Your gutters are an important part of draining water and other substances away from your home. In fact, another word for gutter is drain. And if these drains get clogged, this can lead to water backing up on your property. If it gets in the house, you can expect water damage. A lot of times, the solution to this is regular maintenence. But other times you’ll need to invest in a gutter replacement. If this ends up being the case, you should bring in someone who is familiar with architectural gutter systems. While it might cost you some money up front, it’ll be worth it when your house stays dry. Bent gutter will draw the moisture away from the house and foundation, depositing the water further away.
If you’re looking for the best gutter replacement, you should ask around in your area. Find someone who has done good work for another homeowner you know and hire them. Gutter replacement is an important task and it is worth spending money to get it done correctly the first time around.
If you own a house, you have to deal with gutters. It might not be the most fun part of home ownership but it is an important part and they are an essential part of home maintenance. Proper gutter maintenance can prevent you from needing costly gutter repair.
Mother Nature is not on homeowners’ side. In 2013, there were more than 5,400 major hail storms in the United States. Gutters should be cleaned regularly. People with pine trees, and others that shed leaves and the like, need to do this more often. These homeowners need to clean their gutters at least four times a year as opposed to twice a year for people with trees that only drop a few leaves.
Here are some tips to maintain your gutter without having to call in a home maintenance contractor.
- Thoroughly clean the gutters once a year. Clean out all the leaves and other debris that has fallen into the gutters. Take a hose and put water through your gutter system. This will show you where you may need to do some gutter repair and can give you a better sense of how the gutters are working.
- Don’t overlook the seams. Reinforce the seams. Most gutters are segments connected with caulk. Keeping up with the caulk will prevent leaks.
- Make sure the water can flow out easily. The main role your gutters play is keeping water away from your foundation. If the gutter angles are wrong or the drainage area does not push the water away from the foundation, the gutters are not doing their job. All the water that is caught in the gutters has to end up somewhere. It can collect around the base of your home and end up in your basement (at least 95% of all homeowners with a basement will have a flood at some point).
Regular gutter cleaning can help you keep up with the state of your home and prevent you from needing to do expensive gutter repair projects. When installing gutters, consider wider gutters that will be less likely to get clogged. The “U” and “K” shaped gutters are the most common. The channels are usually between two and four inches in diameter. If you are not sure what the best size is for your home, you may want to retain a handyman or consult with roofing contractors.
If when you head up to the gutters and you see that they are really clogged or there are problems, it is worth it to bring in home repair services. Again, gutters are your first defense against flooding so they need to be done correctly. Ask friends, family and neighbors for recommendations if you do not know a decent contractor.
Maintaining your home is a big task. There are professionals who can help you with everything from gutter repair to roof replacement. Knowing when to bring in professionals vs. when you can handle a task is a big part of the battle to keep up your home.