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Many homeowners take great pride in their residences, and they want to be in control of every project or renovation. Amateurs can complete some home projects on their own, but only a professional should complete certain types of projects—including gutter installation.

Below you’ll find some of the most common DIY gutter installation mistakes people make. Take note of these before you attempt this type of project—or better yet, call a professional to handle it.

1. Choosing the Wrong Gutter Type

One of the biggest mistakes people make with their DIY gutter installation is choosing the incorrect type of gutters. Size of the home and the regional rainfall impact which type of gutter you should use.

Seamless gutters are usually the best choice of gutters, especially for Maryland residents who experience varying levels of rainfall and weather conditions.

It’s important to decide between half-round gutters, K-style gutters, and fascia gutters. Each of these styles can use different materials, depending on your budget and preference. These materials include aluminum, copper, zinc, or even vinyl.

You can also pick between sectional and seamless gutters. Sectional gutters are cheaper, but misplacing the seams can cause more issues in the future.

2. Choosing the Wrong Gutter Size

Another common issue many homeowners experience leading to incorrect gutter installation is choosing the wrong size. The gutter size will depend on the amount of rainfall your area receives and the layout of the home.

The steeper the roof pitch, the more rainwater will collect.

Don’t forget about snow and ice: cold climates risk ice dams building up in the gutter systems. This may require heat cables to melt any ice that blocks the gutters or downspouts.

3. Incorrect Gutter Hanger Placement

Some people make the mistake of placing their gutter hangers too far apart. Gutter hangers that are spread too far can sag and possibly break.

A sagging gutter can cause water to overflow, which may cause the landscape near a home’s foundation to erode. This could weaken the foundation and even cause a flooded basement.

Gutter hangers should be spaced approximately two to three feet apart from each other.

4. Improper Roof Pitch Calculation

Failing to account for the roof pitch can cause its own issues. Rainwater should travel down your roof directly to your gutter and downspouts.

If it’s not steep enough, water can pool and damage your roof. This can lead to mold to grow and weaken the structure. Ultimately, DIY gutter installation can lead to a mistake with this and cause further structural issues.

5. Improper Safety

Of course, doing any outside DIY gutters project without the proper knowledge can increase the chances of injuring yourself. When dealing with great heights such as with your gutter system, you can fall or put yourself at serious risk of doing so. Even with someone helping you, you could still end up in the emergency room.

For these reasons, you should always allow a professional gutter technician to take care of your gutters. Fortunately, we at Gutter Maid specialize in rain gutter installation and repair.

Gutters are some of the most vulnerable parts of any residence. They withstand weather, seasonal changes, and outdoor factors more than other components of a house. Given this, it’s no surprise that your gutters get damaged. Fortunately, these tips for preventing gutter damage will ensure your gutters remain stable and in good condition all year long.

Hail Damage

The best way to prevent hail damage is to have gutters made from heavy-duty materials, such as copper or stainless steel. These are the strongest gutter materials available and will resist impact from hail and other extreme weather conditions. Replace the brackets in the spring, summer, or fall to secure your gutter system in place. Since hail can damage your roof and siding too, nail down any loose shingles during the non-winter seasons to avoid further structural damage.

Snow Damage

For the snow, it’s best to install a de-icing system to avoid any ice dams or snow build-up. During the extreme cold, water can freeze inside your gutters which can cause them to expand and break. While proper insulation can help prevent this, the best solution is to install a heat cable through the gutters to melt ice and keep your gutters and downspouts clear.

Water Damage

While it might sound counter-intuitive for water to damage your gutters, it can happen. A good way to minimize water damage is to layer your gutters with water-resistant paint. This will seal any cracks or leaks that developed.

Foundational Damage

Damaged gutters can ruin your home’s structural integrity. As the gutters overflow, the water can pool on the roof and cause leaks and mold growth. It can also drip down and collect at the home’s base which can flood the basement or ground floor. To prevent this, point and extend your downspout away from your home to prevent water from collecting around your foundation. It’s also good to perform preventative maintenance around your home with routine checks at the base of your house to see if it sinks.

Clogged Gutters

Arguably, the best way to prevent clogged gutters to install gutter guards. These prevent debris from collecting. When gutters clog, they can lead to roof damage, pests, and a flooded basement. Keep in mind the different types of gutter guards available. There are mesh gutter guards, bottlebrush guards, metal or wire screen guards, foam guards, and reverse curve guards depending on your budget and preference.

Overflowing

There are many reasons why gutters overflow, but the main ones are excess debris, misalignment, too much rain, and simply not enough gutters or downspouts. It’s easy to clean the inside of your gutters, but you should also inspect any misalignment or other structural issues.

