How to Prepare for Hurricanes

Darren Driscoll • May 30, 2013

florida-hurricanesHurricane Season will officially be upon us in just a few short days. Here at Rain Control Gutters we want everyone to be safe, so we thought we’d take a moment to talk about how to prepare for hurricanes.

First, you’ll want to stock up on these items as soon as possible to make sure you’re ready to tackle power outages and other problems that come with hurricanes and other severe storms.

  • 3 gallons of water for each person who lives in your house (a 3 day water supply for the whole family).
  • A 3 day supply of food — look for stuff that doesn’t spoil easily and doesn’t need to be cooked.
  • A manual can opener to open your food.
  • A hand crank radio, cellphone charger, and flashlight. They do sell them as combo items.
  • A first aid kit.
  • A wrench or pliers so you can turn off your utilities.
  • Garbage bags.
  • Moist towelettes.
  • Local maps — on paper! Google Maps is probably not going to be accessible.
  • Cash, hidden somewhere with the other supplies, at least $200 if you can swing it, but even $20 helps. Remember, ATMs may be out.
  • Extra food and water for pets.
  • Sleeping bags.
  • Fire extinguishers.
  • Water purification tablets.

It’s also not a bad idea to keep all of your important documents such as bank information, identity documents, and insurance information in one place, stored in something that’s easy for you to pick up and take with you. A 3 ring binder with plastic inserts works pretty well for this.

You can even take this a step further. Travelers are often advised to take pictures of these documents and upload them to a secure Cloud-based server like Google Docs, Skydrive, or Dropbox. This means that even if you get separated from your documents you’ll be able to access them again as soon as you can get to a computer or a working cell phone.

We’d also urge you to take this time to take some indoor and outdoor photographs of your home. Upload these to the cloud too. This can really help expedite the insurance claims process.

And not to sound self-serving, but if you didn’t do your spring gutter cleaning you’ll want to get that taken care of now. You want gutters that are going to be able to stand up to the heavy downpours that storm season can bring.

Keep a full tank of gas in the car and keep an eye on local news and weather conditions. It’s really important to stay informed during hurricane season!

We are a trusted gutter contractor serving Brandon, New Port Richey, and the rest of the Tampa Bay metro area. Call us for gutter cleaning, gutter repair, or if you need new gutters.

Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best?

By Darren Driscoll • February 17, 2020
Everybody wants to save money on home maintenance costs. We get it. Even if you realize the full extent of everything your gutters do to protect your home from water damage, you probably don’t want to spend an arm and a leg making it happen. So if you’re considering DIY gutter installation, hey, we can hardly blame you. After all, we know, and you know, that you could go grab a 6″ x 10″ aluminum K-style gutter in 10″ lengths for about $15 at your local Home Depot. So how do you know whether you should do that, or whether you [...] Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? is from Rain Control Gutters The post Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What are Galvalume Gutters?

By Darren Driscoll • February 3, 2020
If you’re hoping to find a gutter that can literally last a lifetime then galvalume gutters might appeal to you. These types of gutters can easily last 100 years or more if maintained properly. They’re also less expensive than copper gutters, which is another type of gutter that can last 100 years. Despite their longevity, it’s rare to see galvalume gutters on homes in our service area. In fact, in the 40+ years we’ve been in business we’ve never been asked to put galvalume gutters on a home. They aren’t as aesthetically appealing as copper or even seamless aluminum gutters that [...] What are Galvalume Gutters? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What are Galvalume Gutters? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment?

By Darren Driscoll • January 20, 2020
They gleam in the sunlight and are reminiscent of stately homes and churches from another era. There’s no denying that copper gutters are gorgeous. There are even people who will tell you they’re more eco-friendly than their aluminum counterparts. They’re also the most expensive type of gutter you can buy, so you will want to think carefully before deciding they’re right for you. What are the biggest benefits of copper gutters? There’s no denying copper gutters offer some impressive benefits. They don’t rust. They are algae-proof and fungi-proof. They’re structurally stable and sound. They’re durable and do a good job of standing up to our climate here [...] Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment? is from Rain Control Gutters The post Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)?

