Your gutters play an important role in keeping the structure of your house in good condition. It’s easy to mistake gutters for extraneous details that are simply there. After all, their sole job is to look nice at the edges of the roof and control water flow down and away from the building, right? As it turns out, working gutters prevent that water from damaging your roof and the overall structure of your home or garage. They are a big deal! And in order for them to work correctly, they need to be in good condition.
Wondering if your gutters need some professional attention? Here are seven signs that your gutters need a little TLC.
1) Your Gutters are Not Properly Meeting in the Middle
Unless your structure is very small, the gutters on one side of your home more than likely consist of two pieces that are joined at the middle. They’re held in place by a bracket and overlap slightly in order to send water in the proper direction. However, over time, your gutters can begin to sag in that connection spot, especially if the bracket isn’t doing its job. When this occurs, it’s time to get your gutters professionally repaired because that gap in between can lead to pooling water, roof damage, and much more.
2) Water is Pooling on Your Roof Near the Gutters
The entire purpose of gutters is to prevent water from pooling on the roof, which can cause damage to the shingles and the main roof surface under them. When water begins to pool in this area, it’s a sign that your gutters aren’t working properly. Either they’re clogged, damaged in some way, or have another issue that needs to be taken care of. If you see water on your roof right above your gutters after a rainstorm, it’s time to call in an expert.
3) Your Gutters Are Completely Clogged
Although not every gutter clog is visible, some are. If your gutters are so clogged that you can see debris on top of them right along the roof line, then you’ll need to have them cleaned and then examined by a professional to see if they need to be repaired. Clogs can be caused by too many leaves, sticks, twigs, or any other number of things. No matter what, this is a sign that you need to take care of your gutters.
4) Your Gutters Are Falling off of the Roof
Gutters are held onto the edges of your roof by a series of brackets. These brackets do a good job of keeping them in place until something happens. It could be heavy rainfall, too much debris in the gutters causing a lot of strain on the brackets, or simply standard wear and tear. Either way, if your gutters are literally falling off of your roof, they obviously aren’t doing their job right. You’ll have to call in a professional gutter service to have them repaired.
5) Water is Pooling Around Your Foundation
Sometimes water doesn’t pool on the roof of your home or garage if your gutters aren’t working properly. It can also appear around the foundation of the building. This is a sign that the gutters aren’t doing their job and sending the water to the downspouts. Instead, the water is running right off of the top of the gutters, onto the ground beneath them. If left unrepaired, not only can your building’s foundation end up being damaged, but so can the roof, due to the gutter issues that you just can’t quite see.
6) Your Gutters Have Visible Cracks in Them
Although gutters are usually made of aluminum, which is designed to last for a long time, they do actually have a lifespan. Exposure to the elements, including sun, wind, rain, snow, and heavy storms like hurricanes and tornadoes, can actually damage the gutters themselves. Their brackets might be fine and still in place, but the gutters will have visible cracks on their surfaces. When this happens, it’s time for new gutters. You can’t put off the inevitable, considering how important gutters are to your structure. Instead, reach out to the experts.
7) The Paint is Peeling Off of Your Gutters
Your gutters are covered in a protective layer of paint. Like the material that makes up the gutters themselves, this paint is susceptible to the elements. If you see it starting to peel off, even if you have no other issues with your gutters, it’s time for a little gutter TLC. Call in the experts to have them take care of the problem. You might need new gutters, or the current ones might be repairable. But it’s definitely time to take care of them before it’s too late.
If you need new gutters or have some that are in need of repair, call the Guru Gutter Guys. We have years of experience and expertise and can diagnose and solve your gutter problems quickly and affordably.
Call us today!
