There are several ways to install rain gutters on a home, but not all of them are ultimately beneficial. Improperly installed gutters can lead to wood rot as well as falling gutters, rendering what should be a beneficial addition to your home as a liability.

Its very important that rain gutters always be installed behind the drip edge to ensure proper capturing of rainwater. Installing gutters on top of roof flashing may be easier and quicker, but improperly installed rain gutters can actually do more damage than good. Rain gutters installed on top of roof flashing leave space for rainwater to splash behind the gutters onto the homes fascia. This water, protected from wind and sun, rots the fascia and eventually leads to costly home repairs. If rain gutters are properly installed behind the drip edge, the only place for water to go is down the gutter and away from your home.

Downspouts are enclosed, vertical pieces of guttering that carry water from the rain gutter to the ground. In order to keep a downspout in place, it must be secured to the side of the home with the use of straps. It is important to secure straps to the brick, not the mortar between bricks, because it creates a more secure, enduring hold. Mortar deteriorates over time causing downspouts to come loose, which can create leaks and even fall down.

Phillips installs gutters behind the drip edge, and we even place gutter hangers every 2 feet to provide sufficient support during heavy rains. Phillips also anchors downspout straps into the brick, making your overall installation more secure. In fact, Phillips even uses larger screws that exceed industry standards, all of which adds up to confidence in your rain gutters installation. This is why Phillips offers a limited lifetime warranty.

See the Phillips difference first hand by scheduling a FREE estimate today. You can call or use the estimate request form on our site.

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Gutter Installation | Phillips Gutters

BlackHawk in the News:

Your rain gutter system is one of the most important protection mechanisms for your home. If not handled properly, rainwater can cause serious and expensive problems at your roof or at the ground. (Just ask any roofing contractor or foundation repair specialist)

In two words . . .

ROT & INSECTS Most home roofs have wood components that are vulnerable to both. The most vulerable components are:

Depending on the trees near your house and how clean you keep your gutters, even a properly installed guttering system and downspouts frequently allow rain to get to these components and speed the rotting process.

Even partially-clogged gutters compound the problems by allowing debris to slow the drying process, long after the rain has stopped. In addition, the bugs and insects will soon follow. Bugs and insects like dirty water and rotting wood.

These problems are often compounded or made worse when Gutter Helmet, Leaf Guard, K-Guard, Gutter Guardian, Waterfall or some other popular system is in place (see The Competition).

The BLACKHAWK System is your best defense against these problems because its a 21st century state-of-the-art product and an entirely different concept with a warranty they cant touch. See our Warranty.

Inside, outside, and under your foundation, several significant problems can be blamed on poorly designed, poorly performing, and improperly maintained gutter systems:

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BlackHawk Gutter Defense Protection Cover: gutter helmet ...

November 26, 2014 Updated Nov 26, 2014 at 3:05 PM CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Governor Quinn announced more than $39.3 million in investments for construction projects Wednesday in central Illinois counties.

The road, college and airport projects in Cass, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell and Woodford Counties are part of the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program.

Projects will be led by the Illinois Department of Transportation unless otherwise noted.

Cass County Selected deck expansion joints on U.S. 67/100 will be replaced for $737,570 by Freesen, a Division of United Contractors Midwest, Inc. of Springfield, the lowest of four bidders.

Livingston County The apron and connecting taxiway will be rehabilitated at Pontiac Municipal Airport for $340,959 by H.J. Eppel & Co., Inc. of Pontiac, the lower of two bidders. The IDOT Division of Aeronautics will manage the project, which includes federal, state and local funding.

Logan County Interstate 55 will receive 14.9 miles of pavement patching, resurfacing, mainline, shoulders and ramps, pavement markings, guardrail improvement, minor drainage items and collateral work for $31,899,598 by R.A. Cullinan & Son of Tremont.

