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DMR Gutters Main Company Profile Page |
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This web site was established
in 1995
Updated 11-10-2008
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Greetings
& Congratulations! That may sound like just fancy hype; too good to be true, but just one highlight of my Quality Standards is my exclusive 8X building code strength gutter installation w/stainless steel screws. Instead of following building code of 1 nail every 4 feet; I use a pair of #12 SS screws every 2 feet with stronger rust free Monster Hidden Hangers. These stronger hidden hangers cannot be acquired locally because of the lack of demand by gutter contractors here in the Northwest. That is very telling in of it's self. In November of 2008 did some warranty work on a gutter job I had done in 2003 where some of the screw heads had broken off, which is why I had upgraded my standards in 2004 to 2 screws per hanger. I have no need to advertise locally or do home shows, since I have invested thousands of hours on this comprehensive web site and receive enough exposure with search engines to keep me plenty busy. I show proof of the highest quality standards and integrity you will find, with glowing reviews on Angie's List. |
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This is a copy of the interview for Angie's List we did for their July 2008 magazine about: |
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I have found a much better grade of clientele from this Internet exposure: more intelligent homeowners who used search engines and Angie's List to research for the best contractors. I have personally been working on this web site over the last decade. Not because I need the business, but because I feel it is imperative to clearly communicate with my clients this way. Because of my diligent efforts here I have been told by dozens of clients how my web site is clearly the most comprehensive web site on rain management in the world: with 200+ web pages spread out over this business web site and http://copper-by-design.com along with over 3,000 digital photos that link to full screen images for a closer look, or link to a whole separate web page with a gallery of related photos and a more detailed description of that project. I do free on-site quotes for local homeowners as the CCB requires of all licensed contractors, but I have found it works best to develop more of an interactive partnership with my clients by working out some of the details through e-mail first (see Latest News page for details). These days pretty much everyone has a digital camera. I have had to do this with most all my clientele over the last several years for custom copper fabrication, since most of them are not local to Portland, Oregon. With no employees I cannot possibly do the volume of work I could sell and it would be impossible for me to drive around town all day doing bids, so I request a simple pre-qualification effort on your part first. I would not be able to get any work done otherwise, as I am already booked several months out. I will not sacrifice quality for a larger production volume. |
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I explain my bid process on my
Latest News
web page I would like to believe I am well worth the wait,
but if your project cannot wait to be fit it into my schedule you can
print out my set of quality standards and use that to help interview
other gutter contractors:
You can also consider my professional parts delivery service to
do the installation yourself with the list of instructions and
recommended list of tools. I can normally make a delivery within a
week: |
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"Quality and service is not expensive, it's priceless!" |
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Copper Gutters |
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Aluminum Gutters |
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I use to carry the type of insurance to do roofing as well several years ago, but since the cost of liability insurance for roofing is over 500% higher than all the other types of construction it was too expensive for a small company like this, who cannot do enough volume of work to cover it. That is sad, since in my travels I have yet to see a decent roofer who is committed to doing good work and use materials designed to last more than a few years (no joke), since contractors are only required to provide a 1 year warranty on the work they do. I have worked hard over the last decade + to maintain the highest reputation for quality and honest work, which is a primary reason I have not been able to grow and take on employees. I am primarily a hands-on contractor, specializing in low-maintenance no-clog gutters at a more reasonable cost. There are dozens of other leaf protection concepts out there, but they are more expensive than my copper gutters, so even if they worked as promised, they are not worth the cost. My bid for the copper gutters on Tara North was only $15k, where my competitor wanted $29k for less quality according to the client. I also have a custom sheet metal design & fabrication shop to build project like you see above that was shipped to a client in Indiana. I primarily make custom 8 sided copper roof caps and decorative chimney caps for clients across this Nation. The custom work I do is fabricated with a heavy-duty solid 20oz copper or thicker. Some times 48oz copper is used, which is 3lb per square foot and too thick to cut with tin snips. You will see a lot of copper gutter photos here and other custom work, but most of the gutter work I have done over the last decade and a half has been in pre-painted aluminum sheet metal. I refuse to install steel gutters, because I do not believe in planned obsolescence. For my latest availability see my Latest News web page. .
