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Are Gutter Guards Worth The Investment?

Are Gutter Guards Worth The Investment?

Gutter Guards Protect Your Home

Gutter guards are one of the most important preventative measures you can take to protect your home from moisture damage. They are not all created equal however. When it comes to doing a DIY gutter guard project I understand the desire to work on your own home, save money, and have a sense of accomplishment when you’re done.

The problem is with the quality of the product you can purchase. If you’re looking to a big-box home store for gutter protection, don’t waste your time or money. They just don’t have products that actually work. Ok, they may work for a year, maybe even two if your lucky but long-term their gutter guards are worthless.

If you watched the video on this page you’ll see that we’re removing old, inferior gutter guards before installing our high-quality Bulldog Brand product. If you want a true 25 year warrenty spend a little more money and have Neptune Clean professionally install the gutter guards for you.

You do have other options for professionally installed gutter protection but you’ll pay more than double by going with the national brand with the huge advertising budget. Of course they do have a good product, I just feel they price-point doesn’t match the value added. As a homeowner myself, I encourage you to do your research. Let Neptune Clean quote your gutter guards project along with the national brands and see what I’m talking about.

We use a high quality product sourced from a local professional building supplier who guarantees them to keep your gutters clean for 25 years. I’ve personally installed a few thousand linear feet of this product and I’ve never been called back for a clog.

Click here for more information on our Bulldog Brand gutter guards.

Click here for an instant quote.

Gutter Cleaning in Virginia Beach
Gutter Covers

Should You Invest in Gutter Guards?

If you’re reading this article, then you’ve probably noticed that your gutters aren’t doing their job quite as well as they should be. Over time, leaves and pine needles can get clogged in the gutter and cause water to overflow into your yard, potentially causing major damage if left unaddressed for too long. To protect your home and landscaping from water damage, invest in gutter guards today! 

Do I need gutter guards?

If you’re on a limited budget, or just don’t see yourself ever needing to clean your gutters, gutter guards may not be worth investing in. However, if you have a large tree that sheds leaves throughout the year—or live in an area with lots of rain and snow—gutter guards can save you time and money by keeping debris out of your gutters. Also, while they aren’t cheap (the average cost is $1 per linear foot), they are very affordable compared to replacing damaged gutters after a big storm!

When do I need them installed?

The first thing to think about is when it’s best to install gutter guards. If you have enough leaves and debris that they start to clog your gutters, then it’s probably a good idea. However, if you don’t have any debris buildup and plan on doing seasonal leaf removal, then investing in these gutter guards might not be worth it for you. It all depends on how quickly your gutters fill up or how quickly leaves begin to fall from your trees.

Do I need professional installation?

This depends on several factors. First is safety. Are you comfortable working off the ground on a ladder? If you can’t be bothered to hire a professional to install your gutter guards, there’s always do-it-yourself options. They are relatively easy to install unless your gutters need repair. You’ve got to start with straight gutters so some repair might be in order. Still, if you choose to DIY, I recommend hiring a gutter professional or handyman to check over your work. It could save you hundreds of dollars down the road if they catch an installation error now rather than months from now when it starts leaking or clogging.

How much will it cost to install them myself?

If you don’t want to hire a professional for any reason, it can be very costly to invest in gutter guards yourself. While DIY options are available, you can still expect to pay at least $500 for materials alone, as well as hours of labor time cleaning and installing them. The exact cost depends on your roof type and size. That’s not to mention having them professionally installed will give you peace of mind that they won’t come off accidentally or be poorly fitted.

Will it stop debris from building up in my gutters?

As a rule of thumb, you should never buy anything that doesn’t solve a problem you have. So if your gutters haven’t been cleaned regularly, maybe it’s time to invest in gutter guards. If they aren’t clogged up and debris-free, you might not even need them. To answer this question, yes, gutter guards installed by Neptune Clean are guaranteed against clogging for 25 years.

What’s the best brand to use?

