Annual Inspection of the Roof Guttering
Seasoned homeowners know the importance of gutters on the home. If you’re a new homeowner, gutter cleaning will introduce this to you. Many people question the reasons for concern about gutters, and they ask, if they’re clean, that’s all I need to worry about, right?
The reality is you’re half right. Yes, clean gutters not only keep rainwater from damaging the foundation of the home, they also prevent rain from running unabated onto your porch or portions of grassy areas and causing ruts and pooled water.
To know when it’s time to replace your gutters, annual inspections of the roof guttering answers the question. Gutter systems last for 20 or more years, but that figure assumes regular maintenance. Maintenance requires more than a cursory check from the ground although a simple check such as this will provide a rough idea of problem areas.
Why Gutters are Important
Aside from their ability to guide water away from your home, gutters protect your doors, windows, and foundation from water penetration. Water causes extensive damage in some cases, and it makes sense to take necessary steps to keep it away from your home in Sydney.
A house without gutters shows its wear quickly due to stains and excessive wear from the pounding of rain against windows and doors. It creates an unacceptable condition that gets worse, and quickly.
That said, problems common to gutter systems mentioned here don’t require major work, unless neglect is the real cause. We’ll discuss that, too.
Inspection Comes First
A common-sense inspection of your gutters is check their operation while it’s raining. Look for leaks at the seams, if any, and holes in the body of the gutter. Clean gutters should not overflow unless the rain is of the torrential variety. If you experience frequent heavy rains, consider installing additional downspouts.
If the ground near the downspout is full of ruts, lengthen it to approximately 10 feet, or consider an underground system using drain tile. Either technique helps move water away from the foundation and prevents erosion.
While the rain pours down, notice how well they hold up with the added weight of the water. Here, you can see sagging or bowing gutter sections, and downspouts pulling away from the home. Make a note of areas that need attention, especially damaged fascia.
When the rain lets up and the gutters are draining, make another note of leaks from holes or seams. Gutter experts recommend replacing leaking gutter sections, instead of repeated futile attempts at repairing them.
Neglected roof guttering causes major roof damage in some cases. Soffit and fascia damaged from years of wear with little or no maintenance creates an expensive repair that didn’t need to happen.
Regular gutter cleaning is a basic step in their maintenance and helps prevent serious problems later. Leading gutter experts agree that keeping your gutters clean helps minimize the chances of a transfer fire from airborne embers in windy conditions. It also gets you close to the gutter system to inspect areas prone to damage.
Complete Gutter Replacement?
If there’s damage to your home and the gutters look rusty, there’s no other choice but replace them. They’ve served their purpose for decades and can longer do the job without causing more damage.
Many times, repairing a gutter system requires simple tools to tighten brackets and reposition others. Adding downspouts creates a better system overall and helps with its efficiency. If a complete gutter replacement is the better choice, seek the advice of gutter experts for their opinion before making your final decision.