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Watch out
for Gutter Contractors pushing steel gutters! Why not steel? Depending on how frequently you had your steel gutters cleaned; steel gutters will last between 10 to 20 years before the metal has become so rusty that it has holes through the bottom and cause nasty rust stains as well. The steel downspouts they use are even worse. They are prone to clog easily and are noisy for hours after the rain has stopped; drip, drip, drip ............... Steel can be detected with a simple magnet test, since steel is the only metal that will attract a magnet. This issue is very important, since rusty steel gutters accounts for a good 75% of the need for gutter replacement. Gutters detaching from the house is the second leading cause and here is a common example of this. Why do I need to worry about this issue? Sadly most businessmen focus more on maximizing profit over client service. They see building codes and the CCB as a thorn in their side. Not as minimal recommendations. Giving little to no thought of how they would like to be treated by other contractors working on their own home. Steel for gutters is pushed because it is a lot cheaper metal and offers them planned obsolescence for more repeat business. \
They would not want to work with steel if they were the installers doing the actual work to lift those heavier gutter parts and struggle with driving in those large 7" nail spikes while holding the gutter up on the top of a 2 story ladder. they are just slick talking salesmen that cannot be trusted What do I need to demand? As simple logic would dictate; I only work with rust-free sheet-metal with stainless steel screws (nail-free) for a lasting rain management product. Building code does not require contractors to use aluminum or the use of screws for gutters. Although, when aluminum is used for making gutters it is code to be a lot thicker than steel, in order to make sure is nearly just as strong. So you have a metal that is about twice as thick as steel and will not rust. I recognize how most of the money you pay for most any construction work is not to cover the cost of the parts, so it is a waste to use cheaper materials that will not last 1/3 the time. What about Plastic Gutters? Plastic gutters are even worse than steel for longevity. They are so soft that you cannot lean a ladder against them for cleaning the gutters and servicing the roof. They may not rust, but within a decade the sun breaks down the plasticizer and they become brittle and crack easily. They're expensive parts, but the seals fail in short order. There are more details on this issue at the top of my #2 FAQ web page. |
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What if I am not local to you? Homeowners:
If they claim they cannot do what I do or get the parts I buy for my clients as listed on this web site, that would be very telling, and you will then know not to hire them. They can order the custom parts from us through this web site, or you can order these parts yourself. Note: If you do find the information here very helpful, it would be kind of you to show your appreciation for the generous advice I spent thousands of hours to provide here for your benefit. Perhaps this information was worth enough for you to send us a nice gift certificate for dinner at a local restaurant here? A favorite of ours is Newport Bay. Don't feel too bad about not bothering with this kind gesture though, since it has been extremely rare. Far less than 1 in a 1,000 take the time to even send us a nice note of their gratitude. |
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. For a good honest resource to find reliable contractors |
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Gutter
Contractor Education: |
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For more about my equipment on wheels, click on either car photo . Copper Gutters in the Rain
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Our Personal Ethics I am a small company that has not switched over my licensing to allow for employees. I (David Rich) have done most of the work personally, with my wife Tia's assistance occasionally. We've tried to give several people the opportunity to work on with us, but have yet to meet that special person who can meet my standards. Our reputation for quality work is far too important to let it fall to a greater production volume, so my work tends to be a lot slower than most other gutter contractors. I would like to think I am well worth the wait, but that is certainly your call. It typically takes us 2 weeks to do what other gutter contractors crack out in a single day. I know you only get what you put into any project. I have always focused on quality over profit |
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I stand behind my quality with my extensive installation warranty (see: my Warranty & Service web page for details), along with the manufacturer's 20 year finish and 40 year parts warranty. I give 10 times the minimum labor warranty the Construction Contractors Board requires of all contractors. Along with my Labor warranty, I also can offer a 10 year no-clog warranty for new gutter installations with my low maintenance options package. I would be happy to offer a longer warranty, but I do not expect I will be climbing up 2 story ladders after I am 60 years old. I pride myself on never making unrealistic claims. |
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A
Comparison to Our No-clog
Gutter System Above left is an actual aluminum LEAFGUARD® gutter cross section profile that I have to show clients the clear difference. The image right shows my more user-friendly hinged copper leaf screen over my copper K-5 gutter for about the same cost as their aluminum gutter.
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Below is a
photo of my |
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I was also a 1997 semi-finalist for this award as well. See my referral web page to see how I managed to be honored with this special award two years in a row. |
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If you are local to the Portland Oregon metro area feel free to E-mail us for a free no-obligation estimate, for the finest in rain management |
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"Quality and service is not expensive, it's priceless!" |
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I do not mean to get political here, but these days it is hard to just ignore
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Top 14 corporations w/documented human rights violations
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I do not mean to get political here,
but
these days it is too hard to just ignore
Poignant one-liners:
Let's Fix Democracy in This
Country First
(We
are actually suppose to be a Republic,
not a Democracy. Big difference!)
You Can't Be Pro-War And Pro-Life At The Same Time
Who Would Jesus Torture?
Which God Do You Kill For?
No, Seriously, Why Did We Invade? Doesn't
that make us the terrorists?
We
Need a President Who's Fluent In At Least One Language
Rich Man's War, Poor
Man's Blood: Is It Vietnam Yet?
Bush Doesn't Care About Most White People
Either
Impeach Cheney First
When Bush Took Office, Gas Was $1.46
(which was too
high)
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Company Profile |
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Photo Galleries |
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Prices & Colors |
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Quality Standards |
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Warranty & Service |
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Gutters F. A. Q. |
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Parts Shipped |
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