Not all gutter guards are created equal. Depending on your home’s layout, it may be necessary to purchase a specific brand. Before deciding which guard is best for you, ask a professional who has worked with the big-box store (DIY) brands and professionally installed gutter guards. Those with first-hand experience will be able to tell you how well each brand protects against rain-related damage and how easy each type of guard is to install.

How long should they last, and what can wear out first?

As mentioned earlier in this post, our professionally installed gutter guards are guaranteed never to clog for 25 years. They are made of high-quality aluminum, so they don’t rust or deteriorate. The cheaper DIY brands you find at the big box home stores are made of plastic and deteriorate quickly with exposure to the elements.  

Gutter Cleaning in Virginia Beach

Gutter Cleaning in Virginia Beach

gutter cleaning in virginia beach

Gutter Cleaning in Virginia Beach

It’s early December so I thought I’d write about gutter cleaning in Virginia Beach. Leaves are falling heavily now and it won’t be long before the trees are bear. Perhaps you’ve spent some time wondering who’s going to rake up all those leaves. I think an even more important question you need to ask is; who’s going to get all those leaves out of my gutters?

Clogged gutters can cause a host of problems that go unnoticed until it’s too late resulting in the need for expensive repairs to your home. Gutters are mainly designed to  guide rain and storm water off the roof and away from the foundation of your house. This protects your foundation and landscaping from erosion. Gutters can also keep you from getting soaked when entering your home by diverting rainwater away from entrances. 

Gutter Cleaning in Virginia Beach
Gutter Covers

After Your Gutter Cleaning in Virginia Beach

What many homeowners don’t understand is that your gutters should be cleaned three or four times during the fall. This is especially try if your home is situated amoung a bunch of large trees. It doesn’t take long for them to get clogged an cause rain water to backup into your soffets or rot fascia boards.

The easiest way to deal with getting your gutter cleaning in Virginia Beach is to have Neptune Clean install high quality gutter covers. Our Bulldog Brand gutter covers come with a 25 year warranty to never clog. Call us today for a free gutter cleaning with the installation of gutter covers.

Don’t take my word for gutter cleaning in Virginia Beach, ask Bob Vila

For an instant quote Click Here!

Pressure Wash a House, The Ultimate Homeowners Guide

Pressure Wash a House, The Ultimate Homeowners Guide

pressure wash a house

Tips To Pressure Wash a House

As the owner of Neptune Clean, and highly trained Jedi-Washer, I often hear homeowner confessions of failed DIY home cleaning attempts. The conversation always begins with “I have my own pressure washer but…” followed by the problem they encountered.

I always encourage homeowners to save money where they can. Heck I’m an avid DIY’er so I can’t blame them for wanting to take care of a simple exterior house cleaning project.

When you pressure wash a house, one common mistake homeowners make is using too much pressure to wash their siding to remove organic contaminants like mold, mildew, and algae. Using “high pressure” can damage siding. It can also force water under vinyl siding, into soffits, or under door and window jambs.

Brick is more forgiving of course but wood siding like cedar is more fragile than vinyl. What homeowners don’t realize when they pressure wash a house is that professionals rely on cleaners and each of these siding types require a different type of cleaner.

before mailbox clean
Soft Wash Docks Piers

My first pressure wash a house tip:

Professionals use a “soft wash” method to apply a cleaning agent rather than actually pressure washing a house. The most common cleaner is a diluted blend of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and surfactant detergents.

The mild soap is applied with a low-pressure spray to all the surfaces of your siding. The soap does the work (not the pressure washer) and removes the organic material. All you must do after a short dwell time is give your home a good rinse.

Here’s my second pressure washing tip:

Before you pressure wash a house, hydrate all the plants and grass around your home to protect them from the cleaning agent. A thin coat of water fills the cells on the surface of leaves reducing exposure to the cleaner. If left unprotected, direct exposure to cleaning agents may burn leaves and grasses.

