When a rainstorm comes out of nowhere, the last thing you want to be worried about is whether your gutters can redirect all the water properly. Proper drainage will be essential to reducing your home’s risk of flooding as well as cutting the amount of damage your property sustains during this period. In fact, the better your gutter system functions, the less cleanup you’ll have to do after the fact. Here is how to improve the drainage of your home gutters and the factors that can affect their performance.

Keep Your System Clean

To maintain a steady water flow through all your gutter’s components, you first need to make sure that the piping is clean. As you’re probably well aware, gutters tend to collect an assortment of debris throughout the seasons. These items obstruct the channels where the water flows and stop them from draining as efficiently as they should, so regularly clearing this gunk out will be vital moving forward. 

Install Gutter Guard Accessories

You can also improve the drainage of your home gutters by installing an accessory to keep potential blockages out. A gutter guard is a screened device that attaches to the top of your gutter channels and prevents large debris from collecting in them. The screen portion still lets water in—allowing your system to do what it does best unhindered. Professionals can even hook up these products for you and save you the extra work.

Use Downspout Extenders

Another step you can take is to equip your downspouts with several extenders. On a basic gutter system, the downspout doesn’t deposit water very far away from your home. Though this is still helpful in preventing floods, you can further increase your odds by making this section of pipe longer. In doing so, the water runs further out into your yard, draining it in a much more effective way.

Call a Professional for Repairs

But one of the best actions you can take to make your gutters perform better is to contact a professional for repairs and advice. Since a lot of different factors can impact your gutter’s ability to drain, only expert eyes can accurately diagnose the problem and fix it. These professionals will help you replace any components or remove any clogs that are causing issues to get everything flowing smoothly again.

At Bear Mountain Custom Painting, we’ll work hard to ensure that your gutters are always functioning at their best. Whether you need a few repairs or an entirely new setup, our team of Cumming, GA gutter installation contractors is ready to take on your project. We’ll take on the grunt work so that you can weather any coming storms with ease.

While the art of painting a home requires ample skill and finesse, it’s the quality of the painter’s brushes that truly make the results stand out. Whether it’s their materials or their overall style, each aspect caters to a specific type of painting and only a few can yield the results you want for a project. This is why it’s important that industry professionals always come equipped to handle a particular job. Knowing about these tools can also help you understand how they contribute to the finished product. These are the different types of professional home paintbrushes that experts use and where they’re most effective.

Top Brush Materials

To the untrained eye, brushes often appear the same. However, if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that paintbrushes are comprised of different materials to best suit the type of paint they’ll be used with. Knowing which bristles work most effectively with certain paint products is typically half the battle when the project begins, and professionals need to commit them to memory. Listed below are the primary resources to keep in mind.

Synthetic Bristles

Synthetic bristled brushes are built using man-made resources such as nylon or polyester. They work incredibly well with a variety of different paints because they’re non-absorbent and easy to clean. However, some perform better in certain situations than others.

Specifically, brushes made of nylon are more often recommended for water-based paints since they’re better at holding onto products with a looser texture. They can also be used with oil paints—which are very popular along interior walls—but aren’t always the preferred method with these formulas.

Polyester brushes, on the other hand, are considered to be the more durable option of the two because the bristles are firmer, and they resist sticking. This is why they’re the most recommended tool to use when working with thicker latex paints. They’re capable of holding their shape through the different rigors of the application process as well. As such, they coat paint smoothly on a surface and ensure that the layer is even.

Natural Fibers

Natural fiber bushes are another popular option for professionals as they’re considered the most effective way to apply oil-based paints, stains, and clear-coat products. Because they’re made from harvested animal hairs, these bristles are capable of holding onto more paint and applying it in effortless strokes. The split ends that develop naturally along these brushes as they age further increases the amount of paint they can hold onto at a given time. This makes them highly effective at catering to a larger surface area.

Different Brush Sizes

The overall size of a paint brush is also an important feature to keep in mind. This aspect affects everything from the amount of paint a painter can apply at a given time to how precise they can make their lines. For this reason, it’s common to see professionals with brushes in several different sizes just in case they should need them. Below are the standard brush dimensions used in the industry.

