One essential feature of every home’s roofing system which many people take for granted is the gutter system. While it can be easy to forget about gutters since they’re not directly in our line of sight, doing so will almost always lead to negative consequences. Poorly maintained gutters can quickly become a homeowner’s nightmare because of the following threats:
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Roof damage. Gutter cleaning is a dirty but necessary business. When leaves, twigs and other debris are allowed to build up in the gutters, water and snowmelt have nowhere left to go except of the side of the gutters. Over time, this overflow of water can cause your roofing material to rot and leave ugly stains on the side of your house. Considering the potential damage clogged gutters can cause, it’s clear to see that clean gutters are a small price to pay for a stable roofing system.
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Foundation problems. Another place that gutters can cause significant damage is the foundation of your home. When gutters are blocked by leaves and debris, the water is in turn blocked from making it to the downspouts, where it can be diverted away from the house. Instead, the water will start to spill over the sides and pool around the foundation. When this happens during the winter, the water can freeze and the resulting expansion can cause cracks to form in your foundation. Not only will this be a costly repair, but those cracks can also result in water leaking into the house.
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Damage to the siding and interior walls. As gutters overflow, the water runs down the side of the house, which can damage the siding. Water can also seep under the soffits (and a variety of other places that you’d never think of) and eventually make its way to the drywall. Rather than neglect your gutters and allow water to penetrate and damage your interior walls, take the time to thoroughly clean out the gutters and downspouts, or hire a roofing company like Muth & Company Roofing to do it for you.
Do You Need Gutter Services?
By performing routine gutter maintenance, you can avoid many of the problems that could cause damage to your gutter and roofing systems. If you want to avoid the hassle of cleaning out your gutters, Muth & Company would be happy to do it for you; just give us a call at (614) 682-3060. If you still haven’t cleaned out your gutters, now is the time!