DMR Comparison Web Page

<body background="../tn/ivy.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" bgcolor="#336600" text="#00FFFF" link="#FFFF00" vlink="#00FF00" alink="#FF00FF" style="font-size: 14pt"> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="10" width="750" bordercolorlight="#0000FF" cellpadding="5" bordercolordark="#000080" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="300" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top" align="center"> <p align="center"><a href="http://dmr-gutters.com/pro.htm" target="_top"> <img src="../tn/dmrsmall.jpg" start="fileopen" align="center" border="0" hspace="" vspace width="300" height="152"></a></p> </td> <td align="center" background="../tn/clouds.jpg" bgcolor="#33CCFF" valign="middle"> <p align="center"><b><i> <font size="5" color="#000080"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; color: navy; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> Low-maintenance & No-clog Gutters</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; color: navy; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span> Comparison Page</font></i></b></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="center"><font color="#00FF00" size="3"><b>Updated 5-27-2007</b></font></p> <p align="center"> <a href="cont.htm"> <img border="3" src="../tn/email2.jpg" width="500" height="135"></a></p> <div align="center"> <table border="0" width="750" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <p align="justify"> <b><font size="4" color="#FF0000">Warning:</font><font size="5"><br> </font>There are lots of clever gimmicks out there. Metal or plastic covers for gutters are over priced accessories that don't even work for long (details below). You could have copper gutters hung with Heavy duty hidden hangers & stainless steel screws, covered with our easy access hinged leaf screen with double size outlets for what they will charge you! Copper is worth 500% more than aluminum. Which would you rather have on your house?</b></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <font size="1" color="#000000">.</font><p><font size="1" color="#000000">.</font></p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="1" width="670" background="../tn/clouds.jpg" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"> <tr> <td width="100%" align="center" colspan="2" bgcolor="#000080"><b> <font size="4"> Bookmark links to common questions:</font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font size="2"><a target="_self" href="#Why"> Why Do I Need No-Clog Gutters?</a></font></b></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b> <font size="2"><a href="#DMR" target="_self"> DMR No-clog Gutter Advantages?</a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"> <font size="2"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> <a target="_self" href="#alternatives">Alternatives to LeafGuard®?</a></span></font></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font color="#00FF00" size="2"> <a href="#copper" target="_self">What about Copper Gutters?</a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><a href="#Filter"><font size="2">Leaf Filter?</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font color="#00FF00" size="2"> <a target="_self" href="#Alter">Replacement Alternatives?</a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><a href="#Sponges"><font size="2">Gutter Filtering Sponges?</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font color="#00FF00" size="2"><a href="#integrity" target="_self"> Our Proof of Our Integrity </a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font color="#00FF00" size="2"><a href="#work" target="_self"> Do Gutter Hoods Work?</a></font></b></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font size="2"><a href="qs.htm"> Advantages of DMR's Basic Gutters</a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><a href="#clog" target="_self"> <font size="2"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> No-clog Gutter Comparison</span></font></a></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><a href="referrals.htm"> <font size="2">Our Reputation</font></a></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font color="#00FF00" size="2"> <a href="#costs" target="_self">High Costs of No-clog Alternatives</a></font></b></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><a href="http://mind-temple.com/ethics.htm" target="_self"> <font size="2">Our ideas on Ethical Responsibility</font></a></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><a href="#issues" target="_self"> <font size="2"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> Problems w/LeafGuard® Gutters</span></font></a></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font size="2"><a href="custom.htm"> Custom Work</a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font color="#00FF00" size="2"> <a href="#screens" target="_self">Screens V. Hoods</a></font></b></td> <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font size="2"> <a target="_self" href="cont.htm">Our Contact & Address Info</a></font></b></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="left"> </p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" width="750" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <b><font size="2" color="#FF0000">Note</font><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2">: </font></b></span> <font size="2"><b><font color="#FFFFFF"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <a target="_self" href="http://www.gutterguard.net/index.html"> <font color="#FFFF00">Dixie Gutter Guard</font></a></span>®<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> (out of business 11-05), </span></font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <a href="http://www.kguard.com/"><font color="#FFFF00">K-</font></a></span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><a target="_self" href="http://www.kguard.com/"><font color="#FFFF00">Guard</font></a></span>®<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </span> <a target="_self" href="http://www.gutterhelmet.com/">Gutter Helmet</a>®<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </span></font> </b><em style="font-style: normal"> <strong><a href="http://www.leaffilter.com"> LeafFilter™</a></strong></em><b><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </span></font> <a href="http://www.gutterfilter.com/"><font color="#FFFF00">Gutter Filter</font></a><font color="#FFFFFF">®<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </span> </font> <a href="http://www.thegutterbrush.com"><font color="#FFFF00">The Gutter Brush</font></a><font color="#FFFFFF">®<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </span> </font><a href="http://www.gutterloveit.com/"> <font color="#FFFF00">Gutter Love It!</font></a><font color="#FFFFFF">®<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </span> </font> <a href="http://www.brookstone.com" target="_self"> <font color="#FFFF00">Brookstone</font></a> </b></font><b><font color="#FFFFFF"><font size="2"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> and </span><a href="http://www.leafguard.com" target="_self"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <font color="#FFFF00"> LeafGuard</font></span></a>®</font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><font size="2"> are registered trademarks.  We have no connection to these companies or their franchises.   Keep in mind that even though we try to be as unbiased and accurate here as possible, these are only our personal observations and conclusions.  We have been in contact with National LeafGuard® head office and their legal department for approval of this web page and it's accuracy since early 2003.  You can click on their names above to link to their official web sites to hear their side of the story.  Also on our <a href="../links.htm">Site Map</a> page we link to 40 different competitor's company web sites who all claim to have the best clog free gutter system on the planet.  We are that confident about what we have to offer.</font></span></font></b></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="left"> </p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="1" width="750" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td width="100%" bgcolor="#003300"> <p align="center"><span style="background-color: #FFFF00; font-weight:700"> <font size="4" color="#800000"> <a name="Why">Why</a> should I spend the extra money for clog-free gutters you ask? </font></span></p> <b> </center> </b> <p align="left"><b>Assuming this is an issue for you and these low-maintenance products truly work as they claim:</b></p> <ol> <li> <p align="left"><b>The hassle and dread you save from taking the time and energy to do-it-yourself, or to find someone you can trust to hire them to access your roof and clean out your gutters.