DIY Tools

You never know when you’ll have to fix a leaking roof or make gutter repairs, so it is important to have all of the tools you’ll need on hand. Follow our guide to DIY tools to make sure your set is complete.

• Allen Wrench – You’ll have a hard time assembling furniture without these hexagonally-shaped bars, which come in a set.

• Adjustable Wrenches – A larger wrench can handle most nuts and other fasteners, while a smaller wrench is perfect for tight squeezes.

• Bucket – It sounds simple, but it is a must-have for fixing leaks and tackling plumbing jobs.

• Flashlight – Essential for working under the hood of your car or in another dark space.

• Drill – Need to hang a framed picture or make a hole in a cabinet to run a DVD player chord through? A cordless drill does the job.

• Hammer – Aside from hammering in nails and removing old nails (using the clawed end), a hammer comes in handy for many other tasks.

• Mask – Wear one when drilling or sanding to keep yourself from inhaling dust.

• Sponge – Another tool for drilling or sanding. Use to wipe down a surface post-job.

• Painter’s Tape – Aside from the obvious (keeping moldings paint-free when painting a wall), use it to prevent the teeth of pliers from scratching your pipes.

• Paintbrushes – A complete set of brushes, carrying in size, will let you make touch ups inside and outside your home.

• Multipurpose Screwdriver – Swap out Phillips-head bits, nut bits and slotted bits for different jobs.

• Pipe Wrench – Plumbing job? Use this.

• Long-Nose Pliers - Helpful during electrical jobs. Also, use them to hold nails when beginning hammering.

• Adjusting Pliers – These have many uses, as they can bend, unscrew or manipulate in several ways.

• Utility Knife – Makes making sharp, straight cuts easy.

• Screws and Nails – When you have reinforcements, bending a nail or losing a screw isn’t an issue.

• Tape Measure – A retractable model with 20-25 feet will handle most jobs.

• Old Toothbrush – Ideal for applying grout sealant and other products to small surfaces and cleaning hard-to-reach places.

• Work Gloves – Never hammer your nail or jam or prick your finger again once you start wearing these bad boys.

• Safety Goggles – Shield your eyes from toxic solvents and wood and metal shavings by wearing these.

• Painter’s Tool – Use to remove caulking around showers and tubs, remove and spread putty, spread Spackle and joint compound and clean rollers.

• Sandpaper – Removing material? Choose coarse grit. Finishing or smoothing a surface?

As home maintenance experts, we know a thing or two about DIY projects and with this list you’ll be stress-free the next time you have to install new gutters or complete another DIY home project.

Copper Gutter Maintenance

How to Care for Your Copper Gutters


Caring for copper gutters is an important component of copper gutter ownership. These gutters are an investment, and you don't want to loose money due to neglect.

Copper gets a bluish green patina as it weathers and ages, and most people want that look.

Preventing it is nearly impossible since it is a byproduct of the natural oxidation of the copper. If you want to keep the bright copper color, consider a quality painted aluminum product that keeps the “penny copper” look.


To keep the shine and patina intact on the gutters, always wear cotton gloves when working with any piece of the gutter. The natural oils on the skin will remain on the gutters and will leave spots on them and mar the patina.

Careful Cleaning

Carefully maintain the gutters by keeping them free of debris and roof runoff. Use a soft plastic scoop to clean the gutters. If the scoop scratches the surface, using gloves to remove the organic matter is a good alternative.

Some people prefer to use cloth gloves, although they may get you hands wet, they do not scratch the surface of the copper. Watch your copper gutter for any sagging, loose brackets, or bending pieces. Repair or replace them promptly.

Copper Durabilty

Copper gutters are generally reliable and long lasting. There are many systems still running that have been in place and functioning for 50 to 80 years without a problem.

The systems that last that long have soldered seams and often has screens on the downspouts. They are also cleaned regularly. Roof debris as well as leaves can damage copper gutters, causing spots of discoloration, so clean them regularly.

This article is taken form the following source: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-care-for-your-copper-gutters#ixzz0uuBXEPYM

Cast Iron Gutters

Cast iron gutters can make any home look great and add to the curb appeal. When installed correctly, these gutters can last lifetimes with just simple maintenance. If you have cast iron gutters, here are a couple things you can do to ensure a long life for them.

Regular Cleaning
Settling sediment can be the death of cast iron gutters. Because of this, you should clean the gutters thoroughly at least once a year. Climb a ladder and remove debris by hand. Then spray a garden hose through the gutters to clean any small sediment that has built up.

Dealing with Leaks
Even though cast iron is a durable material, it can develop leaks around the joints and seams. When cast iron was first used in gutter systems, a pitch-soaked rope was used in the joints to form a water seal. This seal will degrade with time. You can use clear silicone and new joint bolts in the leaky joints. If the joints are especially difficult to reach, you may use a self-adhesive flashing tape over the inside part of the joint. You can paint over either of these options so the joint won't be noticeable.

This article is taken from the following: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cast-iron-gutters-cleaning-and-maintenance#ixzz0uuB1lBjl

Gutter Options for your New York Home

Everyone should have some sort of gutter on their house to divert the rain. New York City rainfall can cause significant damage without diverting rain run-off. This is important to protect your crawl spaces, basements and siding. Not having gutters in place will cause more damage in the long run and with increased moisture, your termite problems could increase substantially. There are many systems to choose from.

There are so many systems to choose from now. The most expensive - as well as most attractive and durable- of these is copper. Aluminium and vinyl are the most economical and most widely used options. You can also use galvanized steel and wood for historic buildings. Bronx Gutter Installers will price your gutter system based on linear foot. Make sure that the price you get is in writing and includdes all the necessary components. The components include gutters, downspouts, hanging brackets, end caps and corner joints.

Aluminum gutter systems is the most commonly used product; it is inexpensive and durable. You can get it in many different colors to match your house and, depending upon the contractor, you can expect to pay around $3-6 per linear foot for your Brooklyn gutter.

Steel gutters may be good option for New York homes, with their exposure to snow, winds and heavy rains. Steel is stronger than aluminum and stands up to these elements without as much damage as aluminum. There are a couple cons to using steel gutters. First, they tend to rust, so it is important that you buy galvanized steel which should hold together for about 20 years without rusting. The second con is that it is more expensive than aluminum - about twice as much per linear foot. You can buy stainless steel, but it is $20 per linear foot as compared to $8-10 per linear foot.

Vinyl is a great option for price and durability, especially if you want to do the work yourself. It is easy to cut and install for a homeowner. Vinyl is also the cheapest gutter system you can buy at $3-5 per linear foot. It is also widely available at home improvement stores. The downside of vinyl is that it can break in cold climates and is not as sturdy as metal gutter systems. This is partly because the material is brittle but also because vinyl has seems that make it more prone to leaking and breaking.

Copper is the priciest gutter to install Queens and it is frequently seen in upscale homes, many times you will see it at the front of a home with less expensive aluminum used at the back. I have even seen aluminum gutters painted to look like copper patina. Copper is $12-$25 per linear foot. The shiny copper look that homeowners may be looking for will quickly turn shades as it is exposed to the elements. You need to keep this in mind and be able to appreciate the changes in store for your gutter system installation.

The last option is to choose a material for your gutters and combine it with decorative Japanese-style rain chains which start around $20 -$50 for basic models and can run $50 -$200 or more.

Regardless of the option you choose, make sure you have gutters on your home to protect your basement and crawlspace from unneccessary damage and flooding.