It’s no secret that few obstacles chal-lenge the general integrity of buildings more aggressively than moisture. Consequently, water that consistently and regularly builds up in gutters due to clogs and the accumulation of debris will not only prevent the free flow of water from properties, it can also: Create conditions that invite insects, vermin and other pests to feed and nest Increase storm water runoff leading to overflows that cause landscaping ero-sion Cause roof water overflows that may eventually cause foundation cracking and failures Produce biological pollutants such as mold and mildew in crawlspaces, dry-wall, sub-floors, carpets and base-ments. Properly maintained and monitored gut-ters can help eliminate favorable conditions for pests, critters and insects. For example, a mesh protective barrier over gutters can keep insects like mosqui-toes from breeding in freestanding water or carpenter ants from building nests in damp, wet wood gutters. Such systems also prevent acorns, twigs and berries from entering the gutter and serving as an open invitation to all forms of critters looking for their next meal and pos-sible pathways to facility interiors. Another consideration is the threat posed to indoor air quality due to the buildup of moisture that can create mold accumula-tions in drywall, sub-floors, carpets and rooftops. Subsequently, quality and enduring gut-ter protection systems have been shown to improve the interior environmental quality of structures by consistently directing water flow away from structures and helping to reduce the penetration of moisture into building envelopes. Other benefits include the ability to effec-tively manage stormwater runoff by helping to evenly distribute the flow of water around building perimeters. As most environmentalists will attest, this is another significant value since stormwa-ter runoff is a major cause of stream, lake, river and ocean pollution. As a result, the installation of certified and proven gutter protection systems should be an ongoing consideration for all facilities combating severe runoff problems and insect and pest infestations as well as concerns about structural damage and the creation of harmful air pollutants. Easily fitted into gutters, protection sys-tems can offer an exceptionally reliable and constant method for channeling rainwater through gutter systems while providing proven protective shields against a broad range of related problems. CM Tim Croll is the manager of business development for FXI Building Products Corporation, an industry leader in the manufac-turing of gutter protection systems including Leaf Defier®, Leaf Defier® XL, and Safe Flow Wave. For more information, please visit www.leafdefier.com or contact him at 866-795-4770 ext. 228 or [email protected]. Who is the best contract cleaner in your town? It's you, right? And that's a really good start on your pathway to success. Now you need more (and better) new clients! In this one-day seminar, learn how to: Get top position with Google and the major search engines, ensuring customers find you first Find and use free local media exposure Effectively use social media marketing Design valuable coupons that really work Create fantastic print and online advertisements Totally Booked You need to attend... TM UNIVERSITY Residential and Commercial Marketing Techniques that Work. ! www.totallybookeduniversity.com HUGE BONUS! Atlanta Saturday, September 11 Each attendee goes home with a USB flash drive with all types of business building and marketing forms, videos, books, presentations and much more. Dallas Thursday, September 23 Boston Thursday, October 21 Cincinnati Friday, October 29 Seattle Friday, November 19 CleaningProfessor.com [email protected] (740)919-0228 * Also see our listing of IICRC-approved technical seminars. Your instructor is Jeff Cross, senior editor of Cleanfax magazine. [email protected] Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/cleanfax Circle Product Information no. 253 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 41
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