</b></p> </li> <li> <p align="left"><b>There is the obvious money saved from the regular servicing required, ie: labor or the cost of ladders, gloves, bucket, disposal of the stinky debris.</b></p> </li> <li> <p align="left"><b>The best reason is the risk of a serious injury you or a person you hire can suffer from a fall or some other injury.  No one wants to be climbing near the power line to the house.</b></p> </li> <li> <p align="left"><b>Less scratches and dents on the gutters from leaning <font color="#FFFFFF">(or banging)</font> ladders against them hundreds of time over the life of the gutters.</b></p> </li> <li> <p align="left"><b>Unless your roof is too steep, it is easier and quicker to clean the gutters from on the roof, so there is the money you save on premature roofing wear from all the extra traffic on your roof to access your gutters may cost you more than the most expensive gutter protection products.  The less traffic on your roof the better.</b></p> </li> </ol> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" align="justify"> <p align="center"><strong><u><font color="#00FF00"><a name="alternatives"> <font size="4">Alternatives</font></a><font size="4"> to </font> </font></u></strong><font size="4"><b><u> <font color="#00FF00">LeafGuard</font></u></b></font><font color="#00FF00"><b><u><font size="4"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®</span> </font> </u></b></font></p> <p><u><b><font size="4">Metal & Plastic Hoods Over Gutters:<br> </font></b></u><strong><a href="../im/LeafGuard.jpg" target="_self"> <img border="3" src="../tn/LeafGuard.jpg" hspace="10" align="right" width="300" height="219"></a></strong><b>There is <font color="#FFFF99"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> K-Guard® </span></font>and <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <font color="#FFFF99"> Dixie Gutter Guard®</font></span> gutter systems that are superior to <font color="#FFFF99"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span></font>, but we do not seem to have these<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> franchises here in the </span>Portland, Oregon Metro area yet. There is also several dozens different <font color="#FFFF99"> Gutter Helmet<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®</span></font> type products made in aluminum or plastic sold retail and wholesale, that would be mounted over your existing gutters or rubber foam pads to fill the space in your gutters allowing the water only to pass through. We could buy and install them too, but they do not work any better than <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <font color="#FFFF99">LeafGuard®</font></span> and they all seem to cost a fortune as well. Their wholesale cost is more than we charge our clients for installing new aluminum gutters. Few clients are willing to pay twice as much for gutter covers than the cost of the new gutters, so they are impractical.</b></p> <p><b>Most of these alternatives look very strange on a house. Some of these have to be mounted over the bottom rows of roofing shingles.  Or else the gutter has to re-mounted 6" lower to the roof edge.  That second option is rarely possible and drastically raises the cost of installation, since most gutters cannot be removed without damaging them.  Most houses we have worked on do not have a tall enough fascia board or rafter tail to drop the gutter that low.  We have run out of attachment with just trying to get a slight grade to our gutter installations, so they will not have any standing water in them.</b></p> <p> <b>We are </b> <font color="#CCCCFF"><b>not</b></font><b> interested in becoming a distributor to sell any sort of hood system, because even if they were to have a better design concept than the horribly flawed <font size="3" color="#FFCC99"><a href="../ag/im/Surcamp7.jpg"> <img border="3" src="../ag/tn/Surcamp7.jpg" width="300" height="390" align="right" hspace="10"></a></font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard® gutter design</span>, it still has the same inherent flaws that all the hooded gutter systems have, where they could not be warranted more than a year to continue and accept rain water into the gutters.  They may not let the gutter fill up and clog, but you will still end up with a water fall across the gutter line.  None of these hooded options are viable, and are a huge waste of money, as described in more detail below.</b><p> <b>One of the worst issues is how they make a perfect dark environment inside the gutter to grow thick moss in the gutters under these hoods and cause a failure. We have a photo of an open screened gutter we installed a decade earlier that had grown a 3" thick bed of moss under the galvanized steel screens seen here.</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" align="justify"> <font color="#00FF00"><u><font size="4"><b>Leaf</b></font><b><font size="4"> <a name="Filter">Filter</a></font></b></u></font><font size="4" color="#00FF00"><b><u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®?</span></u></b></font><p> <b>Here is one good recent example of the failure in only a couple years of these type of gutter debris protection devices and $2k lost:</b></p><b> <span class="EUDORAHEADER"><font color="#FFCC99">From: "Tom M" <tom@branchdist.c*m><br> To: <bid@dmr-gutters.c*m><br> Subject: Bid for custom no-rust sheet metal Gutter fabrication<br> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 13:35:41 -0800<br>  </font></span></b><div> <meta content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)" name="Generator"> <O:SMARTTAGTYPE name="Street" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><O:SMARTTAGTYPE name="address" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /> <style> st1\<img src="file://C:\Text\Emoticons\-!3a!2a Kiss.png" align=absmiddle alt=":*" eudora=emoticon>{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </style> <style>  </style> <div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" color="#FFCC99">I need to replace my no clog gutter system that I had put on my house 2 years ago.  You are right, they don’t clog, and they don’t accept rain either.  I am local and live at <ST1:STREET w:st="on"><ST1:ADDRESS w:st="on">7004 SW 78<sup>th</sup> Avenue</ST1:ADDRESS></ST1:STREET>.  I understand that the process takes some time.  I would like to get it started.</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" size="3"> <span style="color: #FFCC99; font-weight:700">The system I was gullible enough to buy is called Leaf Filter, a membrane system.  Right after they installed it, it worked perfectly, in summer, before any debris came out of the trees that we have on our property. As soon as the winter storms came, debris covered the membrane, and the water cascaded off the roof instead of going into the gutter.  The only way to make that system work would be to get up on the roof every couple of days, and sweep off the membrane cover. It had a short time period to complain, and initially it seemed OK.  From memory, I think the charge was around $2,000.  The company that makes leaf filter is not local, but they had a local roofer install it.  At this point, after 2 winters I just want a better solution.  We had to take out a couple of newly installed plants along the side of the house because the waterfall destroyed them.  I’d like to be able to re-landscape the area under the gutters this summer/fall.<O:P></O:P></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" color="#FFCC99"><O:P> </O:P></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#FFCC99"><b>Tom McDermott</b><O:P></O:P></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#FFCC99"> <b>Tom2047@hotmail.c*m </b> <O:P></O:P></font></div> </div> <p><u><b><font color="#FF0000">Our Response:</font></b></u></p> <p><b><font color="#CCCCFF">Greetings Tom,<br> It was nice to meet you and your wife tonight in formalizing the contract to work for you to replace your gutter system. Here is what I found this evening after you left:<br> <br> First off; your roof was more littered with debris than I have hardly ever seen, let alone been up on. When I return to replace the gutters, would you like to hire us to clean off your roof? You can read about this sort of service on our web site at: </font> <font color="#000080"> <a eudora="autourl" href="../rf/moss.htm"> <font color="#FFFF00">http://dmr-gutters.com/pg/moss.htm<br> </font> <font color="#CCCCFF"> <br> </font></a></font><font color="#CCCCFF">I managed to remove all the screens off the plastic grates they installed, aside from the one gutter over the garage gutter. I left that on in tact for a better time where I can get some good photos of this issue. And yes, they are simply screens. They could be aluminum, but I think they are stainless steel screens with such a tight weave mesh that it is no wonder they were not letting water pass. Our tea strainers do not have that tight of a weave (no joke). I left a sample section rolled up near the front door.