No one enjoys gutters cleaning. However, your clogged gutters can mean some seriously bad news. Here’s what damage clogged gutters can cause.
We all know cleaning out the gutters on a regular basis is a pain. Unfortunately, it’s also entirely necessary.
In fact, neglected gutter cleaning and maintenance can cost you big money in the long run. Most people don’t equate clogged gutters to other damages around the house, but the truth is, poor gutter maintenance can affect almost every part of your home.
However, failure to care for gutters is quite common, as nearly 25% of homeowners in America admit they never do it.
Why is it such a big deal?
Read on to learn why gutter cleaning and maintenance is one of the most important things you can do for your house! And what damage clogged gutters can cause.
Damage to Superficial Roofing
As dirt, sediment, and shingle granules accumulate in your gutters over time, it begins to block water flow. If left too long without a gutter cleaning, it creates a dam of sorts.
This build-up disallows the redirection and displacement of water through the gutters, down the downspout, and away from the home.
Depending on the severity of the clog, it may begin to cause damage to superficial layers of your roof and fascia near the roof. The stopped-up water and moisture can start to rot the wood and warp the shingles near the gutters.
Finally, built up moisture in freezing temperatures can destroy your gutters and they will have to be repaired or replaced.
Damage to Structural Roofing
Unfortunately, water and moisture build-up can start to affect more than just the superficial layers of your home.
If left unchecked, clogged gutters can actually start to weaken the structure of your home and roof. It sounds extreme, but it’s true.
Over time, excess water and moisture will begin to seep into the internal structure of the roof, especially as more damage is being done to the superficial layers.
At this point, you need to start worrying about wood rotting in your roof structure and mold growth, which can be a potential health risk to you and your family.
Regular gutter cleaning will prevent mold build-up and keep your family healthy.
Drywall Damage
Water-damaged drywall is a chore to replace. You have to knock out the damaged parts of the wall, replace it, and repaint it.
Most people relate water-damaged drywall to basement flooding, however, neglecting your gutter cleaning can have a similar effect.
For example, if your roof is damaged to the point of water leaking into the attic, it won’t be long until that moisture makes its way down the walls, slowly rotting out your drywall.
Secondly, clogged gutters don’t direct the flow of water properly, which can lead to large amounts of water making its way inside and into places it shouldn’t be.
Paint Damage
Along with drywall water damage comes the water damage to paint. However, aside from the possibility of interior paint damage, there’s also the risk of paint damage to the exterior of your home.
Clogged gutters will allow water and moisture to sit where it will begin to seep under surfaces, including the exterior walls of your home, where it can rot wood and ruin the paint.
Unfortunately, at this point, that part of the wall will need to be replaced or resealed, as rotting wood can be repainted, but it only temporarily fixes the problem.
Regular gutter cleaning can prevent this, saving you money, time, and effort.
Foundation Damage
As mentioned above, the purpose of your gutter system is to direct water away from your house.
However, a clogged gutter system will allow water to come out wherever it can, sometimes spilling over and down the sides of the house and into the foundation.
Even if your home doesn’t have negative drainage, water from over-spilling gutters can seep into the base of the house, causing water damage and cracks in the foundation.
Water Damage in the Basement
If gutter cleaning is left neglected to the point of foundation damage, you can also expect to have some internal water-damage in the basement.
Depending on how finished your basement is, you could be looking at more water damage to paint, drywall, carpet, etc..
Gutter cleaning can prevent the hassle of tearing out drywall and redoing sections of your wall. It will also save you from needing to pull up the soaked carpet to mop up pools of water.
Waterfalls and Over-Spills
When gutter cleaning hasn’t been done for a long time, the dirt and sediment buildup in the gutters can reach a point of total blockage.
Either in a single point or the entirety of the gutter, this can cause vast quantities of water to over-spill. Unfortunately, these waterfalls tend to happen in the worst places.
Any plant life under the gutters will be drowned and beat up by the sheer weight of the falling water.
Unfortunately, the waterfalls can occur in terribly inconvenient places, such as directly above the front or back door. This problem is two-fold, as you don’t want to unwittingly walk out into it, nor do you want it flooding in under your door.
Unwanted Pests
Finally, a less expected consequence of putting your gutter cleaning off for too long is the unwelcome guests you create a habitat for.
As gutters build up with dirt and sediment, it can actually start growing its own plants, as wind-blown seeds make their way onto your roof and into your gutters.
This “natural habitat” makes it the ideal place for rodents, squirrels, spiders, and birds to move in. This also creates a great spot for hornet nests to appear.
Unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time until these critters find their way inside your house.
If you want to avoid needing pest control on your roof and in your attic, get a gutter cleaning!
Gutter Cleaning and More
Gutter cleaning isn’t for everyone. With power lines, heights, and wobbly ladders, perhaps it’s best left to professionals.
However, that’s not all we do!
Along with cleaning, maintaining and repairing gutters and downspouts, we also install gutter guards. Give us a call or check out our website!
