Gutters and downspouts do more than just
catch water. They protect your home’s siding and prevent water from
entering your basement. A properly functioning gutter and downspout system is
essential to a well kept home. Gutters are either exterior (hung outside the
roof edge) or interior (built in the roof) and are usually constructed of
galvanized steel, aluminum or copper. Kerzner Window & Door can inspect,
evaluate, clean, adjust, repair or replace your gutter and downspouts.
If you think a few leaves and
twigs in your gutter are harmless, think again. Clean gutters are the single
most important key to avoiding major and expensive home repairs. Gutters
perform one duty: controlling the water around your home. And if debris keeps
them from doing their job, then you can wind up with some serious problems:
Leaking Basements - Clogged gutters are the
number one cause of basement water problems. Roof water overflows and
accumulates around the foundation. If this happens, basement leaks may be
moments away.
Cracked Foundations - Excess water
against the foundation wall can weaken the footing and lead to cracks. This is
particularly true in the colder months when built-up water at the foundation
freezes and causes a condition known as "frost-heave" which can cause severe
cracks to foundation walls.
Rotten Wood - Water
backing up from clogged gutters will cause moisture damage to the wood fascia
around the house. The rotted area will get worse quickly if the leak is not
eliminated by cleaning the gutters.
Leaking Roofs
- In winter, ice-dams can form on top of
clogged gutters. Then snow builds
up across the top of the gutter and freezes. During the next thaw, water
running off the roof is blocked by the frozen snow and backs up into the house.
This can lead to major wall and ceiling damage.
Slippery
Sidewalks - Overflowing gutters can deposit water on walks and
driveways where it can freeze and cause a slipping hazard. Avoid this problem
by keeping gutters clean and the spouts extended away from any traffic
areas.
Sagging Driveways - Misdirected and
clogged gutter spouts often
cause driveways and walks to sag and crack.
Washed-out Landscaping - Any newly installed plants,
grass or trees
can be killed by excess water. Overflowing gutters can cause
severe erosion and put an early end to young plantings.
Wood
Destroying Insects - Bugs love moisture. Keeping the soil dry
around the foundation perimeter can force bugs to go elsewhere for a tasty
snack of dampened two-by-four.
If you think your gutters need a good
tune-up, here are some important steps to follow:
• Safety
First - If you are not comfortable with heights or don't use tall ladders
regularly, this is not a job for you. Consider hiring a handyman to help. If
you decide to do the job yourself, watch out for hidden hazards like electric
lines and bees' nests.
• Clear Gutters - Using a ladder, work
gloves and a hose, clear the gutters beginning at one end and moving to the
other. Always work from the ladder and not from the roof, where you could fall
off. If you find any loose gut
ter sections, tighten them up as you go
along. It may help to have a supply of long lag bolts to use when replacing
loose or missing gutter spikes. Lag bolts won't pull out like spikes, so you
usually don't have to do this more than once.
• Spray Spouts
- When you get to the end of the gutter where the spout is, spray the hose
down
it to make sure it's clear. If the spout is clogged, water will back
up and cause problems. Clearing clogged spouts can be a chore. Try removing the
debris from both ends and flushing out the rest with a hose. If this doesn't
work you may need to take the spout apart to clear it. Once the spouts are
clear, make sure the discharge end is extended at least 4 to 6 feet away from
the house to avoid problems.
• Install Gutter Guards - Once
the gutter system is cleaned and properly adjusted, consider installing gutter
guards to avoid a repeat performance in the future. There are many types of
guards available. Results can be varied. Screens can be effective in the short
run, but eventually allow debris to get through. Clogs will recur and can be
even harder to clear since the screens will need
to be removed first. There
are a number of leaf blocking guards available. These look like a metal louver
that is installed above the gutter. The louvers allow water to leak into the
gutter while washing leaves over the side.
While highly effective, these
often cost three times as much as the gutter system itself.
The best
solution I've ever seen to the problem of clogged gutters is a new plastic
device called "The WaterFall Gutter Guard System", by Crane Plastics, which is
one of the country's oldest producers of vinyl siding. The system consists of a
simple louvered plastic guard
installed across the top of the gutter and
under the edge of the roof system. Installation is very simple with only a few
hand tools. The best part is the cost. The WaterFall system is available
through local roofing suppliers for $2 or less per foot (plus installation), a
fraction of the typical $8-$10 cost per foot for metal leaf guards.
Seamless Gutters &
Downspouts