It’s not uncommon for new homeowners to forget to attend to their home’s exteriors. This is because they’re so focused on the condition of their interior spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. After all, it’s naturally easier to notice something you see every day. However, being so careless can put your entire home at risk.
Your roof systems generally receive plenty of abuse from various environmental factors, mainly from water damage. For this reason, its gutters channel water away from your home, reducing the potential for water damage within the building. Over time, different variables from mold growth, the presence of pests, and blunt damage can deteriorate your gutters. If you leave these essential roofing system components as is, it could spell a huge disaster for your home.
Taking Care of Your Gutters
Keeping your gutters in good condition is all about anticipating the potential problems they can face. Although the causes of damage seem ordinary, the wear and tear your gutters develop over time can vary. For this reason, you need to spot the warning signs of these conditions and set preventive measures for them.
In this article, we’ll discuss three gutter problems and how you can prepare for them.
1. Gutter Holes
Noticing a stream of water falling down your gutters from the wrong path indicates that your roofing systems have cracks or holes in them. This causes water to divert from the intended stream down to your drainage, potentially introducing water or moisture to vulnerable areas of your home. Although it can seem like a minor issue, a rainy season full of non-stop days of a downpour will lead to severe water damage to your home.
After or during rainfall, consider inspecting from indoors or outdoors the flow of water from your gutters. If there are noticeable leaks, apply a sealant to it immediately to avoid causing more damage. Keep in mind that more extensive gutter damage will require patching instead of simply applying sealant. Also, remember to use the same roofing material for your gutter to prevent unintended chemical reactions between the two.
2. Clogged Gutters
Instead of leaks and cracks, your gutters could have a build-up of debris, preventing water from flowing seamlessly down your drain pipes. This can lead to water spreading in the wrong direction or staying on top of your gutters until they evaporate. Any amount of lingering water or moisture can cause significant damage to your gutter’s structural integrity.
Clogged gutters may have similar signs of damage with leaks. However, one noticeable difference is the presence of sagging sections or patches of debris falling from the gutters. It’s best to regularly maintain your gutters, especially during spring and autumn, mainly to avoid this issue.
3. Misaligned Gutters
Misaligned gutters can lead to improper water flow. This occurs if the gutter is pitched at the wrong angle, directing water to build up or spread in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, misaligned gutters can happen to brand-new homes if the roofing contractor installed them incorrectly. Since it’s dangerous to adjust the gutters yourself, it’s best to leave the recalibration to professionals.
Conclusion
It must be a homeowner’s prerogative to look for any signs of home damage, no matter how small or large. Besides identifying the aesthetic weaknesses of your building, you must also pay close attention to compromised structural components. If the damage is too significant, it’s vital to suspend attempts at handling it manually and call experts to fix your gutters for you.
If you need professional roofers in San Diego, CA, we’re the right company to call. Our 24-hour service makes us the best option for immediate repairs, no matter which part of your building’s roofing system has damage. Call our expert roofing contractors today!