Macon County Bridge deck replacement will be done on the structures carrying Business U.S. 51 over Lake Decatur in Decatur, as well as earthwork, storm sewer, highway lighting, temporary pavement, curb, gutter and pavement marking for $4,025,000 by Illinois Constructors Corporation of Elburn, the lowest of five bidders.

McLean County Interstate 39 will receive 4.5 miles of pavement patching from Sixmile Creek southwest of Hudson to Woodford County Line for $609,860 by Kinney Contractors, Inc. of Raymond, the lowest of three bidders.

Morgan County Tree removal and aggregate surface course will be done at various locations near the Illinois Route 104 Illinois River Bridge at Meredosia for $80,819 by Freesen, a Division of United Contractors Midwest, Inc. of Springfield, the lowest of five bidders.

See the article here:
$39.3m in central Illinois construction investments announced

Your Resource for Gutter Installation in San Antonio

If your home or business requires the repair or installation services of your roof or your gutters, Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing is the right choice for you. We are the #1 resource for gutters in San Antonio, furnishing high quality, long-lasting roofing and seamless gutters to the San Antonio Metro and Hill Country area.

At Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing, we take great pride in providing efficient work that is done right the first time. We are pleased to offer you a variety of gutter and roofing services, including:

In addition to gutter installation, San Antonio customers of Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing can benefit from our expert roofing services. We are Select Master Shingle Applicators of CertainTeed products, and are a Preferred Contractor for Owens Corning. We also install GAF, Tamco, or any other brand you may request.

Whether or not you require replacement of gutters, San Antonio homes and businesses can be protected from leaks and rotten fascia board during rainy seasons by taking advantage of our roof repair and roof replacement services. Our gutter and roofing services include:

We have over 40 years of combined experience, and are pleased to offer free estimates. Feel free to check us out on Angie's List, where we earned the Super Service Award in 2012 and 2013 ? and the Better Business Bureau, where we have been given an A Rating for our outstanding delivery of roofing and seamless gutters to San Antonio.

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Your Resource for Gutter Installation in San Antonio

City notes By THEODORE J. STATON Wednesday November 19, 2014 11:22 AM

The city has long recognized the disconnect between the worsening condition of our critical but aging infrastructure networks and how much maintenance work has been implemented through our capital improvement program (CIP).

This has not gone unnoticed by residents. Results of the 2013 community survey reaffirmed high levels of satisfaction with police, fire and EMS services, leaf collection and snow removal but highlighted a noticeable decline in satisfaction with the condition of roads and sidewalks.

In part, this is why in 2013 the city engineer developed a plan to address the backlog of work within an achievable timeframe. The result is a 10-year CIP planning process, with a price tag of $113 million for its first 10 years.

With the needs mapped out and a price tag identified, the CIP was studied at length by a subcommittee of the Citizen Financial Review Task Force as part of its charge from Upper Arlington City Council.

The resulting recommendations of the task force led to the city's recent and successful ballot request for an increase in the income tax rate to 2.5 percent, with 100 percent of the funds generated dedicated to the CIP.

With this important funding mechanism in place and set to take effect Jan. 1, 2015, the city is proceeding as planned with the projects slated for next year.

Tremont Road, Phase 1

The work scheduled in 2015 runs from Fishinger Road south to Ridgeview Road. The project is guided by the Tremont Streetscape study, which was developed by consultant MKSK last winter.

It offered ideas for the reconstruction of Tremont that would facilitate pedestrian accessibility, traffic safety and improve the aesthetics of the Tremont corridor.

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Upper Arlington's infrastructure planning for 2015 taking shape

By NATE ELLIS Wednesday November 19, 2014 11:24 AM

Upper Arlington officials are ready to update residents and other stakeholders on their plans to begin rebuilding Tremont Road in 2015.

The plan for the first major rebuild of Tremont Road since 1956 could include a partial water line replacement, street lighting improvements, bicycle accommodations and pedestrian safety features.

The latest updates on the project, including projected start and finish dates, will be detailed during a meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road.

