| As part of your seamless gutter business, you are | | | | machine allows you to form a variety of gutter |
| probably already offering gutter protection systems | | | | cover shapes from trim coil at the job site. You can |
| such as gutter guards, gutter covers, gutter screens, | | | | also easily match the color of the cover to the |
| and gutter filters to your customers. While there are | | | | existing gutter for upgrades or repairs to existing |
| many different types and styles you can offer your | | | | gutter installations. |
| customers, the least expensive is a simple cover | | | | The machine is manually operated. It has a 50-inch |
| made of PVC or a screen of expanded metal | | | | rolling capacity. In addition to forming the flange and |
| construction made from aluminum. Each type has its | | | | curved lip of the cover, it can form whatever angle |
| advantages and features. However, they all have one | | | | the cover needs to match the roof slope, 3/12 to 18 |
| thing in common. There were all made by someone | | | | 12 or anything in between. The system uses a gutter |
| else. You material cost includes their material cost, | | | | bracket made of extruded 6061 T6 aluminum. These |
| labor content, overhead, and profit. | | | | are very strong and are easily installed inside the |
| When you got into the rain gutter business you | | | | gutter and secured to the fascia board. You form the |
| learned that with a seamless gutter machine you | | | | cover pieces on-site. The top lip of the formed cover |
| could save money on your material costs by making | | | | piece is inserted and nailed under the shingle tab and |
| gutter from a coil of stock. The gutter sections you | | | | attached to the brackets with screws. |
| produced were of custom length, were produced | | | | The Trim-A-Gutter machine can be installed on any |
| on-site, and reduced the number of joints, which are | | | | Van Mark brake. They also have instructions for |
| potential leak points. The most important point was | | | | installing the machine on other brands of brake. |
| that it cost you less per foot to produce the | | | | Alternatively, the machine can be installed on an |
| seamless gutters on site than purchasing material | | | | independent set of UniLegs, which are separately |
| preformed in someone else’s shop. In addition, | | | | available. |
| you were not dependent on someone else delivering | | | | To see the Trim-A-Gutter at work making gutter |
| the materials you needed when you needed them. | | | | cover, go to GutterSupply.com, A link takes you to a |
| The difference in cost put more profit in your | | | | short video that clearly shows the forming and |
| pocket. The larger the labor content that you could | | | | installation process. |
| provide, at an equal or lower cost, the higher the | | | | The process is simple. Measure the length and width |
| base on which your business can earn profits. The | | | | of the required cover piece. Cut a piece to the |
| same thing is true of gutter covers. | | | | required length. Position the stock in the machine. |
| While roofing jobs are similar, somehow every one | | | | Bend to create a ½-inch flange. Reposition the |
| seems just a little different. And those purchased | | | | stock in the machine. Bend the cover lip radius. |
| cover sections may not be exactly right for both a 4 | | | | Remove the piece from the machine and reposition. |
| 12 pitch you did yesterday and that 16/12 job you | | | | Bend the appropriate pitch angle on the piece. |
| struggled with last week. There are also those times | | | | Remove the cover piece from the machine. |
| when you need a piece that’s just a little longer | | | | Position brackets inside the gutter and anchor to the |
| (or shorter). | | | | fascia board with screws. Break the seal between |
| The customer may already have some particular kind | | | | the shingle tag and the shingle below. Position the end |
| of cover or screen in mind, or he may not. If he is | | | | of the cover piece under the shingle tag. Align the lip |
| firm about his selection, you will probably go along | | | | of the cover with the gutter. Fasten the cover to |
| and buy the type he specifies from your supplier. | | | | the brackets with screws. Nail the top of the cover |
| Nevertheless, if you are selling the job, you have the | | | | piece to the roof under the shingle tab. Apply roofing |
| opportunity to plan and sell it using custom made | | | | adhesive to the cover underneath the shingle tag and |
| covers made by your crew. | | | | reseal the single down on top of the cover. |
| How would you manage that? Here could be the | | | | Remember, higher labor content and lower material |
| solution: The Van Mark Products Corporation in | | | | costs can put more dollars of profit in your bottom |
| Farmington Hills, Michigan, makes a machine called | | | | line. |
| Trim-A-Gutter. With appropriate accessories, this | | | | |