Few trees in Texas are more famous or historically significant as the Treaty Oak in Austin. The Treaty Oak is a live oak tree that is located in the West Line Historic District and is estimated to be more than 500 years old. This tree is the only one of 14 trees that made up the historic Council Oaks Grove. In this grove, Comanche and Tonkawa tribal leaders reportedly met to negotiate various peace treaties long before European settlers arrived in the area. The Treaty Oak's acorns were used by tribal women to prepare a concoction that they believed would protect their tribesmen in battle.
The Treaty Oak's lengthy history also includes negotiations between Stephen F. Austin and local tribes as he tried to protect new settlers from raids. Some people even say that Sam Houston lounged under the tree after he was kicked out of the governor's seat when the American Civil War started.
This may be the most famous tree throughout the region, but the Austin area is filled with young as well as mature trees. In addition to live oaks, the area has cedar elms, bur oaks, redbud, lacebark elms, and many other native species. There is a good chance that at least a few of these native trees are thriving in your yard, or perhaps you have exotic or non-native trees providing much-needed shade for your lawn, patio, and home. They can bolster property value and curb appeal, keep energy bills more manageable and more.
While Austin is not known for having four distinctive seasons, Austinites with trees in their yards know that leaves can drop in large quantities in October and November. Most of these leaves may drop onto your lawn, but others may fall or blow into your gutters. Because of this, gutter cleaning is a regular chore that requires your attention each fall, and it may be needed at other times of the year as well. Gutter cleaning in Austin is a major undertaking, and you do not want to tackle this chore on your own.
Why You Need to Clean Your Gutters Regularly
The purpose of gutters is to collect rainwater as well as melted snow and ice as it runs off of the roof. The gutters channel this moisture away from a home in a controlled manner. Without gutters, the water would fall straight down off of the roof. If this happens, moisture may cause the siding to rot, stucco to stain and other significant repair problems to develop.
Also, many homes in Austin are built on concrete slab foundations. Excessive moisture around the foundation can cause erosion and may eventually lead to significant foundation problems. Keeping excessive moisture away from the foundation is vital. Installing gutters and maintaining them properly are simple steps that can protect your home from these types of damages.
However, water that runs off of the roof may carry leaves, twigs and other items. In some cases, squirrels, birds and other critters may make a home in the gutters during dry spells. The small pellets from asphalt shingles could accumulate in the gutters as well. Even debris that blows into the gutters from your neighbors' homes can be problematic. These and other types of debris can clog the gutters and make them ineffective. When gutters are clogged, water will build up in them and pour over the sides rather than be channeled through the downspout. Regular gutter cleaning in Austin is essential, and it is a task that you may not want to tackle yourself.
Why Professional Gutter Cleaning Is Preferred
Gutter cleaning seems like a simple enough task to do on your own at first glance. You just stand on a ladder and pull leaves and other debris out of the gutters. However, the ladder will need to be moved every few feet, and you will need to climb up and down the ladder each time it is moved. If you have a multi-story home or if your house is built on one of Austin's many beautiful hills or cliffs, reaching the gutters can be downright dangerous.
You typically need to use a trowel or other scooping tool to pull the gunk out of the gutters. You also may need to carry a trash bag up the ladder with you to collect the debris rather than to just toss it down onto your yard. Now that you understand what it takes to clean your gutters, you can see that this is a tedious, exhausting and potentially dangerous task that is best left to the professionals.
When to Schedule Gutter Cleaning Service
When you schedule gutter cleaning service for your Austin-area home, you can free up your schedule to enjoy your free time in other ways. The best times to schedule gutter cleaning service is after most of the leaves have fallen off of your trees in the fall, and some homes may benefit from an additional spring gutter cleaning session. Keep in mind that some local trees, like the live oak, lose their leaves in the spring rather than in the fall.
While the professionals clean your gutters, you can take advantage of Austin's beautiful spring or fall weather conditions. These are perfect months for relaxing in the backyard with friends, heading to one of the area's famous golf courses, enjoying a picnic or a jog at Zilker Park and more. With so much going in Austin during these months, why would you spend your time doing home maintenance work?
How We Can Help
Gutter cleaning is a vital part of home maintenance in Austin, so you understandably do not want to let just anyone complete the work for you. You need to find a reliable, trusted contractor or service provider who will show up on time and do quality work. We understand how important it is to schedule gutter cleaning service with the right company, and we can help you to schedule an appointment to get this work completed as soon as possible.
