Rain gutters play a very important role in protecting your home and foundation. However, it is easy to overlook them. If you don’t routinely clean your gutters, you could potentially be looking at more issues in the long run.
Yes, cleaning gutters can be a hassle. If you don’t feel up for the job, it would be best to call a professional to come clean them for you. If you live in an area with mature trees, you will want to clean your gutters at least 2 times a year- summer and fall. When gutters are clogged, water can’t steadily flow away from your home, which exposes your home to a number of issues.
Damaging the Brackets– When gutters are clogged, and we have heavy rain fall, water has nowhere to go. This results in a lot of pressure for your gutters and brackets to handle. You will start to see your gutters bend or slope. By keeping leaves and twigs out of your gutters, water can flow steadily away from your home, taking the weight off the gutters and brackets.
Foundation Issues– When gutters are clogged, water can only flow over the gutter. This causes water to pool around the foundation, which can also damage your plants around the house. When temperatures drop and the water freezes and expands, you may start to notice cracks in your foundation. The cost to repair these cracks could range from hundreds to thousands.
Damage to Roof and Fascia– Roof damage is one of the top reasons to keep your gutters clean of leaves and twigs. Again, when gutters are clogged, water will flow over. You can expect rot issues on your roof. Another costly repair that is easily avoidable. The Fascia is meant to protect the roof and the interior of the home from moisture by blocking its entrance. However, when gutters overflow, this can also cause damage to the fascia.
A Home for Pests– For birds, mosquitoes and other insects, there is nothing more alluring than standing water and debris filled gutters. During the summer months, there’s nothing worse than stepping outside of your home and being attacked by mosquitoes. By keeping your gutters clean, you can also protect your family from health issues, like West Nile.
During or after a heavy rain fall, step outside and check your downspouts. If water is slowly trickling out of the spouts, that is a sign you should check your gutters and downspouts for any blockage. You will want to work on getting that cleared to keep water flowing. After experiencing strong winds, this is also a good time to check gutters for any branches that may get stuck the gutters.
If you decide to clean your gutters yourself, think about your safety first. Wear the protective gear (face mask and goggles), and notify a neighbor or family member that you will be cleaning gutters, in case you were to fall and get injured, someone is aware and able to call for help.
In the event that your home has already experienced damage from clogged gutters, Crew Construction and Restoration can assess an existing roof structure to determine what, if any, roof repair work needs to be done. At Crew, we will provide a free written estimate to our customers and will work directly with insurance companies as needed. Contact your team at Crew, and we will inspect all exterior areas of your home or business (siding, windows, gutters shingles, etc) to ensure that no additional damage has occurred.
