random thoughts – Day 1,625 – (Thursday) – in the gutters

The rainy day water feature over the front door should no longer be an issue. The gutters have been cleaned out, sealed, and covered with screens. I was concerned about putting brand new screen caps atop who-knows-how-old-they are gutters, but the salesman had assured me that they would “look like new” after being cleaned and sealed. Maybe they look new on the inside, but the cleaning stopped there and the outside surface of the gutters is filthy and not exactly new looking.

On the bright side, they have a limited lifetime warranty that is transferrable with sale of the home.  Another bright facet to the jewel is that the screens should keep the snow from settling into the gutters, preventing the melt-freeze cycle with big icicles.

And wait, there’s more! The caps didn’t require the removal of the wiring system for the heating system in the gutters. It’s not used often, but when needed, it helps with the ice on the side of the house where the only way to insulate the attic space it to cut big holes in the walls of two rooms. And then, of course, repair said big holes on the walls of two rooms.

Gutter work.

The expense portion was an interesting ride. When the sale person came to measure and provide an estimate, the price was a bit rich for my taste. Like six grand rich. After I didn’t bite, there was an email from a different rep offering to knock the price down by a couple thousand, which still felt too steep. In a surprise maneuver by the company, a different rep reached out recently via text with an even lower price, saying he wants to keep his crews busy, and suddenly we were at a decent number. 

The work order arrived for review on Tuesday. The crew was scheduled for Thursday. When things start moving, they really move. At 4:00 this afternoon they arrived and got busy. One guy in the back yard trimmed the material and laid out sections around the house. Another guy on a ladder worked on the gutters and installed the screens. The view through the sheer curtains in the office window featured the unusual sight of repairs finally being done. The office rumbled and shook as the ladders were moved along the side of the house. 

At 6:25 the work was completed and I was being shown before and after cell phone photos of the interior of the front gutter (which was the worst), the front corner with the new silicone seal (so it shouldn't leak onto the recycle bin anymore), some new brace bracket whatever thingies, and the fresh new screen filter things.

Now I want it to rain to test this expenditure out. I will not miss the front door waterfall. The rush of an item being crossed the too-long household repair list has me wondering what can be tackled next. Dracut Appliance is having a Labor Day sale and the idea of a new refrigerator keep creeping in.