There are key reasons why homeowners are keen on replacing roof gutters in their homes. Gutters play a vital role in protecting wall paint and fascia from being damaged by rainwater besides directing away water from the house foundation to prevent damage. Gutters are also excellent tools to harvest rainwater for domestic and agricultural applications. Nevertheless, the drainage tools are prone to a wide range of problems which, when left unattended, can lead to serious water threats to your home and its foundation.
Without further ado, here are situations which may necessitate gutter replacement or repairs and their possible solution.
Leaking Gutters
Leaking gutters are quite common in old homes, and the prime culprits are usually holes and joints between sections. Never underestimate the risk of those drops of water falling off your gutter—not replacing the holes and joints for a long time may eventually compromise your foundation.
Allow the inside of the gutters to dry then seal the leaking joints with gutter caulking compound or silicone. Seal holes with roofing cement and but ensure that you do so on a sunny day for quick spreading. Otherwise, warm it to room temperature before applying the cement. Large holes in gutters can be fixed with sheet-metal patches embedded in roofing cement.
Overflowing Gutters
Overflowing gutters pose a severe threat to your home’s foundation. Possible causes of overflow include clogged spouts, or spouts or gutters too small to handle the volume of rainwater runoff. Debris and leaves are mainly to blame for gutter overflows, and it’s high time you replaced or cleaned your gutter and spout before looking into other potential causes of the problem.
Sagging Gutter
Gutters made with flexible materials such a galvanized steel, vinyl, and aluminum tend to sag under the weight of rainwater. Sagging compromises efficient draining of water and consequently leads to the creation of water pools along the length of the gutters.
Consider replacing or fixing the gutter hangers to reduce sagging. Replace your gutters if fixing the brackets does not solve the sagging problem.
Gutter Outlet and Downspout Issues
As mentioned earlier, clogged downspout causes water pools in the gutter and overflows. Be quick to remove the debris to prevent accumulation, which may eventually split the gutter outlet and downspout. Downspouts that drain water at the base of the walls are a threat to your home’s foundation.
Replace the downspout or consider hiring an expert to install downspout extensions that direct water away from the foundation. Check the extensions regularly to spot and repair any damages.
Rusty Gutters
Gutters made of galvanized steel tend to rust when their protective coatings have come off. So, when you notice signs of rust or orange coloring in certain areas of your gutter, especially where the gutter joins the house, it is an indication that you should replace your gutters.
To get the most out of your gutters, consider replacing galvanized steel gutters with more rust-proof options such as aluminum and vinyl gutters. Stainless steel gutters also have a reputation of not only being rust-proof but also virtually indestructible.
Key Takeaway
Gutter replacement and repairs are aimed at fixing a range of gutter issues that would compromise your home’s foundations, painting, and fascias. Although it’s easy to opt for DIY gutter replacement, consider hiring a gutter repair services if you want the job to be done professionally from a company like this gutter replacement San Jose option.