Here’s my third pressure a house tip:

Before cleaning your home, cover anything you don’t want exposed to the cleaning agents like copper light fixtures, door handles or exotic wood doors. Sodium Hypochlorite will accelerate rust on iron or the patina on copper. Also tape electrical outlets where they meet the siding to reduce the chance of tripping a GFCI circuit breaker.

Here’s how to safely clean home siding yourself:

Most homeowner level pressure washers have a downstream attachment that allow you to “softwash” your home. You can purchase house siding cleaners from the big box home stores. They sell it by the gallon, and it works well with the downstream feature of your pressure washer.

Here’s my fourth pressure washing tip:

Your downstream attachment uses a venturi effect to draw cleaners into the flow of water going to your hose and nozzle. It’s typically at a 4-1 ratio. That’s 4 gallons of water to 1 gallon of cleaner it draws.

So, if the cleaner you purchase recommends diluting your cleaner 4-1, you simply drop the downstream pickup tube from your pressure washer into the cleaner and you’ve got a 4-1 ratio you’re spraying on your home.

 To begin pulling soap through your pressure washer, all you do is change the pressure washer’s nozzle to the black “soap” tip. Next, drop the downstream hose into your soap mix and begin applying the cleaner to your home using your pressure washer. The soap may take a minute to travel the length of hose you’re using so be patient.

Let the mix dwell for 20-30 minutes and then rinse it clean. Of course, that is if you have a single-story home. This is a pressure washer capability problem. Many consumer level pressure washers don’t have enough power to reach the second story gable ends. You may have to purchase a professional soap shooter tip to reach these heights.

Another common problem I encounter is customers using high-pressure to clean their wood decks.

 Here’s my fifth pressure washing tip:

When you pressure wash a house, never use high-pressure on your wood decks or fences. Many consumer level pressure washers can produce up to 3000 PSI or pounds per square inch of pressure. This is not only dangerous to a person but can rip into the wood’s fiber shortening its life.

Professionals always use cleaners to do the heavy lifting for them. I use oxygenated cleaners and surfactant mix on wood. It’s works great to remove mold, mildew, and algae growth.

You may have read that Sodium Hypochlorite also works on to clean wood. This is true, it does remove mold, mildew, and algae but there’s a downside. Deck cleaners containing bleach harm the woods lignin which is the organic substance that binds the cells, fibers, and vessels of the wood.

Pressure washing Professional always use a two-step process when cleaning wood. After rinsing the wood surface clean, apply a wood brightener to restore the wood back to it’s natural color.

Here’s how you can do it yourself:

Applying wood restoration cleaners is a little different than washing your home. All you need is a quality pump-up sprayer. Follow the directions on the wood cleaner you purchase for the correct dilution mix and application methods. WARNING: Oxygenated cleaners will produce oxygen increasing the pressure in your sprayer so purchase one with a pressure relieve valve.

Add the cleaner to the pump-up sprayer and pump it up. Spray the entire wood surface and let dwell as directed by the cleaning agent’s directions.

After the oxygenated cleaners have done their work, you can rinse the surface with a pressure washer using a low-pressure tip or simply increasing the distance between the nozzle and the surface you’re rinsing.

Applying a wood brightener is usually done exactly like the cleaner but read the directions on the product you purchase to make sure. Lastly, admire the new beauty you’ve uncovered through all your hard work

Lastly, if you’d like Neptune Clean to clean your house for you, click this link to get an instant quote.

Bill Seith

Owner of Neptune Clean LLC

The Ultimate Guide to Pressure Wash a House

It’s almost time to open the windows and let in some fresh air! But before you do, it might be good to clean off your house first. If you live in an area with a hot and humid climate, like here on the Virginia coast, you probably want to pressure wash your house before summer (but fall and winter too!) to remove all the pollen, dirt, and other gunk that has accumulated on your siding over the course of the year. Read on for the ultimate guide to pressure washing your house yourself!

Prep Work

Before you pressure wash a house, it’s important to remove all lawn furniture, and other items that may be in front of or around your home. It’s also crucial that any plants surrounding your home have been removed so they aren’t damaged by soap splatter. If you have cement steps or a porch on your home, those can be cleaned as well.