<br> <br> I brought a section inside our house to get a better look at it. It would not hardly pass water with all the mildew build-up on it. I used dish soap and hot water to scrub it vigorously and even scratched at it with my finger nails, but could not seem to clean it out. I finally slapped it as hard as I could on the edge of the sink a dozen or so times, getting more and more out of the weave. It mangled the screen working it so hard. I flattened it out and it now will pass water, but so slowly that more water runs over the sides than through it. Feel free to work over the sample I left there to verify this, if your so inclined.<br> <br> In my experience even window screen has a far too tight a weave for use as a gutter screen for any practical use. This 'membrane' was insane. If they had used an actual pure copper mesh, it at least would not have mildewed so badly. But there is no excuse for the use of such a tight weave screen. I assume the roofer had used only their parts? It seems consistent with what they report on their web site.<br> <br> The plastic grate under the screen has at least 100 times as much open area for water to pass through, yet will hold out the large debris for the time being until I can replace all your gutters. It will also clog over time. I was going to remove them as well, but it would require tools to remove the thin screws holding them on the aluminum brackets under them. It will certainly add a degree of difficulty to remove all the gutters when I will need to. I will most likely need to add a charge for that removal.</font></b></p> <p><b><font color="#CCCCFF">Those brackets are standard strength hidden hangers. The roofer was suppose to remove all the nail spikes and use the hidden hangers to remount the gutters, but he clearly did not follow the instructions and just put the hangers in the gutter loosely.<br> <br> You do have cheap steel gutters, so no big loss there. You will soon have rust free aluminum gutters on your house with all stainless steel screws.<br> <br> Need less to say, this will make for an interesting report on our web site.</font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" align="justify"> <u><b><font size="4" color="#00FF00">Gutter Filtering <a name="Sponges">Sponges</a>:</font></b></u><p> <b>This is one of the more outrageous products to come out, and the scary part is how there are now a dozen different companies producing these types of products to unsuspecting homeowners is the <a href="http://www.gutterfilter.com/"><font color="#FFFF00">Gutter Filter</font></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®</span> insert sponge, and several other variation of this concept. There is also a large pipe cleaner to go inside the gutter called a <a href="http://www.thegutterbrush.com"><font color="#FFFF00">The Gutter Brush</font></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®. And by </span> <a href="http://www.gutterloveit.com/"> <font color="#FFFF00">Gutter Love It!</font></a>®<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> you can get a simple 3" plastic perforated flex hose found at any local hardware store, but molded in a light gray plastic to fool you that it is different.</span></b><p> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> Again, they are at least twice the cost of the heavy duty hinged screens we install, but that cost does not cover installation. For the first 5 years they may be pretty effective and trouble free, just long enough to get them past any sort of warranty period or a chance to contact the company who sold it to you for a refund, assuming they are still in business and there was no fine print absolving them of any liability. That again would not cover a re-installation.</span><p> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> It does not take a genius to understand how the debris that will pile over the filter and will decompose. Working it's way into the pours of that filter and cause a complete obstruction and eventually not let water pass. But worse off  is how this will make for a wonderfully fertile garden planter inside your gutters and the dark environment under it will breed moss wonderfully. They are making claims of a fungicide added to the product, but I do not trust these claims. If it is true, it is not something that could last more than the first 5 years. They will then be rather heavy and hard to remove out of the gutters being full of suspended mud and root structures inside the filter.</span><p> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><u><b> <font size="4" color="#00FF00">No-clog Warranties:</font></b></u></span><p> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><b>We don't put much stock in warranties for several reasons:<br> (a) will the company under that same name still be in business after you have trouble?<br> (b) will they actually stand by their warranty, or was there some fine print that you did not happen to catch, that is their loop hole out of any actual liability.<br> (c) If a, b, and c did not stop you, how do you prove to the company the gutter is clogged?<br> (d) if you can prove it, do you then need to have the debris filter device removed and shipped back to the company for further proof and refund?<br> (e) lets say you do all this, will the refund be prorated against their no-clog warranty policy time limits? (20 year warranty - 10 years = 1/2 refund)<br> (f) Would that refund be higher than what you paid to compensate for inflation over the years?<br> (g) would that refund cover the cost of the original installation and then the removal and shipping costs?<br> (h) More importantly they are banking on the fact that most clients will you have the time and energy to deal with all that?</b></span><p> <b> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman">We</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> have not found any clients who are willing to pay more for a gutter protection product than the gutter it's self, let alone something that will only last a short while and become a bio hazard. We trust you will see the logic here and agree. So who is buying these bogus products? Were they just victims of a slick high pressure sales program?</span></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><b><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00">Do Gutter Hoods Even <a name="work">Work</a>?</font></u></b></p> <p> <b>Here is another personal story we were involved in several years ago:</b></p> <p> <b>We had a client named Mr. Bronson, who ordered some covers for over his gutters from the <a href="http://www.brookstone.com" target="_self"> <font color="#FFFF00">Brookstone</font></a> catalog that use the same principle as <font color="#FFFF99"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span></font>.  He had a steep roof on a two story house, so he had us install them for him.  Within one year he called us back and paid us to remove them and install the hinged leaf screens that we recommend.  He reported that with the other metal covers, pine needles would get stuck in the small opening, where the water is to seep in.  This blockage would encourage the water to pour off the end and caused a water fall over places like his doorway <font color="#FFFFFF">(no joke)</font>.  Debris will quickly get stuck in the crevice meant for the water to seep into the gutter.  Long before it decomposes and turns to mud to create a complete blockage, it will cause a waterfall over the edge of the gutter <font color="#FFFFFF">(see more info below)</font>.  Those hoods do not allow for inspection of debris build-up in the gutter, let alone any way for simple access to clean it out.</b></p> <p align="center"><b><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00">But What About Their Warranty?</font></u></b></p> <p><b>(a) They may guarantee that the gutters will not clog, but that does not even suggest that the gutters will continue to accept the rain water.  <br> (b) These hood designs have also been known to be a prime spot for moss growth and bees nests, which will cause a blockage inside the gutters that will be very hard to clear out if not impossible.  Even if it is not written into the fine print, a salesperson fielding the call may try to get out of their responsibility; saying it is an abnormal obstruction that is not related to fallen debris issues, and most clients would not have a defense.  Primarily they play the numbers game, knowing how most clients will never bother to call them about a problem, and simply suffer their loss to pay to have those expensive gutters that failed replaced with something different.