The Majority of Property owners don’t spend a lot of time thinking about their gutters, however understanding the importance of them could prevent costly property repair costs in the future. Gutters ensure water is funneled off of the roof and away from your property, which protects the walls, windows, doors and foundation from water damage. Many property owners don’t realize how much damage can occur when their gutters are blocked, leaking, or faulty. When gutters aren’t functioning properly, rainwater runs off the roof of the house and collects on the ground near the foundation. Heavy rains can result in standing pools of water, which can cause a multitude of problems.

Gutters protect your property from:

• The flooding of Internal and basement areas of your property

• Cracked/Eroded/Subsidence and Damaged Foundation
• Infestations – Mosquitoes and other insects breed in standing water
• Mold – overflowing gutters create an environment for mold to flourish in crawlspaces and basements
• Erosion of topsoil protects the foundation of your property. If water is not correctly diverted away from your home the topsoil will erode and leave your foundation vulnerable.
• Staining to the exterior of your property fascia, soffit, wood framing and outside walls as well as decks, patios, driveways and walkways
• Paint damage
• Rotting/Rusting of exterior building products

If the above sounds somewhat dramatic, remember that you don’t have to live in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions to suffer the effects of clogged or damaged gutters. You should consider the surprising fact that experts estimate that 2.5cm of rain on an average sized house roof creates about 1800 litres of rainwater runoff. If you think back to the last downpour in your area. Whilst one inch of rain doesn’t seem like much — imagine the volume of water hitting your roof in a heavy rainstorm! If that’s got you thinking about your gutters now! There’s no need to panic and rush out to buy a brand new expensive gutter system. A preventative maintenance routine will keep your gutters working correctly and avoid the potentially costly problems outlined above.

Maintenance

Gutters should be cleaned twice a year, in early spring and late autumn.

“Have your gutters checked to be sure they aren’t pulling away from the house.. “And make sure your down pipes are clear and not blocked by leaves, and that the water from gutters, downpipes, and around the property flows at least 10 feet away from your house.”

A few Property owners prefer to clean their own gutters, while others hire a gutter cleaning professionals to do the cleaning for a reasonable cost. The cost of hiring a professional to clean your gutters is a pittance compared to the money you’ll spend on repairs to your home if they aren’t functioning properly.

If you are cleaning the gutters yourself, make sure to check for rusted spots, dents and holes, broken gutter Brackets Clips, and disconnected and or faulty joiners. Repair or replace any problem areas.

If in doubt with any of the above or you are one of the many property owners that prefers to call in the professionals then do not hesitate  on calling us for friendly expert advice.