Is It Time To Replace Your Gutters?

For many homeowners, gutter maintenance is one of those things that are out of sight, out of mind. Unless something dramatic happens, they often go ignored. This spells disaster for the health of your home. A gutter that doesn’t work properly causes many problems to the house. It can damage your siding and your window panes. Eventually, it will cause problems to the inside of your home. The question homeowners face is, “Do I need to replace my gutters, or can I simply put a better gutter guard on them?” Let us break that down for you.

Signs You Need To Replace Your Gutters

There are many visual ways to tell if it’s time to replace your gutters vs. repairing them. Below is a list of the eight examples.

Cracked Gutters or Gutters With Holes

The average lifespan of gutters is 20 years. If they’re approaching that age or they’ve already exceeded it, you should start looking to see if you can see any cracks. If they’re large enough to be seen from the ground it’s time to invest in a new system. If you can’t see them but you see puddles or pools around your foundation after a heavy rain, give us a call. We’ll be able to give you a closer inspection so you don’t have to get on the ladder to find the small cracks. 

Pooling Water Next to Your Foundation

The purpose of gutters is to direct rainwater away from your foundation. If you’re noticing pools and puddles next to your home, one of the first places you should inspect is your gutter system. It’s a great indicator that your gutters may not be functioning. 

So what is all that pooling water doing to your home anyway?

Mold on Your Interior Foundation

Water next to your foundation is never a good thing. The pressure often causes foundation problems. The most obvious problem is water intrusion in your basement or crawlspace. If the gutters aren’t replaced and you constantly have water pooling next to your foundation eventually it’s going to cause high levels of humidity in your basement or crawl space. Because concrete, drywall, and stone are organic materials mold and mildew will make themselves at home in your house. If your noticing mold, mildew, or any other fungal growth in your home it’s time to replace those gutters!  

Rust

If you’re spotting rust on your gutters odds are they’ve reached their age limit. Even if they haven’t rusted out yet it’s a sign that your gutters don’t have much life left in them. If they are left to continue to rust out, eventually the gutters will start to get holes in them or crack, rendering your system useless. 

Stress or Fractures at the Seam

Seams are the weakest point in a gutter system. If your gutters are weighed down by clogs or if they get hit by branches in a storm, this is often the first place a gutter will buckle. We eliminate those weak spots by offering seamless gutters. 

Peeling Paint

There are many reasons paint can peel. One of the main reasons though is moisture. Moisture causes paint to lose its adhesiveness. If you’ve painted your gutters or the outside of your home is painted and you notice bubbling paint there’s a good bet something is wrong with your gutters. If there is a hole, crack, or clog in your gutter the water is likely being directed in the wrong place. It’s a likely bet that your gutters are the reason behind your bubbling paint.

Wood Rot

Like bubbling paint, wood rot is a symptom of continuous exposure to water. If you suspect gutter problems inspect the wood outside your home. If you have any wood framing or window panes, it’s a good bet you’ll find the symptoms if your gutter has been leaking for a long time. 

If you’re experiencing wood rot, you’ll be able to tell by the breakdown of the organic material. If you have a light-colored stain on your wood, you can generally see a brown, white, or black discoloration on the wood. If it’s a bad enough case, usually the wood will be brittle or spongey.

Missing Hardware

If you’ve started noticing screws, nails, and fasteners on the ground near the gutters it’s a good sign that your system is past its prime. Nails and screws can be replaced, but if they just continue to pop out shortly after, it quickly becomes more of a hassle than it’s worth. 

“I’ve Inspected My Gutters, and They’re, Fine”

If you fall under this category, then that’s great! We aren’t going to sell you something you don’t genuinely need. That goes against our core values as a company. If you are thinking about how gutter maintenance can be easier we do have your solution for that too! Our RainDrop gutter guard is a sturdy piece of equipment that filters out debris that other products can’t. For instance, if you have a pine tree and get tired of cleaning out those pesky pine needles, you don’t have to worry about that with RainDrop. They’ll blow right past the gutter and into the yard. 

If you’re thinking about replacing your gutters and you don’t have obvious damage don’t feel like you have to climb on that ladder yourself. We’re here to help you and we’ll be able to find what you may be missing. Whether you live in Kentucky, Cincinnati, or Dayton we are the gutter contractor you need. Call our office or click here for your free estimate.