One- and Two-Inch

The smallest paintbrushes that can be used for residential painting, single- and double-inch models are meant to be used on smaller surfaces or tight corners. For example, they’re typically used around window frames and other areas with small sections of trim.

Three-Inch

Brushes that are three inches wide are used for painting slightly larger objects such as doors and cabinets. They’re great for covering a larger surface area while maintaining the ability to hone in one the finer details when necessary. It’s important to mention, though, that smaller brushes are typically best for detail work.

Four-Inch

Brushes that are fourinches or longer are simply meant to hold and apply as much paint as possible in a few strokes. They allow painters to fill a designated area at a faster rate while minimizing the amount of effort they need to exert to do so. Such brushes are essential when painting an interior wall or exterior siding.

Professional Brush Styles

No guide to the different types of professional home paintbrushes would be complete without discussing their various styles. Not all paintbrushes are designed to apply a large quantity of paint. Believe it or not, many are simply meant to perform correction work or establish small details in the finished product. Bristles can be cut to accommodate these functions, and this is what we refer to as the brush’s overall style. Here are some examples to consider.

Angle Slash

Angle slash brushes have their bristles cut at a sharp slant to assist with cornering techniques. They allow the painter to spread the paint in the tightest of spaces and create a clean, crisp look when finished. Angle slash models can hold significantly more paint than thinner brushes, although thin-angle slash brushes are more effective at reaching the deepest corners.

Flat Sash

Flat sash brushes, conversely, don’t have their bristles cut at all. Instead, they promote a straight edge that establishes even lines over a flat surface. These tools also come in various sizes to suit the dimensions of the surface area. They’re great at covering a smaller surface area as well.

Trim

Trim brushes work better on larger, flat surfaces that require a lot more paint. They also have a straight edge and work especially well on exterior siding panels. These brushes are known to increase the amount of control a painter has over their work due to their finer tip.

Wall

Wall brushes are among the most commonly used style for professionals because they’re wide, thickly bristled, and boast maximum coverage. This allows the painter to load it up with much more paint than the other brush types and apply it smoothly. These models can be used on any type of home painting job and have the most versatility.

So, as you can see, professional home painters use a series of different brushes to create the stunning results you’re after. As such, it often takes someone experienced with these tools to know when each is most effectively used and how to properly apply paint with them. At Bear Mountain Custom Painting, we’re proud to say that we have some of the best painters in the business. In fact, our home exterior painting services in Cumming, GA are considered among the highest quality offered in the area. Because of this, you can be rest assured that we’ll approach your project with all the necessary equipment in-hand.

Wooden siding is one of the most beautiful and protective finishes you can have on your home. However, despite this, it can still deteriorate quickly with frequent sun and rain exposure. This could lead you to not only spend more money on repairs and replacements but also sustain damage along your interior walls. Fortunately, from the time your siding is installed to several years down the line, there’s plenty you can do to mitigate this risk. These are a few ways to make your home’s wood siding last longer and keep your property protected.

Choose the Right Style

Believe it or not, promoting the longevity of your siding begins with the type of siding you initially pick. Not all materials can withstand the same conditions. In fact, wood siding is particularly susceptible to heavy rain and sun. Because of this, you’re already setting yourself at a disadvantage should you choose wrong. On the plus side, there are several types of wood that are more resistant to moisture and will hold up better over time, such as redwood, western cedar, or cypress.

Install It Correctly

It’s also important that you get a qualified professional to Install siding in Cumming, GA. When siding is left with a series of gaps or divots between the boards, it becomes easier for it to develop water traps. As the name suggests, these areas trap rainwater and prevent it from draining away from the house. This gives it a chance to seep into the wood and start the rotting process. Therefore, hiring someone who knows how to avoid these traps will be essential.

Protect It With the Right Paint

Another effective way to make your home’s wood siding last longer is to use the right paint and sealer products on it. As mentioned above, water and sun are the primary threats when it comes to the overall lifespan of your wooden siding. For this reason, you want to use paint, sealing, or staining formulas that were created for blocking out these elements. Make sure you research your options thoroughly or ask a professional for advice on which would work best for you.

Clean and Repair It Regularly

Most importantly, stay on top of your regular cleaning and maintenance duties. Siding will deteriorate more quickly if you leave it covered with dirt and broken from past storms. So, you’ll need to spend some time doing repairs and washing away debris to ensure your siding will hold up. This process also gives you the opportunity to check for wood rot and address these issues before they become larger problems.

