Gutters are important components of your home. They protect the roof, walls, and foundation of your house by controlling the flow of rainwater. Over time, they can accumulate leaves, branches, dirt, and other debris, especially when your home is situated near trees. This can clog up your system and require a repair or replacement.
Clogged gutters are often overlooked, but they need prompt attention. They may overflow with water during a rainstorm, causing water to flow down your exterior walls.
As a result, leaks could seep into your walls and damage your wooden wallboard, framing, and sheathing over time. Worse, the moisture inside of the walls can promote mold growth, requiring costly and extensive repairs in the long run. When this happens, other house problems can occur, such as:
1. Damage to your roof fascia
The fascia is the board that runs along the lower edge of your roof. It secures your gutter system in place. Since it is generally made of wood, it is highly prone to water damage. When your gutters get clogged and your property’s fascia comes into contact with water, rotting and decay can occur. Leaving your rotting fascia unaddressed can cause gutter leakage.
2. Damage to your property’s foundation
Your clogged gutters can overflow with water and build up around your property, putting the foundation at risk. Eventually, it can start to crack, pore, and develop mold. Worse, it may even shift or collapse completely, especially if temperatures drop. The water penetrating the concrete can expand if it freezes, which also accelerates damage and decay.
3. Basement flooding
Overflowing gutters paired with a heavy rainstorm can be a nightmare as it can cause basement flooding. This happens when the water overflows, causes ground trenching, and makes the water eventually seep into your basement.
Flooding can pose safety threats to you and your family and burn a hole in your pocket due to costly repair and replacement fees. To lower your risk for flood damage, fix your clogged gutters right away.
4. Damage to landscaping
Landscaping turns your outdoor area into a lovely and enchanting garden full of trees, shrubs, and flower beds. However, this charming spot can easily get damaged when your gutters clog and overflow. The excess water can dump onto the nearby landscaping and cause serious damage to your flowers and delicate shrubbery.
How Do I Deal with Clogged Gutters?
Having clogged gutters is a common problem that is completely preventable and manageable. Regular proper gutter cleaning can prevent clogging and keep your gutter systems protected from leaves, twigs, pine needles, and more.
Meanwhile, when your gutters sag or get blocked and need to be repaired or replaced right away, hire our team. We offer gutter repair and replacement services in all kinds of residential and commercial properties.
Conclusion
Clogged gutters are more than just a nuisance. They don’t seem to cause an inconvenience right away, but when they’re left neglected for the longest time, you may encounter house problems like property damages that can become safety hazards and cause you to shell out a huge amount of money for repair and replacement costs. When you need gutter repair and replacement, count on a reliable company like ours.
Here at First Choice LEX, we are premier roofing professionals who can address all your roofing needs in Kentucky. Contact us for a free inspection!
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