By Jess Noll
When they do their job properly, gutters are things that ought not to be noticed, operating neatly and discretely. But just because they’re out of sight, doesn’t mean they should be ignored by homeowners.
Water can damage the foundation of a home if it collects and sits in the ground, causing mold and dankness. If it is not directed away from the roof, water can seep into the siding of the house and rot the walls, weakening them from within and causing water spots and other damage.
That’s where Wayne Barnett and Paul Iski, owners of Gutter Services, can assist. The partners run a professional gutter cleaning service out of two locations, in Lawrenceville and Bordentown. They service homes in the Mercer County area.
Barnett and Iski provide a variety of year-round services, from brand new installation to repairs and replacements. They work year round because of the unpredictable nature of the service.
Depending on the number of trees at a site, the size of the home and the weather, debris can collect faster or slower for different homes, Barnett said. A gutter needs cleaning when a look inside reveals mud and twigs.
More obvious problems would be visible damage to gutters or collection of debris that causes the gutter to bow downwards in the center, Barnett said. Twigs, leaves, acorns and shingle dust — the tiny sand-like granules found on roof shingles — can all collect in gutters to form a gelatinous mud, preventing water from flowing down and away from the house. Each home requires a different amount of maintenance.
“Gutters ought to be serviced at least once a year,” Barnett said.
Sometimes the unexpected will also lead to a call. Recently Barnett had to replace the facia board — the board attached to the house to which the gutter is mounted — and repair the gutter where a squirrel had chewed a hole to make a nest.
Gutter Services will tend to any homes of any size, Barnett said. They provide full installations and sell new gutters, partial installations and repairs, and varying types of covers to prevent debris collection. They can direct water away from the home however the customer would like; extensions can be provided and water irrigation systems can be set up.
Barnett prides himself on prompt service and human contact. Customers hear a voice on the other end of the phone when they call, not an answering machine. He always has his cell phone with him. He and Iski respond to emergency calls and will do same-day assistance, if possible.
“We want to have a person be happy to recommend us,” Barnett said, and indeed word of mouth has been an effective way to keep Gutter Services active in Mercer County.
Barnett is a longtime resident of Mercer County who lives and works in Lawrenceville.
He previously worked in sales management for CM Paula and Hallmark, and after retiring worked for Lowe’s in assembly for a time before Gutter Services.
Iski hails from Bordentown and has worked in gutter cleaning and repair services for 20 years prior to starting Gutter Services in April 2008.
For more information, call (609) 947-4667 or go online to www.gutterservicesofnj.com.
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