The Importance of Gutters
Learn what role gutters play in protecting your home.
As homeowners, it is important to realize the importance of gutters for your home. Did you know that your gutter system is essentially an extension of your roof? Often, the same person you choose to make roof repairs can also handle gutter inspections, repairs or replacements. And maintaining your gutters is an important step in maintaining your roof and home.
Keeping your gutters cleaned out and free of debris, especially large sticks and piles of leaves, will help prevent excess water from pooling on your roof. With a gutter full of “stuff,” rainwater isn’t able to evacuate the roofline in the proper way. This can lead to standing water that will weigh down your shingles. When your shingles take the brunt of spring and summer storms, their integrity begins to wane, resulting in damaged shingles and leaky roofs.
Along with a potentially leaking roof and water damage, keeping your gutters clean and free of debris also prevents damage from the weight of the unkempt area. This weight can cause gutters to sag and even detach from your house.
Gutters may sound troublesome, but before you get any ideas about removing your gutters to avoid the seasonal task of cleaning them, you need to understand how important they are.
When installed properly and regularly maintained, gutters are an important part of your home’s structure. They keep water out of your house and direct it away from the foundation – no puddles here! Gutters are meant to catch the water that lands on your roof and direct it down and away from your home, an extremely important task if your home has a basement or a crawl space.
Damages that can occur to and around your home if gutters are damaged or missing entirely are an endless list. We’ve compiled just a few:
● Health Issues. By allowing water to simply roll off your roofline and down the side of your home, water will fall and just stand stagnant, allowing mold and mildew to develop and work its way into your foundation, crawl space or basement, causing a whole host of health issues for you and your family.
● Interior Water Damage. Water that isn’t caught and redirected by a gutter also stands a chance of entering the home through a windowsill, whether open, broken or weathered, causing water damage inside your home.
● Flooding. From the water that will land directly next to your home, you’re at risk for flooding and erosion of your basement or foundation. Have a home with wood siding? Watch out for rotting.
● Landscape Erosion. Gutters help water land in a safe place in your yard, where proper drainage can occur. Without this finessing, landscaping can suffer, leaving your home with the least amount of curb appeal on the block.
Cleaning your gutters out isn’t too much of a task if you live in a ranch, however, two story homes with several rooflines and easements are a bit trickier. Trusting a professional roofing company with your home in this manner is a great investment. So don’t hesitate too long before contacting Elite Roofing and Restoration. Our licensed, bonded and insured professionals are ready to help take the stress of all that can occur away!
Elite Roofing and Restoration is your source for quality roof repair and replacement.
In addition to roof replacements and repairs, both commercial and residential, we offer a considerable list of additional home repair services to assist you with any general construction needs you may have.
Contact us today to schedule your no-hassle, complimentary roof inspection today.
