Gutters play an important role in the overall well-being of your home. When you take the time to properly maintain them, they’ll do their job, which is to protect your roof, siding, and foundation. While metal and vinyl gutters last for many years, things can still go wrong. Once they do, it’s important for you to quickly and efficiently address these issues. Here are some questions that will help you do so.
Have you recently cleaned your gutters?
It’s important that you clean your gutters on a routine basis because they’re your first line of defense against any damage to your home. When debris builds up in them causing them to become clogged, you’re bound to have problems with other parts of your home too. This is why you should have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year – once in the spring and then again mid-summer. If there’s really heavy foliage around your home, you may need to have them cleaned more often. You’ll easily know when it’s time to clean your gutters because water will start to pool around your foundation and overflow from your gutters.
Are your gutters sagging?
When you see your gutters start to sag, you need gutters repair. This is something you should do as soon as possible because the problems will only grow worse quickly. It could result in your fascia board rotting or your gutters completely collapsing. Sometimes you merely need to replace the hardware that’s holding your gutters up, but at other times it’s possible that your gutters aren’t the right ones for your home so you’ll need to have them completely replaced.
Are you able to see any leaks?
When water escapes your gutters and they aren’t blocked, it’s because you have a leak either at the joints or between sections of your gutters. Typically, these can be resealed or patched, but if there’s a weak spot you’ll need additional gutters repair work.
Are there any signs that your gutters are damaged?
There are several early signs that your gutters are damaged, including:
- Paint peeling on them or orange flecks on your gutters indicates the presence of standing water
- Mildew or standing water around your foundation indicates you need gutters repair
- Water marks or damage under your gutters means water is escaping from them
Are your gutters properly pitched?
It’s important for your gutters to have a slight pitch (about 1/16” per foot) towards your downspout. This isn’t something you’ll know simply by looking at your gutters though. However, when water starts to pool and you don’t have a blockage, this is most likely the reason. Whether this is caused by them being incorrectly installed in the first place or your house settling since they’ve been installed, you’ll need to have pitch adjustment work done. This is a delicate, precise job.
When you find any of these signs, you’ll know it’s time for gutters repair. Fortunately, there’s a company that you can trust to take care of this for you as they’ve done so for many satisfied clients over the years: give Done Rite Roofing a call and they’ll make sure your gutters are performing at their best for you.