Cleaning and Maintaining our Homes Gutters

The gutters on your home are a significant part of your roofing and, as such, need to be appropriately maintained.  Gutters are responsible for directing  the rain and storm water they receive via your roof away from your home and its foundation.  If you allow them to fall into disrepair via neglect resulting in cracking, breaking, or clogging, you may see evidence of water damage along your home's exterior walls.  And, if water is continuously permitted to drain or overflow over the gutter's edge, you may become a victim of damage to your foundation or crawlspace.  You must make a schedule to not only inspect but also maintain your gutter regularly.

Clean Out Gutters

To ensure that any runoff from your roof can flow as freely as possible, you should clean out your gutters every few months.  To make the process as the most effective, you will need to utilize a ladder and scrape and trowel out any leaves or other debris that may have taken up residence in your gutter.  Once you have sufficiently scraped the debris and removed it, you must flush the gutters and test the flow.  Some services specialize in gutter cleaning if climbing on a gutter sounds like a little more than you are comfortable doing.

Inspect For Clogs

While you are already in the process of cleaning your gutters, take a few moments and inspect for any possible evidence of clogs in the downspouts.  Downspouts can quickly become clogged with debris from the gutter, including dirt and leaves.  When the litter gets blocked in the downspout, there is nowhere for the water to go, resulting in the water in your gutter backing up and over spilling during heavy rainstorms.  If you find that you are not able to see intoyour downspouts sufficiently, make sure of a garden hose with a pressure nozzle attached.  You will be able to test the flow of water and clear any clogs' in the downspout.

Perform Maintenance

Every so often, take a stroll around your home's perimeter and visually inspect the gutters.  Look for signs of wear and tear, such as rust and corrosion.  Also, make a note of if it appears that the gutters look to be drooping or dropping. If you notice any holes, gaps, or cracks, make sure to fill them in with a gutter seal to prevent any possible leaks. If you see extensive damage or the gutters appear to be falling off of your home, you find you may need to seek out the services of a gutter repair service company to re-anchor or replace damaged sections.

Install Gutter Guards

More and more of todays homeowners are choosing to install some guards on their gutters.  With these guards in place, the need to clean out your gutters or worry about debris buildup is minimal.  Depending on the manufacturer, the guard will either fit inside or over your gutters and work to keep out any debris that may find its way into your gutters –such as leaves and twigs.  Once the guard is installed, the only maintenance involved is the routine brush of any debris that may lay on top of the guard.  You will not need to be scraping and scooping debris buildup from inside your gutter.

Downspout Extensions

In most homes, the downspout rests on a splash block to carry the water away from the foundation. However, more often than not, these splash blocks do not work well, if at all, and the water still seems to gather around your home's foundation.  They can also become quickly overrun and displaced during rainstorms that result in the diversion of heavy amounts of water, which will require occasional repositioning of the block.  Consider the alternative of attaching extensions to your downspout in place of a standard splash block.  Comprised of a flexible tube that you attach to your downspout, you will be able better to control the flow of the wateraway from your foundation.  Also, notice if there are any portions of the downspout itself missing.  If you have sections damaged or missing, you will need to replace them by grafting on a new section and then sealing it witha caulk specialized for gutters.

If you find you need a roofing contractor in the Woodlands, Tomball, Spring, and Conroe areas, look no further than the most trusted roofing company in Texas, Service First Construction.  We offer and provide a wide range of roofing services, including roof installation, roof repair, roof maintenance, and various other construction services. Contact us today, and we would be happy to schedule an appointment time that works within your schedule to answer any questions or concerns you may have.