule and provides a maintenance contract for our gutter cleaning services so you never have to worry about the state of your gutters. This allows you to rest assured that your regular maintenance is on Gutterman Services calendar and that we are staying on top of regular gutter cleaning and upkeep.

Fill out our online estimate form today and we will call you to provide a discuss your gutter cleaning cost. Always feel free to call us at 571-297-1445. Dont wait for your gutters to back up, perform regular gutter maintenance with Gutterman Services!

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Gutter Cleaning | Gutter Cleaning Servce | Gutterman Services

A Better Gutter Cleaning is Charlotte's gutter cleaning leader. Over the last 16 years we have perfected our gutter cleaning service. When thinking about having your gutters cleaned you want a gutter cleaning service that specializes in gutter cleaning only. Most of the houses in the Charlotte Metro Area have steep rooflines and gutters that are 20-40 feet off the ground, so you want to make sure that the gutter cleaning company you choose has the right equipment and know-how to get on your roof safely and get the gutters cleaned out completely and thoroughly. All our gutter cleaning techs are thoroughly screened, hired and trained to use the latest and most appropriate methods to make sure your gutters are clean and working correctly after each service. In fact, most of our competitors regularly look to us for new gutter cleaning techniques and standard practices within the industry. We are Charlottes gutter cleaning experts!

All our focus goes into making gutter cleaning the easiest service that you will schedule all year long. Of course, you can call our office and we can give you a price for gutter cleaning over the phone, but with our very modern and easy to use online system, you can get a gutter cleaning quote emailed to you within just a few minutes. Someone from our office will take a look at your house with our proprietary software program, email you a gutter cleaning quote, and give you a call to go over the details. With just one click in that email, you can schedule your gutter cleaning service and have your gutters working again in just a couple of days! You will find that we are not your typical small service company. Yes, we are a small company so you get the personal service that you would expect, but with a big company feel. Our office is open Monday Friday from 8-5 all year long and our management staff is always available to you at any time. That means no voicemail or answering service when you call us, so you can always get in touch with a gutter cleaning expert in our office with just one quick phone call. Our Proprietary Cleaning Methods and maintenance programs have consistently protected our clients from water intrusion, wood-rot, flooded basements, and landscape erosion. With over 90,000 gutter cleaning services under our belt we are, far and away, the best choice for gutter cleaning in Charlotte, NC.

After that first gutter cleaning service, you can come back to our website and create an online account where you can schedule a future gutter cleaning service, pay your current gutter cleaning invoice, see your entire gutter cleaning service history, and sign up for a regular gutter cleaning service contract at your home. Our owners and management team are all educated career professionals dedicated to running the best gutter cleaning company in the entire country. Give us a try and you will quickly see why we are the fastest growing gutter cleaning company in Charlotte, NC. Also note that we are a very highly rated gutter cleaning company on the Internet and are consistently listed as a top tier service company by independent consumer groups. Maybe thats why 95% of our first time customers use our service time and time again.

If your mailing address is in one of the following cities your house is in our gutter cleaning service area: Charlotte, Gastonia, Matthews, Bessemer City, Mooresville, Corelius, China Grove, Salisbury, Dallas, Catawba, Lancaster, Pageland, Wadesboro, Stanley, Mt. Holly, Lincolnton, Iron Station, Lowesville, Denver, Clover, York, Newport, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, Pineville, Ballantyne, Marvin, Weddington, Waxhaw, Stallings, Indian Trail, Lake Park, Monroe, Wingate, Marshville, Unionville, Fairview, Mint Hill, Midland, Albermarle, Concord, Harrisburg, Enochville, Landis, Davidson, Norwood, Wadesboro, Polkton, and everything in between!! Just call and well quickly let you know!

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A Better Gutter Cleaning, Inc. - Gutter Cleaning Charlotte, NC