With all said and done, you should also have your gutter properly inspected. At Gutter Maid, we specialize in gutter installation in Bowie, Maryland. Our gutter installation and repair guarantee a top-quality gutter system for your residence. Call us today!

Your gutters are very important to your home’s protection. They are often overlooked features that bear a lot of the structural burden from excess rainwater, ice, and snow. Still, sometimes your gutters can clog, which leads to further issues to consider. Every homeowner must know these common problems caused by clogged gutters to maintain their home to the best of their ability.

Gutters are one of the most ignored parts of any homeowner’s maintenance list. Understandably, rain gutters are simple in their design and operation; they carry water from the roof to the ground. However, this helps protect your house from serious water damage. Read on if you’re asking yourself, What do gutters do and why are gutters important? You might learn that your rain gutters do a lot more to ensure your structural integrity than you might think.

How Do Gutters Work

Fundamentally, gutters collect rainwater from your roof and channel it to the ground through a downspout. During rain, water rolls down from the slope of the roof to the gutters. As the water pools, it travels through the gutter system to the downspout.

Downspouts carry water from the gutters to the base of the house. It is typically diverted to protect the basement and foundation from flooding and further water damage. There is a splash block at the base of the downspout to further divert the rainwater away from the house.

Why Are Gutters Important

The purpose of gutters is to protect your home from rain and water damage.

Without a gutter system, rainwater would likely collect on your roof, causing rot, deterioration, or mold. This will weaken your shingles, soffit, and fascia. Naturally, gravity pulls the water down from your roof to your windows, siding, and foundation. Moisture in the windows causes condensation, which damages the sill and interior walls. Not to mention, mold and grime can develop.

When pooling against your home’s foundation, water causes erosion, weakens the integrity and structure, and causes basement flooding. Gutters protect against all of this.

However, gutters can weaken if not taken care of. Leaves and other debris easily block gutters from working properly. Once debris builds up, water will overflow and damage the siding of the home. Heavy storms and high winds can also misalign your gutter system. This can weaken your gutters and cause them to break entirely.

To keep your gutter system clean and operational, call your local gutter installers. We at Gutter Maid know the importance of high-quality gutter installation and repair. Give us a call today for professional gutter cleaning, installation, or repair.

Are Gutters Necessary

While certain types of roofs such as flat roofs or roofs with built-in drainage systems may not require traditional gutters, the vast majority of pitched or sloped roof require gutters to ensure proper water management.

Without gutters, rainwater can cause serious water damage to your home. These include soil erosion around the foundation, water seeping into basements or crawlspaces, damage to exterior siding, staining, rotting, and even structural damage over time.

Rain Gutters Installation

Have more questions about gutters or interested in installing a gutter system on your own home? GutterMaid gutter experts can answer all your questions about gutter installation, cleaning, and maintenance.

Water overflow might sound harmless, but it can be a serious problem for your home. Excess water can damage your roof and siding, weakening the structural integrity of your exterior and making it prone to further water damage and mold. The most common reasons for gutter overflow typically involve excess debris, excess rainwater, and a misaligned gutter system. Nevertheless, all these issues are fixable, and there are steps you can take to prevent overflow from happening again.

Excess Debris

One of the biggest contributors to clogged rain gutters is excess debris. Weather and animals bring leaves, twigs, and other debris to your gutters and downspouts to the point where rain can’t flow through. Fortunately, one of the easiest ways to stop this is to install a gutter guard. A mesh or foam gutter guard prevents debris from obstructing waterflow.

Misalignment

Your rain gutters are positioned by their pitch and tilt. Your gutters may be tilted away from your house, which can lead to an overflow during a storm. Similarly, the pitch can be too steep, which can also lead to an overflow. Water can gather in one spot if the pitch is off because it won’t have a way to get to the downspout.

Too Much Rain

Sometimes, there’s simply too much rain for your gutters to handle at a given time. Depending on the type of gutters you have, they may or may not be able to handle intense storms. More durable gutter materials, such as stainless steel and copper, can handle heavy rain without issues, but more cost-effective materials—vinyl, aluminum, or wood—are relatively weaker, and they can sag or break due to intense weather conditions.

Not Enough Gutters or Downspouts

You simply may not have enough gutters on all sides of your home. Consider replacing or adding to your current gutter system to ensure all sides are covered. Make sure there are enough downspouts for the water to escape, too. Otherwise, you face the risk of excess water hitting your siding, door, fascia, and foundation.

Here at Gutter Maid, we offer premium gutter cleaning in Frederick, Maryland. Check out some of our top services, including leaf protection, gutter installation, and debris removal, to keep your rain gutters clean and protected.