Your home is your sanctuary; taking care of it means paying attention to every detail to ensure that everything is working the right way. Of course, this includes taking care of the gutters. Gutters ensure a clean and safe exterior. Learn how gutters can help increase the value of your home and keep it protected.
Look at your home as a whole system, and think about minor things that can affect different parts of your home. For instance, did you know that leaves left in gutters can eventually damage your roof? Read this guide for more information and to learn about the best prevention methods.
Though clogged gutters can create problems like stained woodwork and foundation deterioration, leaves trapped in your gutters can damage your roof. Frozen wet leaves will act as an ice dam, causing rainwater to back up in the system. And when water backs up, it will push up underneath your shingles. Eventually, this results in damage to your roof deck.
Once roof damage happens, not only will you need to pay for expensive repairs, but it can cause water to seep into your home and allow mold, mildew, and bacteria to spread in your attic and walls.
There are different methods to prevent leaves from piling up, but these are the best two:
Given that leaves left in gutters can eventually damage your roof, you must take the appropriate steps to prevent this from happening. Fortunately, Gutter Maid is a top-quality gutter cleaning and repair service that can benefit your home year-round. From residential cleaning to leaf protection installation, we provide excellent service for homes in the Maryland and Virginia area. For more information on how often your gutters should be cleaned, please click here. If you’re interested in our services, contact us today!
Discovering a flooded basement is frustrating. Flooding can damage furniture and personal items, whether it comes after a heavy rainfall or random occurrence. While searching for the flooding culprit, you may overlook the possibility of clogged gutters. You may wonder, “Can clogged gutters cause water in the basement?” Fortunately, we have the answer.
With Christmas coming just around the corner, people are putting up twinkling lights left and right. Your neighbors may have a decked-out exterior lights display, but you have yet to complete your outside holiday lighting. Attaching tiny bulbs that dangle two or three stories in the air isn’t always easy. While physical safety is of paramount importance, you should also consider your fastening strategy. Will Christmas lights damage gutter guards?
Gutters are at the center of your water drainage system, so when they clog, the flow of water immediately halts and accumulates in undesirable places. If you have broken or clogged gutters, you need to know what you could be up against. Explore these five common problems caused by clogged gutters.
Your home features many architectural features that keep it safe and dry inside, one of which is your gutters. However, if you experience problems with your gutters, a whole host of subsequent issues can arise. One of the most common problems includes the gutter-roof relationship. Can clogged gutters lead to ceiling leaks?
Gutters grab falling water and funnel it in an advantageous direction. This drainage system consisting of your gutters and downspouts keeps excess moisture from penetrating your home’s walls and foundation. However, gutters aren’t immune to the occasional blockage.
Gutters typically clog when rainwater collides with a buildup of smaller debris pieces, coagulating into a big mess. Leaves, dirt, bird nests, and more can all collect in your gutters. When these items fail to follow the stream down the gutter and plug the flow, you have a clog on your hands.
Your gutters and your roof live side-by-side on the exterior of your home. Though the gutter keeps water away from your house, a clogged gutter will fill with liquid, overflowing onto nearby structures, including the roof. Since the water will move from the gutter right to the roof, you can expect the water to get in.
If water comes dripping through your ceiling, the first thing to do is assess your gutter situation. If you notice significant blockages, you know the faulty hardware is to blame. Contact a gutter professional who can diagnose your gutter problem, fix the issue at the source, and build it back better to prevent further leaks. Depending on the extent of the leakage, you may need to treat for mold and repaint the ceiling.
Can clogged gutters lead to ceiling leaks? The short answer is yes. If you have any trouble with your gutters or downspouts that lead to other home misfortunes, reach out to us at Gutter Maid. Our team offers a gutter and downspout cleaning service that will remove all debris and prevent further damage to your home’s interior.
Your gutters operate as the primary water collection system for your home. While these hollow metal half-pipes only reach a certain distance and width, they prevent rainwater from collecting at your roof and seeping into your walls. Yet where does this water go once your gutters collect water near your roof? Here’s the importance of properly functioning downspouts.
Your home is weatherproof, but only up to a certain point. While your ceiling may not leak and your windows might not let in drafts, other parts of your house structure may have issues. One such area that you can’t see is your foundation. And damage to your foundation is a terrible problem to have.
Downspouts carry water away from your home’s structure underneath the soil. If you leave the water to collect where your home meets the ground, it’ll seep into the concrete and wood foundation, where unwanted moisture will wear the structure down. If enough water builds there, it could spell trouble for your home’s safety and stability.
