Why one should hire out gutter cleaning

[earthling177]

I'm sorry to hear you got hurt, here's hoping you get better soon.

In your case, I'm not sure if laughter is the best medicine or if it will hurt only when you laugh... still, here's an old file that did the rounds on the intartubes for at least 20 years. Don't worry, Snopes says it's not true... still, it makes me laugh every time someone posts it.

Cheers,
-- Paulo.

------ Begin Forwarded Message ------

Antenna Raising Incident

"I'm writing in response to your request for additional information for
block number 3 of the accident reporting form. I put "poor planning" as
the cause for my accident. You said in your letter I should explain more
fully, and I trust the following details will be sufficient."

"I'm an amateur radio operator. On the day of the accident I was working
alone on the top section of my new 80 foot tower. After completing my
work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the
tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and hardware. Rather than
carry the now unneeded tools and materials down by hand, I decided to
lower the items down in a small barrel by using a pulley, which
fortunately was attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower."

"Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and
loaded the tools and materials into the barrel. I sent back to the ground
and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow decent of the
300 pounds of tools. You will note in block number 11 of the accident
reporting form, I weigh only 155 pounds."

"Due to my surprise at being jerkied off the ground so suddenly, I lost
my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say,
I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower.
In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming down; this
explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly,
I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right
hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley."

"Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was
able to hold onto the rope in spite of the pain. At approximately the
same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom
fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now
weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer again to my weight in block
number 11. As you might imagine, I started a rapid descent down the side
of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel
coming up; this accounts for my two fractured ankles and the lacerations
on my legs and lower body."

"The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries
when I fell onto the pile of tools, and fortunately only 3 vertebrae
were cracked. I'm sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the
tools, in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel 80 feet
above me, I again lost my presence of mind....I let go of the rope."
------ End Forwarded Message -------

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, it just goes to show.

Most accidents are the result of improper human actions. When I look back at my mishaps I can usually figure out what I could have done differently to prevent it. And part of that is to take a moment before doing such things as climbing ladders, firing up power equipment, etc., to analyze the setup and make sure that everything is as safe as can be first. The phrase "accident waiting to happen" is all too true...

 

[alr2903]

When we had shingles and siding done, i got rid of our gutters, we have LOTS of trees. LOL the only way to keep them clean in the fall/winter would be to camp on the house. We are on the side of hill so the water goes away quickly. Its been one year now, and i have no regrets, I do need an awing over the downstairs door we use as our main day to day entry. See it run im glad your on the mend. we have a split level and you know the house built in 1953 always had a musty odor. after the gutters were gone the musty smell was gone too. alr2903

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, if the home has ample roof overhangs and excellent drainage, then gutters are not necessarily needed. But a lot of homes are on the flats and water pooling around the foundation is not a good thing to have.

The gutter screens do help a lot. The main house has a shake roof and standard gutters, but is not shaded by trees so the gutters don't really need screening. There are a few trouble spots that I know will need attention every winter, no biggie. The workshop, garage, breezeway, and carport roofing is all corrugated, and it took quite a while to devise a screening that would work with the corrugated roofing. I tried metal screening but it was very difficult to fit under the roofing and had nasty sharp edges as well. I finally settled on a fairly inexpensive plastic screening that comes in rolls that I simply use to build a little arch or sorts in the gutters. I also use a relatively simple water jet on and extension wand to clean the gutters from down below. This even works through the screens I've installed in the gutters.