In the Midwest, the weather can get pretty bad; sometimes bringing 1-2 inches of rain in just a few hours.  If your gutters are not installed properly or just aren’t big enough, you will very likely wind up with a number of unwanted issues.

Here are a couple of things that you might consider modifying before installing a larger trough:

1.) Make sure your downspouts are 3×4 instead of the standard 2×3.  This will help to disperse the water out of your gutter trough faster.

2.) Make sure your gutters are equipped with valley diverters (or “Splash Guards”) on all of your inside miters.  This will prevent water from over shooting where 2 roof lines meet together.  Valley diverters are to be installed in other places as well, but this really depends on the style of your home.

If you continue to experience problems, I would suggest calling a professional to come out to your home and make any further recommendations.  After all, your home might be in need of a little extra attention.  (Aren’t we all from time to time?)

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Cosmetic damage is defined as hail damage that alters the physical appearance of the roof covering but does not result in damage that allows penetration of water through the roof covering and fails to perform its intended function to keep out of the elements over an extended period of time…

“Will it be covered?” you might ask.

Insurance companies may be adding UL2218-Certified Impact Resistant Roofing Materials to their policies and offering homeowners discounts, but some are dropping cosmetic roof damage coverage!

“Insurance companies may require homeowners who purchase hail-resistant roofs to receive the mandatory discounts except endorsements on their policy that exclude coverage for cosmetic damage. (Statement provided by Texas Dept. of Ins.)

Because of the possible exclusion of cosmetic damage which would not be a covered loss, consumers need to weigh the cost of purchasing a hail-resistant roof versus the loss of cosmetic damage in the homeowner’s policy.

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About a year and half ago, we decided to get off our butts, put away our hammers (or our computer mouse, in my case) and officially reach into our community to assist an organization in need.

With the assistance of a little list, produce by the local United Way (www.volunteerkc.org) we stumbled upon a request for help that was posted by the ALS Midwest Chapter (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

At the time, we were seeking a ‘Holiday Activity’ that all company members could participate in.  We
wanted to help an organization that stood for a cause that felt special to each one of our company members.  After much discussion and deliberation, the ALS Midwest organization was the ‘Last Man Standing,’ so to speak (we just couldn’t talk Pat into the Christmas caroling gig at the retired living facility) .  Each of our company members felt compelled to assist the families, friends and staff members who were so closely tied to this cause; and this single volunteer activity has expanded into a much larger effort over the past year and half.  We now proudly associate ourselves with this organization and all of its efforts, in everything we do.

This past Fall, we were contacted by the ladies over at the organization to assist with the building of a wheelchair ramp for a local man who had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  We told the ladies that we would take on the project in full—no problem.  This was, by the way, our first official wheelchair ramp—there’s a first time for everything, right?  To offset a portion of the materials cost, we contacted local small businesses to contribute to the project.  Once we had secured our additional donations we were able to proceed with the building of the project.  I remember at one point, looking at the list of contributors and thinking to myself, “Isn’t this something?  Each of these ‘small guys’ have so willingly given what they could—in spite of the rocky economy—that’s really something.”  Yes, I had a moment.   

It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities.  Everybody knows that volunteerism helps those in need; but for us, taking time to step outside of ourselves and do something special for somebody else allows us to feed ourselves spiritually and mentally.

We like to look at our relationship with the ALS Midwest organization as a kind of ‘adoption.’  While we are unable to provide anywhere near the financial support or contributions that are required to keep such an organization alive, we do everything we can to help out, whenever we can help out.  If every company—no matter how big nor small—would ‘adopt’ an organization in need, and give back in whatever capacity they were capable of, we believe everybody would benefit greatly and a greater sense of appreciation would be fostered on many levels.

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