Depending on your home’s style and location, you’ll likely have a basement floor of concrete. Although this surface is dense and relatively nonporous, your basement walls, windows, and doors don’t share these qualities. If you don’t have functioning downspouts, water will build up at your basement entry points until flooding begins.
Your water drainage system doesn’t just preserve your home’s structural integrity; it also prevents unsightly yard erosion. Depending on the slope of your property and landscaping in your yard, you could have natural pockets and indentations that collect water. When your downspouts don’t carry excess water away from these areas, more water will pool in them, killing the grass and eroding the soil underneath.
Knowing the importance of properly functioning downspouts will keep your house in tip-top shape. If you want to avoid structural and landscaping problems, reach out to our team at Gutter Maid today. We can help you fix your downspouts and implement other drainage solutions with our gutter installation services.
If you’ve had your current gutters for several years now, you’re probably no stranger to rust or corrosion. Though gutters are durable, they’re susceptible to oxidation. This results in the inevitable formation of rust and the deterioration of gutter performance. Fortunately, you can stave off this occurrence and keep your gutters in good condition for much longer. Here are a few of the best ways to prevent rust in your gutters.
First, make sure you keep up with regular gutter repairs and service. When gutters sustain damage, the areas in question become weakened. This exposes the metal to the open air and increases the rate at which oxidation takes place. Inspect your gutters regularly and immediately fix any components that aren’t up to par.
You can also decrease your risk of corrosion by ensuring that your gutter system drains properly. Sometimes, excess water from storms or grime from past debris can sit in your gutters’ downspouts. These materials slowly wear away at the piping and make them more likely to rust as the parts age. To test your gutters’ slope, simply pour water into them and have someone indicate whether it drains along the ground.
Applying a specialized sealant to your gutters can help, too. Quality rubber sealants form a protective barrier between the metal and water. Sealants are very effective at preventing the formation of rust and maintaining the stability of your system’s seams. These formulas can help increase your gutters’ drainage ability and reduce the risk of blockages.
The most effective way to prevent rust in your gutters is to keep them as clean as possible. The more debris you leave in your gutters, the more damage your gutters will suffer. Regularly clearing them of debris or hiring someone to do it for you is a crucial part of making them last.
By the time your gutter system starts to rust, you’re already well on your way to having to replace them. Contact a gutter contractor to help you stop corrosion in its tracks. At Gutter Maid, we go the extra mile to ensure that every gutter we work on is clean and ready for anything. Our gutter cleaning services in Maryland purge your gutters of anything that can damage them. Contact us today.
Many people often overlook gutters in a home which is why they may not realize when it’s time to repair or replace them. Determining which steps to take with your gutters is essential to your home maintenance. Let’s go through this guide to learn about gutters: should you repair or replace them?
Harsh weather, poor installation, and lack of maintenance are all ways that your gutters can get damaged. If your gutters have minor damages, you can save money by simply repairing them. Here are some signs to look out for to determine if you’re able to restore them:
There are many routes you can take when it comes to repairing your gutters. If you have loose hangers, all you need to do is determine which hangers are loose, and if they’re not bent or damaged, you can tighten them against the fascia. If the hangers are damaged, you’ll need to visit your local hardware store to find replacements. You don’t want to reuse broken attachments with your gutters; it’ll just cause more damage and cost more money down the road.
Check all areas on your gutter before starting the repair process. That way, you can catch any arising problems and repair them immediately to prevent further damage. To fix minor leaks in your gutters, you’ll need roofing cement, silicone caulk, and tools. Make sure to fill each hole with roofing cement and apply silicone caulk to the connecting joints.
To fix small cracks in your gutters, you’ll need a water-proof and flexible sealant to keep them from forming larger cracks. What’s great about this sealant is you can use it for doors, windows, and other areas in your home that require bonding.
If you need to replace your gutters, keep an eye out for these signs:
If you notice significant damage to the siding of your home, there are plenty of causes, one of which is gutter damage. Replacing your gutter on your own is not recommended. To ensure the project is done safely and efficiently, seek a professional gutter installation contractor who can help you get the job done.
Now that you know if you should repair or replace them, you’ll need to take care of your gutters to keep them up and running! Whether you decide to repair your gutters or replace them, the best way to maintain their use is to assess and clean them regularly.
It’s so fun to get out in the sun during summer. But life still goes on, and we have chores to complete around the house—especially outside. Exterior home maintenance is a must when the weather is nice. Take the opportunity to deal with your gutters. Here is the ultimate summer gutter care checklist.