If you’re looking for a team of professionals that will install your new siding the right way, reach out to Bear Mountain Custom Painting. Our siding installation contractors in Cumming, GA have worked with dozens of different materials on a variety of homes. As such, we’re confident that we can complete your project in a way that maximizes its lifespan and saves you money in the years to come.

While windows are designed to form a seal and keep the outdoor elements from entering your home, they aren’t immune to damage. In fact, depending on your local weather conditions, or even how your windows were installed, they can be just as vulnerable as other parts of your property. When inspecting your windows for damaged, it’s important to know what to look for. These are the different types of window damage to make note of.

Wood Rot or Mold

When we think of rot or mold, it’s common to envision it along our home’s inner walls or in the basement. However, these growths are also known to form along any surface that collects moisture—such as your windows. During heavy storms or long damp spells, cheaply made wood frames can absorb the humidity in the air and trigger the development of harmful organisms. Over time, both mold and rot will eat away at the frames and weaken them beyond repair.

Broken Window Seal

Breached window seals are also a problem. This is because regardless of how reinforced the glass might be, it’s still prone to chipping under the right amount of force. When this happens, moisture enters and collects between the panes—creating additional problems with home energy efficiency and climate control. Seals can also be broken when your home shifts on its foundation.

Faulty Hardware

Another type of window damage to be aware of is malfunctioning hardware. As the components that allow us to lock our windows and freely adjust how they sit when open, these parts are essential to the functioning of the windows. However, they can become less effective with age and break after several years of consecutive use. In many cases, these moving parts can rust, making it increasingly difficult to move them how you want.

Expanding or Shrinking Frames

Your windows frames can even shrink or expand depending on your local temperatures. Cold climates will often lead them to contract, while warmth will cause them to get larger. This can prevent your windows from fitting correctly in their slots and create further issues with sealing and moisture. Unfortunately, this particular type of damage can be out of your control. So it’s best to be aware that it can happen.

Should you notice any of these forms of damage along your windows, it’s often easier to get them replaced rather than spend the money to fix them. As such, you want to hire professionals you can trust with the project. We at Bear Mountain Custom Painting specialize in window replacement in Cumming, GA along with several other home renovation tasks. Because of this, we’re confident in our expertise and know that we can get you the best results.

While having functional home gutters is a necessity, no matter what time of year it is, the spring season comes with its own set of needs for gutters. Prone to larger storms and longer periods of weather, these few months could be some of the most likely to bring about flooding. As such, it’s important that you know the part your gutters could play in keeping your home safe. This is why gutter repair is essential in the spring and the benefits this action can provide.

Prevents Pest Nesting Near Your Home

When the weather starts warming up, neighborhood pests officially come out of hibernation and begin building new nests. Unfortunately, this makes your gutters (and several other parts of your home) prime real estate. It’s common for squirrels and raccoons, specifically, to store building materials in your gutters—clogging them up and preventing them from draining properly. On the plus side, by staying on top of maintenance, you not only remove this debris but discourage these animals from coming back.

Eliminates Mold and Rust Growth

The harsh winter months can do a lot of damage to gutter systems, which makes them much more susceptible to things like rust and mold come springtime. Any broken parts will tend to rust as they’re exposed to the elements, and debris will often grow mold if left to sit in water for long periods. Because of this, proper maintenance and repairs will be vital to keeping these things from happening.

Keeps Them Functioning Properly

But the most important reason why gutter repair is essential in the spring is that it can improve your system’s overall functionality. As previously mentioned, spring is the season of heavy rain showers, meaning your home is at a higher risk of flooding than normal. However, if your gutters are working as they should be, this is much less of a concern since the water will be directed away from your home’s foundation. So, in order to ensure your home’s safety during this time of year, gutter maintenance is simply a beneficial thing to do.

At Bear Mountain Custom Painting, we understand how dangerous spring showers can be to the more susceptible areas of your home. This is why we want to ensure no residence goes without the necessary protection this year. Our gutter repair services in Cumming, GA, cover everything from part preplacement to full gutter system installation. As such, we consider ourselves one of the best resources for getting your home ready for warmer weather.

