Your home maintenance is an important part of your day to day activities. A properly maintained home is safe and habitable for you and your family.
As a homeowner, your gutters play an important role in ensuring that your home remains habitable. Their work is to collect rain/stormwater and direct it away from the house to prevent damage to the house.
With time, and as with everything else in your house, your gutters will start to wear and tear. This usually happens within a number of years making them useless or less effective. Gutters replacement is an important part of home maintenance.
Some of the benefits you will get by having working gutters for your home include:
- Gutters prevent water damage to your roof
- They prevent water from getting to, and damaging, the window sills or causing condensation on the panes.
- Gutters prevent soil erosion around your home. Some people have flower gardens around their homes which can be ruined by water pouring down the roof.
- They keep water away from your foundation. Unchecked, this water will find its way into your basement or damage your foundation. Some of this water will also found its way into your home in the form of moisture which then causes problems such as mold and fungal wood rot which are expensive to deal with.
Types of Gutters
Currently, there are different types of gutter systems for your home. They include:
- Aluminum K-style gutter system. This system does not rust or leak. It can be formed on-site as one continuous piece.
- Copper gutter systems- this system is more expensive and ideal for high end homes or historical buildings.
- Steel and vinyl- this gutter system is only effective for a short period of time. This system will rust and crack eventually.
Taking Care of Your Gutter System
You can easily take care of your gutter system. Annual inspections and cleaning are encouraged especially during fall. The more trees you have around your home, the more cleaning and inspection you need to carry out since the leaves tend to get trapped in the gutters. Water-soaked leaves will cause damage to your gutters.
You can use the following tools to clean your gutters.
- A bucket
- A ladder
- A hand shovel or gardening trowel
- A pair of gloves to clean out the leaves and debris off your gutters
During cleaning, make sure to inspect for holes which lead to leaking. If you are using an old gutter system, inspect the seams and joints which are more susceptible to leaking. Leaks can be plugged using caulk or gutter-sealing spray. This fix is short term but it will work well.
When it’s Time for Gutter Replacement
Extensive damage means that your gutter is ready for replacement. This can be characterized by missing or broken downspouts, visible damage on the gutters, sagging, and extensive leaking. Your roofing professional will inspect your gutters and provide appropriate advice on whether you need to fix or replace your gutters.
Finding the right professional to fix or repair your gutter system is important. Clarke and Rush offer professional gutter installation to keep water away from your home. For other home services like plumbing, HVAC, and windows, contact us at Clarke & Rush.
