The Common Causes of Gutter Damage

Your gutters are one of the essential parts of a home. Their primary responsibility is protecting your property’s foundation and exterior components by directing water to downspouts. This way, they prevent it from eventually causing structural damage. This is the reason why roof maintenance is critical. In this post, we will share some of the leading causes of gutter damage:

1. Poor installation. Experts remind people how gutters must be adequately sealed and fastened to the fascia board. As mentioned, your downspouts should direct water more than three feet away from the house. Your gutters should be pitched toward the downspouts to prevent stagnant water buildup.
2. Pest infestation. Pests and other small creatures can make their homes in accumulated debris, leading to dangerous situations. Hence, keeping your gutters clean is critical to ensure their effectiveness.
3. Insufficient downspouts. Check whether you have enough gutters and downspouts, especially if you still experience leaks from your residential roofing despite having a working gutter system. Defective gutters will cause your existing ones to work harder, resulting in water overflowing into the exterior walls. Installing additional gutters and downspouts allow your gutter system to withstand more rainfall.
4. Clogging. Branches, leaves and other debris accumulate in the gutters. Keep in mind that water penetration in your walls may occur as it overflows from a clogged drain, prompting severe issues to your walls and ceilings.
5. Dislodged joint. It should be noted that the corners and end caps may break or become dislodged. Check your gutters for anything that looks crooked, cracked or out of place.
6. Weather. Ice build-up can also be a concern for this. Its formation in the gutters can lead to cracking and splitting, resulting in leaks eventually.

Contact Us!

Vista Roofing’s skilled roof inspection experts can assess all the variables that may be affecting your roof’s structural and aesthetic integrity so you can make an informed decision about how to move forward. Moreover, in storm damage, we offer insurance claim assistance. Contact us today at (803) 392-0441 regarding your system concerns!