Safety First

When it comes to how to pressure wash a house, there are some things you want to do safely. If you’re planning on using a pressure washer, ensure you read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation. Always turn off and unplug any items outside your home to avoid damage. And make sure everyone else is aware of these safety rules as well. Put up appropriate warning signs if needed so others know where not to walk or stand when you’re pressure washing your house.

Determine Surface Type

If you pressure wash a house, you need to know what type of surface you’re dealing with before getting started. Many home sidings are made from cedar shake, vinyl siding, brick, or a cement composite like Hardie Plank just to name a few. The wrong cleaning solution could lead to damage especially on wood sided homes. If your house is sided with cedar shake, I suggest leaving that to the professionals as the wrong cleaner or too much pressure can damage the fibers of the wood.

Determine Amount of Soap Used

Before pressure washing, it’s important to calculate how much soap you’ll need. Most big-box home stores sell a pre-mixed house wash that can be applied through your pressure washer downstream injector. All you do is apply the soap to your siding, let it dwell the recommended amount of time. The soap does all the work, so you don’t have to use pressure. Too much pressure can force water into places you don’t want it to go.

Rinse Away the Grime

Now that the soap has had time to do it’s thing, you can simply rinse your home clean. Again, be sure to use a large orifice nozzle which reduces the PSI of your pressure washer to under 300 PSI. This will reduce the chances of forcing water under your siding causing potential moisture damage when you pressure wash a house.

Know When to pressure Wash A House Again

You’ll be able to tell if your house needs another power washing after a year or so. Power washing can remove tough stains, but it isn’t magical—it won’t remove truly stubborn stuff like chewing gum, asphalt, or organic stains like torpedo spores.

Moss Roof Cleaning – #1 Best Way To Remove Moss from a Roof

Moss Roof Cleaning – #1 Best Way To Remove Moss from a Roof

When I speak to home owners about moss Roof Cleaning, I’m very open about the fact that the black streaks we normally treat are harmless and doesn’t effect the life of the shingles. The algae causing the black streaks on your roof is actually a cyanobacteria called Gloeocapsa Magma.

Moss or lichen on the other hand will cause damage to your roof if left untreated.  A moss roof cleaning is necessary because moss on a roof is caused by lots of moisture and lots of shade. The moss spores arrive on your roof carried by wind or animals and can easily spread throughout neighborhoods. Unlike algae, moss can be detrimental to asphalt shingle performance.

Moss can thrive on roofs because it’s a non-vascular plant that obtains water through its leaves and not through a root system. Here in North America, moss tends to grow on north facing roof planes that receive less direct sunlight and stay damp longer than south facing planes.

Addition moss roof cleaning factors include trees that overhang a roof constantly shade any sunlight and our humid coastal climate helps to holds in moisture and acts as a food source for moss. All these conditions create the perfect environment for moss. Cutting back trees is recommended if you have moss growing on your roof. This will let some sunlight in and prevent it from growing back once cleaned

Moss Roof Cleaning

Moss Roof Cleaning Recommendations

According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Moss can cause the leading edges of the shingles to lift or curl, which increases the risk of shingle blow-off during wind events. In severe cases, moss build-up can cause lateral water movement resulting in moisture damage to the roof deck or may even cause leaks.

The most effective method of moss roof cleaning begins with a light brushing of the roof with a stiff bristle brush to remove the large growth. Next, a strong antimicrobial mix of six percent liquid chlorine bleach and water is applied to ensure the entire plant is treated. Moss roof cleaning requires more work then cleaning the algae causing black streaks normally encounter here in Hampton Roads Virginia.

Moss roof cleaning is more costly because it has to be manually brushed to remove the larger chunks before treating with the potent antimicrobial cleaning solution. This means we must access the roof increasing danger to employees and consequently, increasing the price. This is especially true for steeper roof pitches. Some applications may even require a man-lift.

