All of us want to be environmentally-friendly, right? But what you probably didn’t know was that there are some gutter-related measures that you can take to lend Mother Nature a helping hand. Here are five suggestions on using your
gutters to "go green."
1. Install rain barrels. There's no use in allowing runoff water to flow out of your downspouts and into the street. Raise your downspouts a few feet off the ground and let it flow into rain barrels. These 50- to 70-gallon containers can collect rainwater over time and provide you with a handy source of water to nourish gardens, hanging plants, and landscaping. Many models even come with spigots so you can hook up your hoses directly to the barrels themselves.
2. Recycle rain water in your toilets. This sounds harder than it is. All you need to do is set up a rain barrel (or some other rain catch system) about 3 to 5 feet above the ground. Then run piping downward from the water source, through the wall, and into a bathroom. Connect the piping to the plumbing line that projects from the toilet and install a valve to let you access the main
plumbing system when needed. Now, every time you flush your toilet, gravity will fill up the bowl with recycled water.
3. Build a rain garden. This is another way to put runoff water to good use. Find one of the lowest spots in your yard and start building a downward slope from your downspout to the garden area. It doesn't have to be fancy; it only has to guide the water down the slope into your garden plot. Then plant flowers, shrubs, and other flora and watch the rain garden receive nourishment from roof runoff.
4. Compost gutter debris. When you clean your gutters, don't just toss out the debris. Gather up the leaves, twigs, and needles and put them into a compost pile. After several months, the microbes in the debris will help turn the slimy muck into healthy soil to spread over the rest of your yard. You won't have to waste any more money on potting soil or plant food.
5. Recycle old gutters. When it's time to replace your copper, aluminum, or galvanized steel gutter system, don't just take the old gutter sections to the junkyard. Take them to a scrap metal shop where they will be recycled. The shops will sell the old gutters and
gutter guards to manufacturers, who will melt them down and use the raw materials to produce new goods. You'll even get a little cash in your pocket as a reward!
Keeping your gutters "green" conserves water, saves money, and maintains the natural life cycle of the environment. That’s a win-win.
Due to Hurricane Irene, Moonworks/Gutter Helmet of NE is currently closed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We hope to have power restored soon. Thank you for your patience.
Update:
Moonworks/Gutter Helmet of NE is now fully operational and will resume normal business hours on August 31st!
Ever since they first became common in the 1960s, seamless gutters have been a popular addition for homeowners, especially busy homeowners who are pressed for time. But they're not right for every situation or home. Here are the pros and cons of seamless gutters, to see if they're what your home needs.
Pros:
- While “seamless” is an exaggeration, with a seam at every corner and downspout, there are still far fewer seams than with sectional rain gutters, which mean fewer leaks. Over time, the caulk or solder used in sectional rain gutters cracks as the metal expands in the heat and contracts in the cold.
- Installation is done by a professional and will take, at most, two days to install. Most seamless rain gutters placed on an 
average-sized house are installed in one day.
- Rain gutters are formed to order and can be fitted around any type of roof: there's no waste of materials like in a do-it-yourself sectional job.
- You won't even need to paint the rain gutters: a baked-on finish is applied to the material at the factory, and the color is chosen to match the color of your house. That's less time on a ladder and more for other projects around the home.
- Rain gutters come in a variety of sizes perfect for any project: even large homes in areas with heavy rainfall can have seamless rain gutters installed with no issues or any sort of modification done to the gutters themselves.
Cons:
- All that labor will add to the cost of installing your rain gutters, possibly even doubling the cost of the job. Partially this is due to the riskiness inherent in installing rain gutters: they're up there on a ladder so you don't have to be.
- Whatever's available in the factory, that's it: if you want a specialized coating or unique shade of paint, you'll be applying that to the gutters yourself.
- Not all contractors are trustworthy: a badly maintained rain gutter machine can lay down damaged rain gutters, and you won't even notice until they start to leak. Any seamless rain gutter contractor will need to be researched thoroughly, with both Internet research and contacting local business agencies like the Better Business Bureau, before being hired on.
- Seamless rain gutters may simply not fit in with your home's design. This is especially true of older homes. If your home is considered a historical landmark, you might not be allowed to install the gutters under the law! Check the legal codes carefully before installing.
- Once installed, removing seamless rain gutters can be difficult, so be sure it's precisely what you want before they're put into place.