<br> (c) Even if you were to fight through the warranty process, those warranties will not allow for frustrated homeowners to choose the option to have the obstructed gutter replace with a standard type of gutter, let alone with a different type of no-clog gutter.  They are stuck with the same system.</b></p> <p align="center"> <b> <img src="../tn/patent.jpg" width="306" height="205" align="right" hspace="10"><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00">New Idea? </font></u></b> <p> <b>What didn’t work in 1908 doesn’t work today: <font color="#FFFF99">K-Guard<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®</span></font> (Knudson Roll Forming) promotes itself as the pioneer in no-clog gutters.  But that title actually belonged to Mr. George Cassens who  had patented the two-piece reverse-curved gutter system in 1908. What Mr. Cassens designed may have been innovative in 1908 on paper, but his design was just as ineffective as today’s imitations and did not catch on back then either.</b><p> <b>Note: info and diagram credit goes to </b> <em style="font-style: normal"><strong> <a href="http://www.leaffilter.com"><font color="#FFFF00">LeafFilter™</font></a></strong></em></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><font size="4" color="#00FF00"><b><u>The <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> No-<a name="clog">clog</a></span> Type Gutter Comparison To Similar Companies</u></b></font></p> <p> <b> <font color="#FFFF99"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> K-Guard®</span></font> may be the best known no-clog gutters and the only competition to the no-clog warranty we provide.  We have a great respect for <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> Dixie Gutter Guard® </span>for their improved design and professional approach to marketing, if they were still in business.  But sadly <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard® </span> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> seems to be the only one of these who are local to our Portland Oregon Metro area, so that is the company we make most of our references to on this web page. </span>They do have a clever design concept that easily swindles many clients willing to pay a small fortune for aluminum gutters.  I do agree that they will work OK for a while in a debris free environment.  But in that situation, you have no need for leaf protection with your gutter system.</b></p> <p><b><font color="#CCCCFF">They will lay claim that their gutter system will never clog over and over again, but the problem is that they cannot guarantee that their gutter system will continue to accept rain water!  There in lies the proof that these gutter systems simply will not work.</font></b></p> <p><b>Most other web site who counter their effectiveness, report that those gutters will still fill with debris.  But my contention is about all the debris that does not go into the gutter and gets stuck in the narrow channel for the water to enter.  You may not end up with an over flowing gutter, but instead you will have a nice decorative and soothing water fall on the edge of your roof line here and there every where that debris gets stuck in that channel made for the water entry. In that case you might as well not have gutters on your house.</b></p> <p><b>There are dozens of other companies out there who also sell a similar type of sheet metal or plastic hoods to go over your existing gutters <font color="#FFFFFF">(Gutter Helmet<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">®</span> being one of the best marketed)</font>, but although they do perhaps leave the gutter more accessible for cleaning <font color="#FFFFFF"> (unlike <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span></font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><font color="#FFFFFF"> gutters)</font></span>.  I would say that they still have inherent problems that are quick to fail.  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> With some of these gutter hoods it is necessary to reposition the gutter a few inches lower <font color="#FFFFFF">(if possible)</font> to get it to look and work right.  After all that work and cost, you might as well have bought all new gutters anyway.</span></b></p> <p> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> As opposed to what is over the gutter, we find that good use of a level when installing gutters; making sure they have a slight grade towards the drainage outlet to be much more important.   Also to install a larger outlet opening is far more effective and a very important detail that most gutter contractors choose to ignore.  We also feel that the cost should not be so unreasonable for these details.  We found a strong hinged screen cover that has three simple to install clips to hold it in place, which also act as the hinge; allowing easiest access when needed.  You can also easily see into the gutter to detect when there is a problem.  These are far wiser and have a smaller price tag.  There is no perfect solution to debris, or the moss that will grow in a gutters, but the smartest thing to do is find the best balance between looks, function, durability, and cost.</span></p> <p><b>We may not offer an unrealistic life time warranty on our clog proof gutters like they do, but if it remains a good trouble free system for those those 25 years, that is certainly all the proof you could need that it is the best system around. It is not likely to cause you sudden trouble after that time expires.  I suspect that these other companies have no intension to stick around to see how well their systems hold up.  It is a common trick companies play in unsuspecting clients, just like the shell game.  All they would need to do is change their name and contact info and the vanishing act is complete.</b></p> <p><b>Quotes for our solid copper gutters, stainless steel screw attachment, with matching copper leaf screens have come in at more than $1k less than <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> some LeafGuard®</span> quotes for their aluminum gutters as recent as late 2006 <font color="#FFFFFF">(no joke)</font>. Copper costs gutter contractors 5 times the cost of aluminum, which is more expensive than steel. Even if <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> a LeafGuard® system was as good as ours</span>, which would you rather have? Which would give your house the better resale value?</b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00"><b>The High <a name="costs"> Costs</a> of those No-clog Alternatives:</b></font></u></p> <p><b>Most of these options are horribly expensive.  Even if they worked as well as claimed, we feel that cost and function needs to be carefully weighed to be reasonable. Most of these options are not only more expensive that the cost of the gutter it's self, but even more expensive than our retail cost for our copper gutters. What is even more important is what is under the gutters. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard® hinges their warranty on the use of the industrial size downspouts. Not the hoods over the gutter.</span></b></p> <p> <b>We have developed a good system that is also a lot more cost efficient and more user friendly.  We can show you how we offer a lower price, better construction parts, and higher quality installation than any other gutter contractor in the area.  The cost of a DMR low maintenance gutter package along with a full gutter replacement is still well below the cost of a <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span> installation or similar alternative, and these hood systems don't even work as claimed.  My bids have been around half their cost.  Still far less with adding the cost of other services when needed like drip edge, new fascia boards, painting, and leaf-catchers <font color="#FFFFFF">(in the downspouts for underground drain protection)</font>.</b></p> <p><b>One reason is how we do not have the huge overhead or the expensive advertising they have to use to reach enough Marks that have money to burn.  Our gutters do not need to be replaced if they were to clog.  With simple access of the hinged leaf screens we use, we show how we really can afford to manage our No-clog warranty.  Most importantly is the fact that if for some reason either company were not able or willing to uphold their No-clog warranty decades later, with our gutter system you will be able to rectify the problem much quicker and easier than with any of those alternatives!