Next we apply a strong antimicrobial cleaning solution with a softwash sprayer and allow the solution to dwell on the roof surface for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with low pressure water. We’re sure to take proper precautions to protect landscaping and surrounding areas from the cleaning solution runoff.

Do you have moss or those unsightly black streaks ruining the appearance of your home? The sooner you take care of it the cheaper the cost so don’t wait, if you see moss or lichen growing on your roof, call your Softwash Super Hero.

We’ll get a quote out to you instantly to bring back your home’s natural appearance while also protecting your largest investment.

 

Call Neptune Clean today: 757-384-0411

What is moss on a roof and how do you remove it?

 Moss can grow on all kinds of roofs, no matter how new or old, shingled, or flat. Here are some tips on how to clean the moss off your roof, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring someone else to do it for you.

Why moss grows on roofs

Moss grows well in shady, damp areas like roofs. Not only does moss look bad, but it’s also quite dangerous to your health. Moss growing on your roof can increase your chances of getting sick because moss gives off spores and encourages lichen growth, which can contain harmful bacteria. It’s important to keep your home clean by removing moss from your roof regularly. Not to mention it can destroy your shingles.

Maintaining your home can help prevent moss growth

One of your best bets for preventing moss growth is to keep up with regular cleaning. Have your roof treated at least once per year of you have heavy tree coverage. Trees blocking the sun is keeping your home’s roof from drying it out completely. Consider trimming back trees to let a little light in. 

If it does grow, here’s what to do about moss

Moss roof cleaning is dangerous so it’s best left to a professional. The process to remove moss combines manually brushing off the moss and chemically treating your roof depending on where it grows. Chemical methods can damage your roof’s surface, so be sure to read up before using them. To prevent moss from returning to your home’s exterior surfaces consider the advice from the previous paragraph.

How long does moss removal take

Moss removal really depends upon how heavy the growth is and how much roof is affected. Mosses are epiphytes—plants that grow attached to other plants but get their water and nutrients from moisture in the air or in soil, rather than by drawing nourishment directly from their host plant. In this case, the host plant are the shingles on your roof.

How much does moss removal cost?

Moss removal costs vary depending how long it will take to remove. Roof work is dangerous so it will be expense to have professionally removed. If moss has been growing for several years, chances are good that significant mold has built up under and around it, which means you’ll likely need to hire an experienced professional for a thorough cleaning. If your roof is not steep, moss roof cleaning can be accomplished by someone with no experience whatsoever—all it takes is some elbow grease and time. Keep in mind that moss may grow back quickly if moisture or mold persists in your roof’s shingles.

Is Neptune Clean the Best Pressure Washing Company Near me?

Is Neptune Clean the Best Pressure Washing Company Near me?

pressure washing company near me

Ever wonder “Who’s the best pressure washing company near me”? Neptune Clean Blog has been included in Feedspot’s Top 30 Pressure Washing Blogs on the web. We’re honored Feedspot has taken the time to review our articles and include us in their top 30 Pressure Washing Blogs. We created our blog to deliver meaningful content that helps homeowners understand what it takes to keep their home clean even if that means helping them do it themselves.

Our goal is to provide information that is based in fact without marketing spin designed to help us get new customers. When you type the question, “best pressure washing service near me” into a search engine, we strive to be your 1st choice. If you noticed, our blog post titles mostly begin with a question and the article is written to answer that question in the most effective and factual way possible. Check out one of our informational block post here. If a homeowner learns enough from one of our articles to help them clean their own home, that’s OK with us. We just want them to get great results and be safe.

Who’s The Best Pressure Washing Company Near Me?

Because pressure washers can be dangerous, so one of the most important things we always try to convey about running a pressure washing business is to do no harm to ourselves or our customers’ homes and landscaping. A DIY homeowner needs to understand the same thing.

Water under pressures of up to 4000 PSI can do some real damage to skin. Worst case it can literally cut off someone’s finger if used improperly. The cleaners we use are safe for the environment but if used improperly, they can destroy plants or grass. The last thing we want is for a DIY homeowner to do is have a clean home and dead, brown grass because they used a cleaner in the wrong way.

