You probably have a basic idea of what gutters do, catching rainwater and letting it flow away from your home, but do you know exactly why you need them and how they help save your home from serious problems? Let us enlighten you.
The Importance of Proper Gutter Installation
Properly installed gutters effectively drive away water from your home, keeping moisture-related problems at bay. Poor installation can give rise to structural problems on a gutter system, hampering its ability to perform well. And when gutters don’t perform well, they can lead to issues like:
● Foundation damage
● Flooding under the house or basement
● Soil erosion around the house
● Siding damage
● Water staining on brick and stone masonry
● Settling and cracking of sidewalks, patios, and driveways
● Door and window damage
Gutter Cleaning and Maintenance
Indeed gutters need to be properly chosen, designed, and installed right from the start, but for them to function as long as possible, they should also be maintained well. Otherwise, gutters can quickly turn from being a necessity into a nuisance.
The most important gutter maintenance task is cleaning. A gutter clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris can cause a myriad of problems, including roof damage and various water-related issues. Furthermore, a gutter filled with gunk makes for an ideal home for pests and mold.
It is recommended that you clean your gutters twice a year, but if cleaning can only be scheduled once, opt to do it as fall ends, when the last leaves have already fallen. To save on time, you can also have an inspection carried out as your gutter system is being cleaned.
Gutter Protection Systems: Do You Need One?
Gutter cleaning and inspection may sound simple enough, but accumulating costs may be a concern for some homeowners. You can’t exactly do away with cleaning now, can you? Gutter protection systems might be able to help you with that. How? Gutter protection systems can help lessen the need for cleaning your gutters by keeping leaves, twigs, and other debris out of your gutters. They fit right over gutters so debris can’t pass through and accumulate but they don’t impede the flow of water so rainwater will still be swiftly directed away from your roof and your home when you have one in place.
A gutter system that performs well because it has been properly installed, maintained, and protected will always be a benefit to a home. You know what’s also good for your home? Storm damage repair. Learn more about it in Part 3!
