Exterior spring cleaning with Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing
By Mimi Vanderhaven
Mother Nature has some interesting ways of ensuring the propagation of her diverse creations, including those fuzzy, pollen-filled “tassels” that dangle from oak trees. And then there are the “helicopters” or “spinners” that fall from maple trees, scattering the tender seeds to the four winds.
Of course, Mother Nature didn’t count on so much of her annual spring propagation getting caught where it doesn’t belong.
In our gutters.
“Most people think of the fall as being prime gutter cleaning season,” says Rick Winrod, founder of Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing, “but the spring is just as bad, if not worse. Spring debris—including tree buds and seedlings—is varied and compact, so it easily combines to become tight, firm clogs in your gutters. If you see it on the ground, it’s also in your gutters.”
Gutter cleaning is dirty, dangerous work and Rick has been doing it safely for over 20 years. “Keeping your gutters clean is absolutely essential,” he says. “Overflowing gutters can cause expensive problems to your foundation and your basement. That’s why we clean out all the nooks and crannies, including the downspouts. There’s a true science behind it. If we clean your gutters, water will be diverted where it’s supposed to be, not in your basement, and you won’t have mulch washing onto your driveway.”
Safety is also a concern, Rick says.
“One of the most dangerous things a homeowner can do is climb a ladder to clean their gutters,” he cautions. “Every year thousands of people are injured by falling from a ladder. Don’t risk it. Unlike the average homeowner, we’re trained and experience in ladder safety. We do this every day.”
Pressure Washing
In addition to gutter cleaning, right now is the best time to wash away the grime of winter from your home—especially your vinyl siding—and Rick’s team can tackle that job, too.
“We use a soft-wash process to protect your siding, trim, gutters, and shingles,” he explains. “And our specially-formulated detergents are safe for your family, pets and flowerbeds. We also clean and seal concrete, including driveways, sidewalks and patios.”
Rick has personally trained each of his technicians how to perform power washing to his own exacting standards. His team arrives with all of the leading-edge equipment required to get the job done safely and effectively.
Window Cleaning
Unlike most exterior home cleaning companies, Rolling Thunder also cleans windows—both inside and out. In fact, “window cleaning” is in the company name. “We started doing windows back in 1997,” Rick says. “Our first job was cleaning the windows in a Lakewood high-rise condo. When your living room overlooks Lake Erie, you don’t want your view obstructed by dirty windows.”
That’s also true no matter where you live. “People often don’t realize the difference clean windows can make, especially if they haven’t been cleaned for a long time,” Rick adds. “The entire home is lighter, brighter and feels so fresh. It can be an emotional experience. It changes everything.”
Rick’s company is big enough to tackle almost any cleaning job—commercial or residential—but he’s also small enough that he can typically charge less than the big guys. “We keep our overhead low, we don’t have to pay franchise fees, and we don’t spend a bunch of money on advertising,” he explains. “We like to keep our costs down so our services are affordable for everyone.”
The Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning offices are located at 33480 Liberty Parkway in North Ridgeville, and the company services homes throughout Northeast Ohio. For more information or to receive a free estimate, call 440-897-6317. The website is RollingThunderWC.com.