I feel that’s why Feedspot put Neptune Clean in their top 30. For Neptune Clean, it’s always been about serving people, not about making profits. If you help enough other people get what they want, you’ll always get what you want.

Call Neptune Clean today: 757-384-0411

What Are Pressure Washing Prices for Houses?

What Are Pressure Washing Prices for Houses?

Pressure Washing Costs

Who Has The Best Pressure Washing Prices in Town?

You’d think answering this question would be pretty cut-and-dry but as a small business owner, I’m compelled to tell you the whole story. I think there’s a better question then who has the best pressure washing prices. I think a better question is; who has the best value proposition? Our goal is to deliver a value proposition that exceeds your expectations which is really what you’re after. The highest quality service at an affordable price. To do this, we spent a lot of money before we earn our first dollar.

Neptune Clean’s strategy to deliver the best pressure washing prices in town was on our mind from the earliest stages of business planning. Every decision was based on delivery a high quality value proposition at a fair price while earning a profit. After all, earning a profit for the services we deliver is the reason we went into business. 

Startup costs are a significant one-time expense while operating costs are an on-going financial burden that allows us to be available when you need us. We also invested considerable time learning every aspect of the exterior cleaning industry and the best practices that align with our strategy.

Before you happened upon our sweet Neptune Clean website, we spent a bunch of money and time creating it as well. This is also an ongoing endeavor as we strive to bring you new and meaningful content like this article. Then we had to spend money on advertising so you could find us. Before we can show up at your home and provide top-notch service, we had to get the proper supplies and equipment. Our cleaning technicians must be trained and get paid so there are training and labor costs. Oh, did I forget to mention the cost of licenses and insurance?

Pressure Washing Virginia Beach

All of these things factor into what we have to charge driving up pressure washing prices. Luckily for you, the consumer, I have to compete with all the other pressure washing services in my market and remain competitive. This drives costs down. Also, the longer we’re in business and the Neptune Clean brand becomes more recognizable the less we have to spend on advertising bringing costs down.

Finally, the types of services you need will factor into pricing. It’s easy to clean vinyl siding which will cost less than cleaning gloeocapsa magma (roof algae) from your roof. Roofs are not as accessible; the cleaning solution is more expensive and quite frankly its dangerous. Decks and fences made of wood are harder to clean then most composite materials.

Ok I think you get my point when considering how much for pressure washing services.  According to Home Advisor, the average cost of having your home cleaned by a professional pressure washing service company is $288. Nationally, costs range from $187 to $388. The industry standard for calculating pressure washing costs is based on the square footage of your home. This cost can range between $0.15 – $0.75 per square feet.

Here in Hampton Roads Virginia, you can expect to pay between $0.12 – $0.15 per square feet. The factors that play into fine-tuning the cost down for our area are the homes construction material (siding type), accessibility, waterproofing prep-work, vegetation, and obstructions.

If your home is vinyl sided, easily accessible with limited plants and I don’t have to move anything before cleaning the price will be less. If your home is made of brick with custom made wood doors and brass doorknobs that need waterproof protection, the pre-work will drive the cost higher.

Lastly, technology has help to drive costs down a bit through the use of applications like Google Earth or Zillow. Nine times out of 10 we can provide an estimate for services without ever stepping foot on the property. Zillow provides fairly accurate square footage of your home as long as it was at one time listed on an MLS listing service. Google Earth is fantastic for measure the square footage of roofs or decks or the linear footage of gutters or fences.

Inclosing our discussion on pressure washing prices, we have a minimum charge on the smallest of jobs. This is because we have to cover the costs of showing up at your home. If we didn’t, we would lose money and go out of business. The best way to save is to take advantage of bundling our cleaning services. Have your home, roof, and driveway cleaned at the same time and we’ll through in the cleaning of your lawn furniture for free.

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Neptune Clean: 757-384-0411