Although the project has been discussed publicly on occasion since July, Thursday's meeting will offer the public opportunities to hear about the city's plans and provide feedback on potential bike features and the preferred colors -- black or green -- of light poles and traffic-signal mast arms along one of Upper Arlington's main roadways.

"Tremont Road has not been reconstructed since 1956 and has deteriorated to the point that it needs reconstructed," City Engineer Jackie Thiel said. "The corridor is not pedestrian- or bicycle-friendly and does not meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or community standards.

"Upper Arlington is using the project to make Tremont Road a multimodal project to improve safety and access for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and vehicles."

If all design elements being considered are implemented, the reconstruction is expected to cost approximately $8.2 million.

However, the city hopes to offset as much as $5.37 million of that with an Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) grant.

The city applied for the grant earlier this year and expects to hear next month how much, if any, in OPWC funds it will receive.

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Tremont Road reconstruction set to start in July 2015

After 70 years Mantecas Jimmie Connors Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311 is going to finally have a home.

The City Council Tuesday night approved a $1,160,000 design and build contract with Diede Construction to build the 3,600-square-foot Moffat Community Center that will serve as the posts home at 560 Moffat Boulevard.

The completion date is July 3, 2015 to allow for a Fourth of July dedication. A ground breaking is tentatively set for Monday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m.

For 70 years weve never had a home of our own, VFW Commander Carlon Perry told the council.

The post has been using the American Legion Post in the 200 block of East Yosemite Avenue.

Perry noted that it means veterans will be able to go to one location for everything from health services to socializing.

For what you (the veterans) did, you deserve it, Councilwoman Debby Moorhead said.

The center will be built on city-owned land sandwiched between the arsenic treatment plant built last year and the storm retention basin/mini park that are across the street from the trailer park adjacent to the Manteca High athletic fields. The new home of the VFW post will back up to the Tidewater Bikeway.

The work includes the building, a parking lot and some landscaping. The balance of the property will be landscaped at a future date.

The city has entered into a 20-year lease with Jimmie Connors VFW Post 6311 for use of the Moffat Community Center. The lease notes the structure will be a public building. It will be available for rent by the public when it is not being used for its primary purpose of serving veterans groups and veterans events.

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Finally, a home for VFW Post

Resurfacing of Center Street in Grayslake and the second stage of Peterson Road reconstruction are slated to move forward in the next construction season after the Lake County Board approved funding for the projects last week.

Center Street, a 1.4-mile stretch between Routes 45 and 83, part of which runs past the former Lake County Fairgrounds, will be resurfaced with paved shoulders in areas without curb and gutter. With the $2.23 million appropriation, approved by the board at its Nov. 11 meeting, the project is now cleared to head out for bids.

Grayslake is also eyeing Center Street for improvements east of the villages business district, with a resurfacing project from Route 83 to the Canadian National Railway tracks now in the design phase.

The board also approved a total of $22.8 million in appropriations including $16.2 million from the countys quarter-percent sales tax for transportation improvements for the ongoing widening of Peterson Road near Libertyville and Grayslake.

Work began earlier this year on a widening of Peterson from Route 45 to a point just west of Route 83, a project that includes intersection improvements at not only Route 83 but Midlothian Road. The funds approved last week are projected to cover the reconstruction and widening of Peterson from Route 83 to Allegheny Road.

The scope of that second phase also includes installation of a bike path on the north side of Peterson and resurfacing of nearly the entire length of Allegheny a 2.2 mile stretch from Peterson north to Hojem Lane, near Belvidere Road. As with the Center Street project, the Peterson project is now set to take bids.

In other transportation business at its Nov. 11 meeting, the board approved the following measures:

Appropriation of $1.8 million for the reconstruction and widening of Petite Lake Road from Fairfield Road to Route 59 near Lake Villa.

Appropriation of $295,000 in county transportation sales-tax funds to improve Metras Grayslake North Central station platform in preparation for the Washington Street underpass project just to the south. That overall $35 million project, which includes widening of Washington to four lanes west of Lake Street, is scheduled to start next spring and continue for two full construction seasons.