</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><b><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00">Problem <a name="issues"> Issues</a> with the LeafGuard</font></u></b><font size="4" color="#00FF00"><b><u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">® </span></u></b></font><b><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00">and Similar Gutter Design</font></u></b></p> <p align="center"><b><a href="../im/LeafGuardGutters2.jpg" target="_self"> <img border="3" src="../tn/LeafGuardGutters2.jpg" width="498" height="231"></a><br> This photo was taken 12-04 of a <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span> installation near by in Lake Oswego, Oregon.<br> Note: I got permission to take these photos, and did not do anything to alter this scene.</b></p> <p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> (Note: Keep in mind that even though we try to be unbiased and accurate here, this is only are our personal observations.  We have been in contact with National LeafGuard® head Office and their legal department for approval of this web page and it's accuracy since early 2003)</span></font></p> <p align="left"> <b> <font color="#FFFF00">(a) </font> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman">A</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">luminum LeafGuard® </span>gutter systems are very expensive.  <font color="#CCCCFF">Note: our solid copper gutters & hinged leaf screens are about the same cost, are stronger, and will not mildew (as clearly seen in these photos) or have any future painting issues.</font><br> <font color="#FFFF00">(b) </font>If your existing gutters are still OK, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard® </span>offers no option to just add low-maintenance accessories to your existing gutters, helping to minimize the cost and waste of good functional gutters that will be destroyed when removed.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(c) </font>Because of the closed design, the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span> gutters cannot be inspected or double caulked at the seamed corners and endcaps like we do. They cannot even make sure the caulk sealed just right by pressing the excess caulk into the seam with a finger.<br> <a href="../im/LeafGuardGutters1.jpg" target="_self"> <img border="3" src="../tn/LeafGuardGutters1.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10"></a><font color="#FFFF00">(d) </font>The corners are preformed. Most all professional gutter installers miter the corners at the job site, so there is only one seam to see and seal, and the only seam that could leak.</b><font color="#FFFF00"><b><br> (e) </b> </font> <b>One of the worst <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span> problems that contributes to it's high cost: is that if the gutter does get clogged up, and they are not able to just remove the end-caps and blast out the blockage from one end to the other because of corners or length, then the whole gutter has to be replaced.  If for some reason you are not able to get the local franchise to honor their warranty, you are then stuck with a dysfunctional gutter.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(f) </font> It is very difficult to even do a visual inspection to see if there is a debris or moss accumulation.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(g) </font> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>still seems to insist on using the large 3"x 4" downspouts all the way down the siding and then the reducer at the bottom to fit these industrial size downspouts into the common 3" underground drain sewer pipes.  Where it only took us a month or so to see that our clients did not respond well to seeing those industrial size downspouts on their siding.  We needed to still have the larger outlet in the bottom of the gutter, so we came up with a simple solution: <font color="#FFFFFF"> <a href="#DMR" target="_self">see above</a></font>.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(h) </font>There is no warranty against clogging without these industrial size downspouts (as seen right) that are twice as large as standard downspouts, and unsightly.  Most any home-owner would love to see a gutter system that had no downspouts, if that were possible. The last thing they want to see is these huge downspouts mounted on their siding. <font color="#CCCCFF">Note: We noticed this issue early on and solved that problem.  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Around 8 years later LeafGuard® </span>has yet to follow our example and use the reducer up higher on the siding to reduce the downspout to a standard 2" x 3" size.  Since there is no functional advantage to a large vertical downspouts, it would seem the only reason could be so they can charge the their clients over $9 a foot for a $2 downspout.</font><br> <font color="#FFFF00">(i) </font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>sales staff do not seem to push the sale of leaf-catchers with their system, and the ones they do install are not nearly as good. This is because the sewer drains getting jammed up with debris does not affect their liability one way or the other, demonstrating their low sense of ethical responsibility.  Leaf-catchers are the strainers that go in the downspout for underground rain-drain pipe protection. A lot of small debris like the pine needles and the moss that will grow in the gutters will clog up the underground drain pipes.  It is very costly to have Roto-Rooter come out to un-jam these sewer pipes.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(j) </font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>still use steel zip screws instead of aluminum rivets, since it is just a one shot process.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(k) </font> It seems that they put more focus on the look of the gutter positioning to the roof than functional, installing the gutter straight with the roof edge, instead of using a level and assure that it will be more functional and not suffer standing water in the gutter.  The lower half of the gutter that hold the water and the little debris that gets through is not as deep as other gutters, so if the house is not perfectly level or perhaps settles in the wrong direction and 1" of debris settlement will cause the rain water to not make it to the downspout at all, and dump over the lip of the gutter.  But this is still not a warranty issue, as the gutter is not technically clogged.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(l) </font> The huge 90 degree inside corner piece is still ineffective at handling the water flow rushing down from the valleys in a heavy shower.  Also, we have not seen where they have a way to do odd angled corners beyond a 90 degree inside or outside corner.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(m) </font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>gutters are made with a 20% thicker than standard aluminum sheet metal to form these gutters, only because their design has no support to hold the weight of the water in the gutter other than a 90 degree bend of that soft aluminum sheet metal. This is the only gutter design that we have ever seen that has <u>no</u> support.  If Mt. St. Helens erupts again, like back in 1981, the weight of the ash fall-out washed down off the roof and into the gutters will destroy pretty much all these <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>gutters, and we doubt their warranty will cover that sort of damage.  Even if it did cover that damage, it would definitely put the local franchise out of business before they replaced many of their damaged gutters.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(n) </font> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>gutters look pretty strange on houses, which is one of their hardest sales difficulties.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(o) </font>The <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>gutter w/built in hood design will still trap debris in the small opening, causing a waterfall over the edge, and their warranty does not cover this issue.  It is still the home owner's responsibility to some how clean this out, as seen below with the large maple leafs sticking out.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(p) </font>These hood designs have also been known to be a prime spot for bees nests, which will eventually cause a blockage inside the gutter.  Even if it is not written into the fine print, a salesperson fielding the call may try to get out of their responsibility; saying it is an abnormal or unnatural obstruction, which most clients would buy into.  They bank on the fact that most clients will never bother to call them about thess problem, assuming this abnormal obstruction is not their responsibility, and simply suffer their loss to pay to have those expensive gutters replaced with something different.