Gutter maintenance for your home is so important because gutters impact many elements of your home! Your gutters also play a major role in the life expectancy of your roof. Take time to learn about gutter tips and trends for the home and how you can maximize this important element of your home’s exterior.
Gutter’s Critical Role In Your Home’s Drainage
Gutters play a critical role in protecting your home! Properly installed gutters direct rainwater away from your home’s foundation. This is critical in maintaining the integrity of your foundation which needs to be free of standing water. If you see standing water in your crawl space it can be an indicator that your downspouts are clogged or have the wrong pitch.
GUTTERS PROTECT THE BEAUTY OF YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR
Gutters also protect your home’s exterior siding, windows, and even doors from water damage. Your home’s beautiful exterior would quickly diminish without a properly installed gutter system. Missing, defective, or improperly installed gutters can cause wood rot, damage landscaping, roof leaks, and even flood basements.
Time for a Gut Check for your Gutters!
Fall and early spring are the best times to check your gutters! Ice and storms in winter along with debris and dead leaves can be detrimental to your entire roofing and gutter system! And those stunning fall leaves can be your gutter’s worst nightmare.
Clogged gutters can cause many problems for your home! Damp leaves allowed to sit in a gutter can serve as a wick that holds water and carries it underneath the shingles. Over time, this will penetrate the decking and cause the roof decking and even rafters to rot. Clogged gutters can also overflow and push the water downward resulting in wet and damaged foundations, basements, siding, and paint.
USE CAUTION WHEN INSPECTING YOUR GUTTERS!
Anytime you climb a ladder you need to have the help of a family member or friend! You don’t want to end up like Clark Griswold in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! Once you have safely climbed the ladder, it’s time to carefully clean your gutters by removing all debris and washing out small pieces with a hose pipe.
USE A HOSE TO CAREFULLY CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS
After carefully removing the debris use a hose pipe to finish cleaning your gutters properly. While the water is running out of the gutters take time to inspect the downspouts. It’s important to make sure they are free from obstructions as well as not leaking.
GUTTER MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR HOME – Tips and Trends to Know!
Just Say No to Gutter Clutter
Gutters can last up to 30 years with proper maintenance! However, routine cleanings and gutter inspections are required to ensure your gutter system continues to function properly. Twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall, you should check for large debris and leaks.
GUTTER GUARDS ARE A GREAT INVESTMENT!
Gutter guards are a great investment for your home and keep your gutters clog-free. There are many types of gutter guards on the market today. Grater gutter guards work like a cheese grater, water hits the raised holes and goes into the gutter while all debris stays out. Other styles cover the entire top of the gutter and allow water to run under the lip of the guard into the gutter while keeping debris out.
PROPER GUTTER INSTALLATION IS IMPORTANT!
Proper gutter installation is important and impacts the performance of the gutter system. A properly installed gutter system will have the gutter hangers properly spaced and installed at the correct pitch. These are both important to secure the gutters properly and prevent water damage in your foundation or your home!
We highly encourage homeowners to speak with a gutter professional like Midsouth Construction who can guide them through the process. Our professional project managers can help you select the absolute best choice for your home’s specific needs.
GUTTER PROBLEMS CAN DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS ROOF LEAKS!
We often receive phone calls for roof leaks that are issues with the gutter system. Improperly installed gutters can push debris and water underneath your shingles resulting in what appears to be a roof leak. Clogged gutters that are full of leaves and debris will also force water under the shingles and allow water into the home.
NEW ROOF = GUTTER MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR HOME!
If you’ve installed a new roof, it may also be time to consider installing new gutters as well. New gutters are not always required when a new roof is installed but they should be inspected by a professional contractor! Don’t invest in an expensive new roof and allow defective gutters to cause water issues in your home!
GUTTER MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR HOME EXTENDS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF YOUR ROOF TOO!
MIDSOUTH CONSTRUCTION PROVIDES GUTTER SERVICES!
MidSouth Construction is Nashville’s Master Elite roofing contractor and proudly offers all types of roofing and home improvement services including gutters and downspouts!
If you need a free roof inspection or estimate to replace your gutters, please contact us at 615-712-8893!