A home’s siding is its first line of defense against the hazards of the outside world. Made from some of the most durable materials on the market, these panels block out the elements and help your home resist things like pests and water damage. However, no matter how strong, siding doesn’t last forever, and only replacing it completely can make your home’s defenses as reliable as they once were. So, if you’re looking to undergo one of these projects yourself, it’s vital that you know what it takes to get the best possible results. Read this guide on how to plan a siding replacement project to learn about the ins and outs of the process and what to expect from it.

Assess Your Siding Needs

Regardless of whether you’re repainting your deck or installing crown molding in your home, every home renovation starts with taking note of what your needs are. After all, it’s hard to determine what must be completed if you aren’t sure what needs to be changed in the first place. For siding projects, this means assessing what types of siding have worked for your home before and whether it was satisfactory. If not, and your previous material has sustained serious damage over the years, you may want to consider something new. Take your local climate into account as well to help figure out how much protection your home is going to need in the time to come.

Create a Detailed Budget

Once you know what your home’s general needs are for your new siding, you can start drawing up an initial budget. This is the best way to ensure that not only are you getting what you want, but that you aren’t going into debt in the process. As you make this mark-up, take estimates of what each component could cost—from the materials themselves to the professional labor you’ll need to hire. Then, update this sheet as you go to stay informed on what exactly you’ll be spending. Remember—while full siding replacement can be a bit on the expensive side, there are always options that can fit into your monetary situation.

Research Your Potential Options

After establishing your limits, both for your home and your wallet, it’s time to start researching the different products you may be interested in. Residential siding is available in a multitude of different colors, materials, textures, and even shapes to fit your durability and style needs. As such, this part of the planning is often the one that takes the most time. One of the most effective methods is to browse the internet. Siding manufacturers tend to post images of their products on their websites, and third-party review sites make it easy to see honest performance statements. Additionally, with how quickly you can surf the web, you can look at hundreds of options in the time it would take for you to drive to the store.

Some other ways you can get inspiration include:

• Looking through magazines
• Asking your neighbors what worked best for them
• Talking to your siding contractor about the products they’d recommend

Make Your Decision

Now, onto arguably the hardest part of the planning process—choosing the exact siding you want. With so many potential options to pick from, it can feel like an uphill battle to decide on only one. This is why the researching process is so integral to making this step easier down the line. The more information you have on a particular type of product, the clearer it’ll be whether it would make a good fit for your home. Make sure that you’re also taking into account what your style needs are, as well as any advice your contractor may have regarding your decision.

A few important characteristics of quality siding to keep in mind include:

• The durability and resistance to the elements
• Compatibility with the home’s design and structure
• A price tag you can afford

Select a Qualified Contractor

Then, if you haven’t already done so, the next step to planning a siding replacement project is to pick the contractor that will perform this work for you. This will also require a fair amount of research and price-checking to ensure they can accommodate your specific needs. You want a team of professionals that have experience with this type of work, have a lengthy list of positive reviews, and are willing to take your budget into consideration. Without these traits, you risk getting poor results or even paying more than you have to. You can ask your neighbors to help with this step as well, since they might be able to supply you with a list of companies they’ve used in the past.

Prepare Your Home for the Project

Lastly, as you wait for your project to begin, you should get your home ready for it. This means putting away any tools that may be laying out in your yard, placing tarps down near the work area, and protecting any plants from construction debris. Taking care of these tasks ahead of time will allow the professionals to get straight to the bulk of the work, saving everyone time during the next few days. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can even start removing your older siding in preparation for the new materials to be installed.

To help the process go even smoother, you can prepare in these ways as well:

• Moving your vehicles away from your home while work is being done
• Keeping your driveway clear for dumpster and debris removal
• Take pictures off from interior walls to prevent damage during construction

Projects involving home siding are notorious for being costly, time-consuming, and difficult—but they don’t have to be. At Bear Mountain Custom Painting, we pride ourselves on working with our customer to ensure that their project meets all their needs and expectations. Our siding installation professionals in Cumming have years of experience under their belt and can assist you in all areas of the process from the initial planning phase to construction. We also offer exterior home painting services in Cumming. GA to help you give your older siding a fresh new look. For more information on our great offers, visit our website or give us a call.