<br> <font color="#FFFF00">(q) </font>Those warranties will not allow for frustrated homeowners to choose the option to have the obstructed gutter replace with a standard type of gutter, let alone with a different type of no-clog gutter.  They are stuck.</b></p> <p align="center"> <b> <a href="../im/LeafGuardGutters3.jpg" target="_self"> <img border="3" src="../tn/LeafGuardGutters3.jpg"></a><br> This photo was taken 12-04 of a <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span> installation near where we live in Lake Oswego, Oregon.<br> Note: We did not do anything to alter this scene.<br> The Lady of the house did report she was happy with their decision to get these gutters, but it had not been very long yet.</b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"><p align="center"><b><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00"><a name="screens"> Screens</a> V. Hoods</font></u></b></p> <p align="left"> <b> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> LeafGuard®</span> uses demonstration videos with shots of the galvanized steel hinged leaf screen that we used to use several years ago <font color="#FFFFFF">(clever blokes)</font>.  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>showed those hinged screens in their videos as a bad example of what people do to keep leaves and branches out of their gutters, showing them all bent up and dirty with debris.   But we had found a source for stronger hinged screens with a black powder bake finish and 3 clips/hinges per screen, instead of only 2 clips/hinges, shown.  These new screens are also 4' wide instead of only 3' wide.  We have seen their <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font>gutters become very stricken with mildew within a few years and debris sticking out of the water entrance, but you will not see that in their videos.<a href="../im/screens2.jpg" target="_self"><img border="3" src="../tn/screens2.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="385" height="250"></a></b></p> <p align="left"><b>These thicker screen material lessens the need for the arch needed for rigidity with the old screens we used to sell.  This heavier weight also helps the screen to be less prone to blow open in high winds.  The larger surface of area to permit the rain water to enter the gutters is at least ten times as much as any of the hoods can offer.  This means it is far less likely to become so saturated with debris that it will not permit water to drain into the gutter.  It is beneficial to have these screens up on top of the roofing shingles, so there is a slant downwards and the debris is much less likely to pile up on the screens.  It normally blows off in the wind after it dries out.</b></p> <p><b>These screens will not keep all the pine needles out of course.  I do not try to make any claims that they will.  They will keep all the large debris out of the gutter, like leaves, pine cones, branches, and toys. <font color="#FFFFFF"> <LOL></font>  Those are what will jam up a gutter fast.  That is the reason that they are clipped onto the outer lip of the gutter. The clips are also the hinge.  They simply flip closed and lay on top of the shingle. Without even opening them, you can easily see if there is any obstruction.  If you desire to clean them out, you can shove a cover over the leaf-catcher strainer, and then blast a garden hose water right through the screens to drive the debris and moss down the downspouts to dump on the ground.  Sweep it up and it is done.  With the warranty though, it is not necessary to even check the gutters for debris.  If the gutter gets clogged, it will over flow over the outlet, since I set that to be the low spot in the gutters.  If it does fail, it is my responsibility.  I will not how ever be doing periodic inspection for you. You will need to contact us for us know there is an issue that needs resolved.</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p align="center"> <b> <a href="opt.htm"> <img border="3" src="../ag/tn/Coryeal3.jpg" width="200" height="510" hspace="5" align="right"></a><a href="../qs.htm"><img border="3" src="../tn/hh2.jpg" hspace="0" width="300" height="247"></a></b></p> <p align="center"> <b> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00FF00">The <a name="DMR">DMR</a> No-clog Gutter A</font></u></span><u><font color="#00FF00"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">dvantages</span></font></u></b></p> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <b> <font color="#FFFFFF"> (</font><font color="#FF0000">Note</font><font color="#FFFFFF">: Keep in mind that even if we work to be unbiased and accurate here, this is only are our personal observations.  We have been in contact with National </font> </b> </span><b><font color="#FFFFFF"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> LeafGuard® head Office and their legal department for approval of this web page and it's accuracy since early 2003)</span></font></b></p> <ol> <li> <p align="left"><u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Price $:</b></font></u><b> for what the<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">se other No-clog Gutters</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> cost</span>, we could install solid copper gutters on your house <font color="#FFFFFF"> (keeping in mind that copper costs about 5 times as much as painted aluminum and will not mildew)</font>.  </b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Better </b></font></u> </span><u><b> <font color="#00CCFF">Gutter Sealant:</font></b></u><b> we double caulk the seamed corners with a superior caulk. <font color="#FFFFFF"> (because of the closed design, the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">LeafGuard®</span> gutter has to be caulked on one end, slid together and hope it sealed. They cannot even make sure it seals by pressing the excess caulk into the seam with a finger. also leaving these caulk obstructions inside their gutters)</font>.</b></li> <li> <p align="left"><u><b><font color="#00CCFF">Better Construction:</font></b></u><b> we do not use the amateur gutter part like preformed corners as they need to.  We miter all the corners into the gutter lengths, so there is only one seam to see, and only one seam to seal on each corner, to ever be a concern of a possible leak. We are also better able to custom fabricate the odd angles your house may have.</b></li> <li> <p align="left"><font color="#00CCFF"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline"> Future Cleanings:</span></font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; font-weight:700"> you are able to easily see and clear out any debris from our gutters <font color="#FFFFFF">(in case the company who installed the gutters were to go out of business, or you were to find out that they did not stand by their No-clog Warranty)</font>.</span></li> <li> <p align="left"><b><a href="../opt.htm"> <img border="3" src="../tn/od2.jpg" width="200" height="470" hspace="5" align="right"></a></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Holds More:</b></font></u><b><font color="#00CCFF"> </font>a DMR gutter is deeper by 175% to the LeafGuard®</b></span><b><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> gutter <font color="#FFFFFF">(2" to our 3.5")</font>, allowing for a greater margin of error, like if your house were to settle.  That way there is less chance of it over-flowing when a small debris damn forms in the bottom of gutter, which is very common.</span></b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>No Obstructions:</b></font></u></span><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"> a </span> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> DMR gutter does not have any obstruction on the bottom of the gutter from front to back that would damn up debris, like the LeafGuard® gutters do.</span></b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Better Support:</b></font></u></span><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"> f</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">or the part of the gutter that holds the weight of the rain water and debris, DMR gutters have far more support than the LeafGuard®</span><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </span></font><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> gutters.</span></b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Better Support for Ladder Pressure:</b></font></u></span><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"> a</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> DMR gutter has better support against ladder pressure, when accessing the gutters or the roof.</span></b></li> <li> <p align="left"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> We use a more expensive caulk, with </span> M-34 Polycarbonate sealant technology (<a href="../qs.htm#caulk" target="_self">see Details web page for details and contact info</a>).