Show Your Home's Gutters Some Love This Season
When you show your roof some love this season with repairs or replacement shingles, take time to tend to your gutters, too. These are an integral part of your roofing system, and when they are not working properly, you open yourself up to potential property damage and costly repairs.
Taking care of your roof means paying attention to your home's gutters, too:
Look for leaks. An easy way to tell if your gutters are leaking is to pour water down at different points in the gutter system, and watch for water that drips out. This dripping water has the potential of staining the exterior walls of the home; if this moisture gets inside, it can cause plenty of damage, mildew, and mold. This often is a two-person task; one person pours the water in the trough, and the other watches from the ground below.
Keep them clean and clear. If you want to ensure your gutters remain stable and effective at guiding water down and away from your home, you must keep them clear. Take time to wash the gutters with a garden hose and mild detergent, while removing or snaking-out any debris, trash, or vegetation that has accumulated in the troughs. This can get heavy over time, which manifests in sagging gutters.
Add some protection. If you can't be bothered to be outside doing these chores, consider investing in some good-quality gutter guards. These basically cover and protect the troughs, preventing anything from getting inside and potentially blocking the water's passage through the system.
Secure sagging segments. Make it an annual event to secure and reinforce any sagging segments in your gutter. This not only ensures they will continue to do their job but also reduces the risk of segments breaking free and posing a dangerous hazard to you and your property. Tighten segments in the same holes with screws and fasteners, and use caulking around each attachment to ensure it won't leak.
Don't overlook the down-spout. When you are done assessing your gutters, give your down-spout a good once-over. This should be pointed away from your home's foundation or basement, and you should set up something to leach the water that comes through the spout, such as concrete pavers, grass, or a drainage hole covered with wire or mesh.
Gutters need love, too; when your home's gutters work properly, they will protect you from water damage and pricey restoration. Use these tips to ensure your home's gutters are tip-top, or contact a roofing contractor from a company like All American Roofing Incorporated to take care of your gutters and show them the love they deserve.