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Center Street, Peterson Road lead list of county road projects

Brotherhood its what ties the Adams family together, or more accurately, brotherhood, music and their faith in God.

The Adams brothers, Matt, Taylor and Tristan grew up in Alberta Beach playing music together at home and in church and look forward to the upcoming release of their first album, The Journey.

With a rock sound, the Adams Christian band, West of Here, penned more than 20 songs in preparation for their first album and after narrowing it down to half as many tracks, released their first single in October.

Theyre not all one certain style so you wont get bored going through the whole album, Matt said, describing the tracks as having a pop, rock and southern rock sound.

The whole album is somewhat akin to the journey of life.

Hence the title.

And despite the bands relatively new radio play, West of Here received two 2014 Covenant Award nominations, which are presented annually as part of the GMA Canada Week.

With award nominations for Rock Song of the Year and Rock Album of the Year, West of Here headed to B.C. to take part in the 36th annual Covenant Award ceremony, held on Thursday, Nov. 13.

Were extremely excited... I think theyre happy to promote good new music, Matt said of the GMAs.

But getting this far hasnt been without its challenges, which have ranged from time management, funding and sourcing musicians that will support their sound, he said.

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Band pops up just West of Here

Theyre affectionately called the ski ramps two oddly designed points of ingress and egress on the north side of the Sherman Commons shopping center. And for retailers on both sides of Loy Lake Road bridge, the ski ramps are the final piece of the puzzle in restoring full functionality for drivers as ongoing construction at the location grinds on into its ninth month.

Right now, anybody north and south can get to (the Town Center) side, and you can go from the east side to the west side, but you cant go from the west side to the east side, JCPenny Store Manager Barger Tygart said. But Im pretty sure that before the Black Friday weekend, that it will be open to where cars can go back and forth.

Tygart was one of a hand full of Sherman business owners and managers who attended an informal, informational meeting hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation near the construction zone Friday morning. TxDOT was the bearer of good news for Tygart and others during the gathering, as the organization announced it hopes to reopen the ski ramps and reestablish the flow of traffic as early as next week.

We added an extra phase to (utilize) these old ramps to give temporary access during the holiday season to these developments over here, said TxDOT Area Engineer Aaron Bloom, speaking from a business in Sherman Commons. So were going to work the frontage road up to where the concrete ends, just right past the intersection, and then well keep working on Loy Lake, trying to get that built.

The ski ramps are being reopened thanks to a $52,000 change order financed by United Commercial Realty, the Dallas-based company that owns and leases Sherman Commons. The downside of the modification in construction plans, however, will be a slight lengthening of the overall timetable for the project, said Bloom.

In the original plans, we were going to work all the frontage road together, but now were breaking it up into two pieces, so that adds some more time to the project.

Even still, the $5.6 million construction effort is running only slightly behind schedule up to this point, said Ragle Construction Project Manager Jason Stultz. Ragle crews are currently working to raise the intersection several feet on the east side of the bridge, which will provide a new, modernized entrance into Sherman Commons and eventually do away with the ski ramps for good.

The weathers put a couple of dampers on it, but its gone pretty smooth so far, said Stultz.

TxDOT officials said theyre targeting a final completion date of early spring for the project, which will double the bridges capacity to six lanes. The new portion of the bridge, on which crews worked Friday installing a concrete guard rail, will hopefully open to traffic sometime in March or April, said Bloom.

Work on the northbound frontage road will continue into January, according to a handout provided by TxDOT, after which a new traffic signal will be installed on the east side of the bridge. From there, Phase 4 of the project will begin, the focus of which will be on the west side of the bridge. A portion of Loy Lake Road will be closed during this phase, though only the small portion of the street in front of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Life for drives will remain relatively unchanged, however, as the turn-around will temporarily function as a two-way roadway, providing all-direction access for drivers.

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TxDOT says the worst is over at Loy Lake Bridge