</b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Better Assembly:</b></font></u></span><b> from what we have seen here locally, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> LeafGuard® and most other gutter contractors </span>still use the quick and dirty steel zip screws, instead of aluminum rivets, like we have only used for the last 9 years.</b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>Better Looks:</b></font></u></span><b> we feel that a <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> DMR gutter</span> is a better look for houses <font color="#FFFFFF">(but that of course if highly subject to your personal taste)</font>.  Our gutter profile and smaller downspouts have less of the obvious appearance of having external plumbing mounted on the outside of your house.</b></li> <li> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <u><font color="#00CCFF"><b>More Practical:</b></font></u></span><b> we use the 3"x 4" to 2"x 3" conversion funnel up high on the downspout, instead of near the ground.  This helps minimize the cost and has a better look</b></li> </ol> <p align="left"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">We understand how most any home-owner would like to see a gutter system that had no downspouts, if that were possible. The last thing they want to see is these huge industrial size downspouts going down their siding.  We realized in short order that it would lower the cost and look better to have the smaller 2"x 3" downspouts coming down their siding.  We have found there is no need for the large downspouts for the strait drop into the underground drain pipes.  It will not clog up.  We have not had any call-backs from clogged downspouts in the last 9 years of doing the downspouts this way since 1996.  If you are concerned with denting of the downspouts, thicker metal downspouts can be ordered through our local wholesale supplier.</font> </b></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><strong><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00"> What about <a name="copper">Copper</a> Gutters?</font></u></strong></p> <p><font color="#00CCFF"><i><u><b> <font size="4">Cost?</font></b></u></i></font><strong><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00"><br> </font></u></strong><b>We refuse to sell steel gutters entirely, since they are not a good value when you factor in the cost of labor to install.  Surely not with the care and effort we put into our installations.  We do not push the sale of copper gutters over aluminum to benefit from our profit margin.  We would say that over 90% of our work in our first decade had been installing aluminum gutters, but for some reason we have been doing a lot more copper gutter work since late 2004.  It has been a good 3/4 our income since then.  <a href="http://copper-by-design.com/cw/scuppers.htm" target="_self"> <img border="3" src="../tn/OldScupper1.jpg" width="300" height="291" align="right" hspace="5" vspace="10"></a>Your cost for a copper system is a little over double the cost of aluminum, even though it costs us about 5 times as much to get the materials. Your cost is not so far different because there is not a lot more labor involved. Also, with copper there is an option to have a thicker stronger 20oz copper sheet metal used, instead of the standard 16oz copper. Aluminum does not have that sort of option.</b></p> <p><font size="4" color="#00CCFF"><i><u><b>The Brown aged Copper Look as the Trim Color?<br> </b></u></i></font><b>There is this common thought amongst many home owners that white gutter will fit in with most any house paint combination.  We do not quite understand this logic, but we do see where the mildew that commonly forms on painted or plastic gutters seems to show up quite strongly on these white gutters.  Copper gutters will simply turn to a dark brown within a few months after installation, that tends to pretty universally fit in with most any paint job better, since most houses are painted some variation of earth tones to not stick out too much.  Copper takes several decades to tarnish to that chalky green color.  We have removed poorly installed copper gutters that must have been a good 40 to 50 years old, and they were still 90% just that dark brown, nearly black, with highlights of that green tarnish.  There are acid washes that can be done to accelerate the tarnished look, but the cost is hardly worth the few months wait to see them turn brown.<a href="http://copper-by-design.com/cw/scuppers.htm" target="_self"><img border="3" src="http://copper-by-design.com/cw/tn/scupper11.jpg" width="300" height="348" align="right" hspace="5"></a></b></p> <p><u><font color="#00CCFF"><b><i><font size="4">What about a</font></i></b></font></u><font color="#00CCFF"><i><u><b><font size="4"> New Bright Copper Look?<br> </font> </b></u></i></font><b>Most clients say they love the looks of aged copper, so this is rarely an issue.  Most people think of new copper having a more orange look, but that is only the pink of the copper with a slight tarnish beginning from the humidity in the air, to turn it more of that orange look.  We have only been hired one time to polish and add a clear coat to this copper scupper and downspouts before installation for a client in Salem Oregon, to retain that new pink copper look.  </b> </p> <p><b>This is ill advised, since any clear coat will deteriorate over time under the UV rays of the sun, causing cracking and pealing. Which will quickly tarnish the exposed copper metal in those areas.  It is very costly to have them regularly waxed, let alone to have them later stripped down, polished, and refinished.  It is best to leave the copper raw and exposed.  There is no treatment we have heard of to improve the life of the new look of copper.  Be sure to take some good photos of the installation right after we are done, to see your house both ways.</b></p> <p><u><font color="#00CCFF"><b><i><font size="4">Advantages over Aluminum?</font></i></b></font></u><b><font size="4"><br> </font>There is a clear advantage that aluminum and copper sheet metal gutters have over steel gutter, but the advantages copper has over aluminum is as follows:</b></p> <ol> <li><b>With copper, you will never need to bother with a painting issue again. Since they are raw copper metal that will not rust, they are truly trouble free in that way.</b></li> <li><b>Copper gutters will not form that filthy unattractive mildew on the outside face of the gutter you commonly see on any painted or plastic gutters.</b></li> <li><b>The standard 16oz copper gutters are more rigid than aluminum gutters, so they are less prone to dent.</b></li> <li><b>There is the option to have stronger 20oz copper gutters for even more strength at a minor added cost, where aluminum has only the one gauge thickness.</b></li> <li><b>But the main reason clients decide to pay extra for a copper gutter system is for the brag points of having such expensive gutters and downspouts.</b></li> </ol> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" align="center" valign="top"> <p align="left"> <b><font size="4">Our Copper Gutters:</font></b></p> <p> <b> <a href="cg.htm"> <img border="3" src="../tn/Yocum04.jpg" hspace="20" vspace="25"><font size="4"><img border="3" src="../tn/screens3.jpg" hspace="20"></font></a></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><strong><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00"> Replacement <a name="Alter">Alter</a>native</font></u></strong></p> <p><b>Another advantage of DMR is that we offer an option to upgrade your existing gutters to be much more trouble free, without having to completely replace your gutters.</b></p> <p><b>Also, if you do not have a serious debris problem, we provide the option to have new gutters installed with our 27 advantages as listed on our Quality standards web page, costing less if you do not need our low maintenance options.  Even without our low maintenance package, our installations and warranty is still far better than any other gutter contractors in this Portland Oregon Metro area <a href="../qs.htm#details" target="_self"> (see our Details page for more info)</a>.</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"><b><u><font size="4" color="#00FF00">Our Proof of <a name="integrity"> Integrity</a></font></u><a href="referrals.htm"><font size="4"><img src="../tn/bbb.jpg" alt="1999 Better Business Award" border="3" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="300" height="300"></font></a></b></p> <p align="left"><b>We know that sounds far fetched and egotistical of us to say we are so incredibly superior to our competition, but we do have proof of the high reputation we have worked hard to earn over the last decade of specializing in gutter replacement.  