By Darren Driscoll • January 3, 2020
Here in the Tampa metro area we get 54″ of torrential rain every year. That means most homeowners need strong, durable gutters capable of holding up to so much water. K-style gutters, also known as “ogee” gutters, are a great solution which allows homeowners to do just that. They hold more water than rounded gutters. They’re also tougher, doing a better job of standing up to water pressure, winds, and other stresses without bending or protruding. Finally, they blend in nicely with any style home so they always look great. It’s for these reasons why we only install K-Style gutters. K-Style Gutters: [...] What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters

By Darren Driscoll • October 4, 2019
Todd Dudkewic has retired after over 40 years of owning and managing Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. He’s sold the business to us, the Driscolls. We’ve always wanted to own a family business, so this is an exciting opportunity for us! We’re Darren and Gwen Driscoll, and we’re excited to step into Todd’s tradition of providing excellent, ethical rain gutter service to the residents of Central Florida. Darren worked with Todd for over a decade before taking this step. Darren comes from a management role at a very successful Master Elite Residential Roofing Company (Sharpe Professional Roofing, LLC). [...] Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters is from Rain Control Gutters The post Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home

By Darren Driscoll • June 29, 2019
When you’re gearing up to sell your home you usually don’t want to put too much money into it. After all, you won’t be around to enjoy it. But putting money into things that can make your home sell for a lot more is a smart investment. And while most people think about kitchens and bathrooms first, gutter guards are a right choice if you position them correctly (and if you buy the right ones). How Gutter Guards Can Help You Sell Think about it. What’s the number one commodity most people are hurting for? What’s the number one thing that brings people [...] Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home is from Rain Control Gutters The post Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019

By Darren Driscoll • June 1, 2019
You might wonder why on earth a seamless gutter company would publish a list of their competitors, but at Rain Control Gutters, we believe in putting the customer first! Installing seamless aluminum gutters is a major investment in your home, and we know you’ll want to do your research to make sure you’re getting the best service and value. We started a similar list of the best gutter installers in Tampa a few years ago. We got such positive feedback for putting such a list together we thought we’d do it for other cities starting with Odessa, FL. Here are five seamless gutter [...] 5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019 is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019 appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019

By Darren Driscoll • May 28, 2019
On our blog we’ve done a lot of talking about hurricanes. It’s only natural. We help people manage the way weather effects their home. And hurricanes are not only a whole lot of weather, they’re almost a fixture in the Tampa metro area.   This year NOAA predicts a normal hurricane season, with 9 to 15 named storms. 4 to 8 of those could become hurricanes. And they predict at least 2 to 4 major hurricanes.   We’ve gathered a few resources to help people in our service area make it through hurricane season, safe and sound. Some of these resources are elsewhere [...] Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019 is from Rain Control Gutters The post Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019 appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor

By Darren Driscoll • April 30, 2019
Nobody spends a lot of time taking Pinterest photos of their gutters or talking about them on HGTV. But they’re one of the most important parts of your house.   Especially in the Tampa metro area! Our torrential rains are no joke.   Your gutters protect your home. Which means your gutter contractor had best be someone good at his or her job.   But how can you know?   You’ve got to do a little research. Here are some things to look for. 1. A ton of positive reviews. Look, customers aren’t exactly unaware of Google+, Yelp, and Facebook recommendations.   If a gutter company can’t get great reviews, something’s [...] 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim?

By Darren Driscoll • March 30, 2019
Water damage is brutal. It can ruin both your home and your belongings. It can leave behind mold, an even more destructive force. And if you’re not mitigating your water damage risk because you think insurance will cover everything, you may be in for a rude awakening. Insurance is for emergencies. Homeowner’s insurance typically covers things like tree limbs falling and tearing a hole in your roof, or tornadoes ripping the shingles away. It doesn’t cover basic maintenance failures, or even, always, the results of those maintenance failures. “If the damage is not sudden or accidental, but instead is the result of a [...] What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
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