Our eavestrough was in sad shape. It looked pretty bad. The house dates back to about 1985-ish. We had new shingles put on awhile back. Someone had painted the eaves twice, over the base coat of dark brown. Now it is all flaking. Painting eavestrough doesn't work with Ontario's freeze/thaw temperatures.
Oct. 2020 – I had to repair the downspout, during a pandemic. It was a common problem when we got big dumps of rain. We had 🎥55 mm one day one year!
What has been happening in the big storms is the eavestrough has pulled away from the fascia, and the water has been running in under the roof, and dripping in the Muskoka Room. This is not good.
We decided to get some quotes. We phoned a couple of companies, and didn't hear back. Finally, one company returned us a quote, but didn't specify that they would remove the old eaves, nor did they actually inspect the house. Company #1 quoted us on 154', based on viewing the house via Google or something. Thing is, we don't have eavestrough on either end of the house.
No mention of:
- Remove and take away old stuff
- Possibly new fascia
- Warranty period
- Aluminum($2/') vs. vinyl ($1/foot but we have woodpeckers and squirrels!)
- The fancy stuff is much more expensive.
Looking at the companies online, they only seem to offer the really expensive stuff with the gutter guards. That just won't work with the heavy storms we get. It overflows as it is. Plus, they are very expensive.
Company #2 – we haven't heard from. It's been a week.
Friday, April 28th
Company #3 – referred to us from our local Facebook group, don't seem to offer anything but the ones with gutter guards. He finally phoned and will visit Monday or Tuesday.
Company #4 – I ended up registering online for Rona. They can give me an estimate, and someone to install it. It's not a complicated job! They emailed in response Fri., April 29th, saying they would be back in touch within two business days. It's Tuesday, May 3rd, so far nothing.
May 2nd
Company #3 – He visited May 2nd, it was raining at his job site and he'd stopped work. He will give us a quote. He is booked until July. He won't replace the fascia. He's been doing this since 1974!
May 3rd – JB visited the place in town,
Company #2, Above the Rest, and they said they do fascia. No quote yet, though.
May 4 – Company #3: estimate from Dobbie, no removal of the old stuff, or replacing fascia. He was booked for weeks.
May 6 – Company #4: Rona, in Carleton Place. Their confirmation email says they will get back to me in 2 working days! I contacted them online 7 days ago. Nada.
Company #2, Above the Rest, visited Friday at 4:30. They measured 146'. The owner came, and took all our notes about the house, the colour of the new stuff, vinyl or aluminum.
May 18th – Company #2, Above the Rest, gave us a quote. It was competitive pricing.
– Coincidentally, Rona emailed. It could be several weeks before they can send someone to measure for a quote. Also, they charge $85 for a quote. They don't need our business!
June 17th – a phone message from Above the Rest, can they come Saturday, June 18th?
June 18th – It was the day. I saw a man walk by the house at 9 a.m., wearing a warm hoodie, looking up at the eaves. It was a cold morning, but we were in business.
We had our lights flicker, there were quite a few people without power from the winds that ripped through the province. We were happy to keep out power, as they needed it for their tools.
They began in the front, and there was much action. The 'Red Ripper' ripped it off the fascia, which was fine, BTW.
The cats were not impressed. Cinnamon first went downstairs. Nutmeg stood looking through the front door at the strangers standing there. She moved to the cat tower. Then, when the crew moved to the backyard, ladders and all, Cinn perched himself on the second from the top step leading down to the basement.
Nutmeg disappeared. This is why! The Red Ripper was working on the roof. It's quite the tool.
eavestrough removal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Ta da!
By 2:30 they were done, my plants hanging back in place. I'll have to wash down the railings, again, non-mental note. The cats had calmed down and had a bite to eat. We have a new bill to pay, but it is a relief to get this done!
Rainstorms
There were issues. It leaked on the back deck. They came and fixed that. Then there is the front. We've still issues with the new eavestrough. It sags in the middle, right over the door. I've emailed them with videos.
July 24
eavestrough 3.0 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
eavestrough 3.1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
UPDATE: July 25
They came and fixed the eavestrough, again. (I'd sent a video.) They seemed grumpy, dropping the F* bomb on top of our eaves as they undid screws and changed the level of the eaves. Left without saying they were done. They warned me of the debris in the gutter, but it wasn't much truthfully. The angle of the trough needs to go from the high point to this, the drain point over the downspout.
This is the fascia I thought they should have replaced. They told me they hadn't needed to during the original installation. We shall have to see what the next big dump of rain brings.
eavestrough fascia from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
UPDATE: July 30
Before and after:
I think they are as irritated with this job as we are. They turned up, didn't ring the doorbell. They worked. They left. No face-to-face contact at all. We'll need a storm to let us know if it works. I am glad they came back. It's been such a trial.