Beside my Integrity Award from the BBB <font color="#FFFFFF"> (as shown here)</font>, the gutter supply wholesalers like '<a href="http://www.custombiltmetals.com/" target="_self">Custom-bilt Metals</a>' and '<a href="http://www.guttermanschoice.com/" target="_self">Gutterman's Supply, Inc.</a>' have reported that we are the only contractors in this Portland Oregon Metro area who consistently buy the better quality parts.  <a href="http://www.custombiltmetals.com/" target="_self">Custom-bilt Metals</a>' phone number is: (503) 256-3328.  <a href="http://www.guttermanschoice.com/" target="_self">Gutterman's Supply</a> phone number is: (503) 285-2500.  We also have better construction and design than <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> LeafGuard®</span>, and with a more believable warranty <font color="#000000"><a href="#issues" target="_self">(see details below)</a></font>. </b></p> <p align="left"><b>Our standards are so high that we find that we have needed to order many of the parts from back East, like the hidden hangers, rivets, screws, and the end-caps we use.  The local suppliers will not stock them, since there is such a low demand by the other gutter contractors for stronger and better parts.  We alone do not have a large enough company to crash out the many jobs like other gutter contractors with crews of installers can, in order to make it worth the supplier's while to stock these better parts.  It is a terrible shame that we are so rare and one of a kind in this way.</b></p> <p align="left"><b>We have had thought about franchising our name and system, but we have not found any other gutter contractors in the States who possess similar ethics as we do.  We do not see it as a possibility. That is a sad commentary of our modern world here in the States!  If you are such a person, read over our <a href="../gt.htm">Training and Franchise</a> web page for details.  Unlike the fantasy movie: The Highlander, there does not have to 'Be only One'. <LOL></b></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p align="left"> </p> <div align="center"> <table border="6" width="750" bordercolor="#800080" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="8" background="../tn/purple.jpg"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"> <i><strong><font size="5" color="#FFFFFF">"Quality and service is not expensive, it's <a href="prices.htm" target="_top">priceless</a>!"</font></strong></i></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p align="center"> <strong><b><font size="4" color="#00FF99"> <a href="cont.htm">E-mail</a> or <a name="call"> call</a> DMR Gutters <br> for a free no-obligation estimate,<br> for the finest in rain management.<br> </font> </b><font size="3">as long as you are local to the Portland Oregon area</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font size="1" color="#008000">.</font><a href="cont.htm"><img border="3" src="../tn/email2.jpg" width="500" height="135"></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <div align="center"> <table border="5" width="600" cellpadding="5" bgcolor="#FFFF99" background="../tn/soft2.gif"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <strong><u><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000">Other Helpful <a name="Roofing">Roofing</a> Information</font><font size="4" color="#FFFF00"><br> </font></u></strong><font color="#000080">For some valuable advice with regards to roofing and rain management issues check out our:</font><p> <font color="#00CCFF"><font color="#800080">(a) </font> <a target="_top" href="qs.htm">Gutter Installation</a><br> </font> <font color="#800080">(b)</font><font color="#00CCFF"><font color="#CC99FF"> </font> <a target="_top" href="roofs.htm">Roofing Quality Standards</a><br> <font color="#800080">(c) </font> <a target="_top" href="http://copper-by-design.com/cf/">Chimney Flashing</a><br> <font color="#800080">(d) </font> <a href="../rf/moss.htm">Moss Control & Treatment</a></font></p> <p> <font color="#000080">web pages for answers and solutions that could save you thousands of $ and a great deal of anguish.</font></p> <p><font color="#000080">If you do find this information very helpful, feel free to send us a $ tip for the assistance we so freely have published on the web here for your benefit, like you might tip a waitress.  Heck, send us a gift certificate for a candle lit dinner for two. <LOL></font></td> </tr> </table> </div> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font size="1" color="#008000">.</font></p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="10" cellpadding="15" width="330" bgcolor="#00CCFF" bordercolorlight="#0000FF" bordercolordark="#000080" cellspacing="3"> <tr> <td width="100%" background="../tn/back1.gif" height="77"> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4" color="#00FFFF">Below is a photo of our<br> Better Business Bureau's<br> NW Business Integrity Award<br> for the year 1998</font></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" bgcolor="#800000" height="340"> <p align="center"><a href="referrals.htm" target="_top"> <img src="../tn/bbb.jpg" alt="1999 Better Business Award" border="3" width="300" height="300"></a> <p align="center"><a href="referrals.htm" target="_top"> <img border="3" src="../tn/award1.jpg" width="300" height="75"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" background="../tn/raindro.gif" height="81"> <p align="center"><font size="4" color="#000080">We were also a 1997 finalist for this same award. See our <a href="referrals.htm" target="_top"> referral</a> web page to see how we managed to be honored with this special award</font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="center"><font size="1" color="#008000">.</font></p> <div align="center"> <table border="0" width="150" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#000000"> <tr> <td width="100%" align="center"><a href="http://dmr-gutters.com/pro.htm" target="_top"> <img src="../im/homepurp.gif" alt="Back to homepage" border="0" hspace="8" align="middle" width="67" height="77"></a><a href="http://dmr-gutters.com/pro.htm"><br> </a><font size="4" color="#FFFF00"><b><a href="http://dmr-gutters.com/pro.htm" target="_top"> Homepage</a></b></font> <p align="center"><font size="4" color="#FFFF00"><b> <a href="../links.htm" target="_self"> Site Map</a></b></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font color="#000000">.</font></div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#000000"> <tr> <td align="right" valign="top"><font size="2"><a target="_top" href="http://dmr-gutters.com/pro.htm"> <font color="#00FFFF"> <img src="button.gif" align="right" border="2" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="15"></font></a></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font size="2"><a href="http://dmr-gutters.com/pro.htm"> <font color="#00FFFF">Company<br> Profile</font></a></font></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><font size="2"> <a href="gutters.htm" target="_top"> <font color="#00FFFF"> <img src="button.gif" align="middle" border="2" width="16" height="16"></font></a></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font size="2"><a href="gutters.htm"> <font color="#00FFFF">Photo<br> Galleries</font></a></font></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><font size="2"> <a href="prices.htm" target="_top"> <font color="#00FFFF"> <img src="button.gif" align="right" border="2" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="15"></font></a></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font size="2"><a href="prices.htm"> <font color="#00FFFF">Prices &<br> Colors</font></a></font></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><font size="2"> <img src="blink.gif" alt="You are here" align="right" border="2" width="16" height="16"></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font size="2">Quality<br> Standards</font></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><font size="2"> <a target="_top" href="warranty.htm"> <font color="#00FFFF"> <img src="button.gif" align="right" border="2" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="15"></font></a></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font size="2"> <a href="warranty.htm" target="_top"> <font color="#00FFFF">Warranty<br> & Service</font></a></font></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><font size="2"> <a target="_top" href="faq.htm"> <font color="#00FFFF"> <img src="button.gif" align="right" border="2" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="15"></font></a></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font size="2"> <a href="faq.htm"><font color="#00FFFF">Gutters</font></a><br> <a href="faq.htm"><font color="#00FFFF">F. 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