Protect Your Roof With Proper Gutter Cleaning And Maintenance
The gutters lining your Westchester County roof are one of those features on a house that many homeowners tend to take for granted. After all, the gutters are always there, and they’re barely visible, so they’re easy to forget about. Unfortunately, without regular gutter cleaning and maintenance, they can also easily become damaged – which leads to roof damage, leaks, or worse.
C.E.T. Painting is Westchester County’s top source for home renovation inside and out, and that includes work on your gutters. Whether you need a basic gutter cleaning or more extensive repairs, we’re here to help!
So let’s look into the most common problems we tend to see with local gutters, and what to do about them.
Five Common Gutter Problems And Their Solutions
1 – Clogged Gutters
By far the most common issue is gutters becoming clogged, and the homeowner not realizing it since the clogs can’t be seen from ground level. This is particularly common in the fall when leaves and other tree debris tend to fall onto roofs and then get swept into the gutters. However, they can be clogged simply from the passing of time, or from other influences – such as birds building nests in them.
We strongly recommend a gutter cleaning in Westchester County twice a year – in the fall and then in the spring, since melting snow can also carry a lot of debris into the gutters. While you can potentially do this yourself, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Roof-based work is surprisingly dangerous, even for the pros, and you don’t want to risk falling off.
2 – Sagging Gutters
Even well-installed gutters may start sagging over time. The combination of wind, rain, show, and debris will slowly loosen the screws or bolts holding the gutter in place. Once a few of these come loose, the gutter will start to sag. Sagging gutters won’t do their job properly, preventing water from flowing out to the ground, while the weight of the water will only make the sagging worse.
If you notice a section of your gutter sagging, don’t ignore the problem. They need to be properly put back into position so they function properly again. If you’re careful, you can do this yourself, although again we’d recommend hiring professionals for your safety.
3 – Shifted Gutter Slope
Your gutters always need to have a bit of a slope, so that water and debris are encouraged to flow into the drain spouts and down to the ground. As with sagging gutters, improper gutter slopes can lead to water and debris staying in one place, causing further damage. The causes of this can be complicated, from poor installation, to shifts in your home’s ground and foundation.
Generally speaking, there’s no quick fix for gutters that have lost their slope. Some or all of the gutters will need to be re-hung, and that’s definitely a job that calls for experienced home renovation experts if you want long-lasting results.
4 – Leaky Gutters
In the grand scheme of things, minor leaks from your gutters aren’t necessarily a big issue. That said, the water will be going somewhere, and it’s typically going to be flowing down your walls. This can lead to water staining, at a minimum, and potentially even erode some types of walls (like brick) over time. Also, the leaks will likely be going straight to the foundation, which can cause big problems if it goes on long enough.
If you notice your gutters leaking, this is a problem that needs to be taken care of when you have the opportunity. Small leaks can be sealed with basic roofing cement, while larger holes or tears will need metal flashing to patch them up. This is another of those jobs you could do yourself, but it’s always going to be a bit dangerous.
5 – Serious Gutter Damage
Finally, the worst-case scenario is when the gutters become damaged beyond repair, such as if a particularly heavy storm comes through. In this case, gutter replacement is really the only option – and that’s not a job for amateurs. You want professional gutter installers to handle the job so that the new work will remain sturdy and reliable for as long as possible, and without accidentally damaging your roof or walls.
C.E.T. Painting are Westchester County’s experts for exterior repairs and renovation, including gutter cleaning and repairs. If your gutters aren’t doing their job properly, contact us for fast and affordable service.