If your gutters fail, they are more likely to do so in fall or winter. Cold weather, increased precipitation and wind storms all wreak havoc on gutters. However, lack of maintenance and cleaning can ruin them, too. You can hold back damage by troubleshooting gutter issues and following good gutter cleaning tips at your Oklahoma City home. Here are six common problems and how to avoid them:
- Joint separation: Joint separation refers to wear and tear between gutter section fastenings. The problem happens when debris builds up and clog the gutters. Between water backup and debris weight, gutters eventually sag and fall apart. If you wish to fix this on your own, know that glue or caulk will not be enough to get gutters back in shape. You must rivet the pieces together by drilling holes in overlapping edges and inserting ⅛” rivets. That will secure the joints and keep your gutters in one piece.
- Ice dams: Ice dams form from snow melting off your roof. As the water flows down, it enters your gutters and freezes there. If you do not remove it, ice continues to accumulate, and you will have an ice dam. Eventually, the ice dam’s weight pulls down your gutters and may take parts of your roof with it. The best way to avoid this problem is to remove extra water before it freezes and clear snow out of your gutters.
- Clogs: When you do not clean your gutters, leaves, sticks and dirt eventually accumulate. If it sits long enough, bird droppings fertilize this dirt, and you will have the rooftop garden you never wanted! Not only will the weight eventually bring down your gutters, but water cannot run through them. Ultimately, you suffer the effects of poor drainage and blocked gutters. Thorough cleaning when the weather allows prevents this problem.
- Incorrect downspout location: Water leaves your roof through the downspout. If the downspout rests at the wrong angle, water pools around your home. This accumulation threatens your landscaping and foundation integrity. You can also suffer basement floods as your foundation cracks. When installing downspouts, set them at an angle and extend them several feet from your home to keep water away from your foundation.
- Leaks: Leaks arise with loose fasteners, cracks and holes. Most wear and tear occurs around the fasteners and diverts water from the gutter and into the fascia boards. Unless you fix leaks, the unguided water will damage your roof. Fix the leaks by purchasing a special sealer or glue from your hardware store and follow instructions for applying it.
- Poor sloping: Gutters need a slope to divert water. The recommended slope is ¼” per 10 feet of gutters. Installers offer the experience to ensure this slope, but many DIY types fail to meet this standard and experience water backing up through the gutter system. The best way to avoid this problem is to hire a skilled gutter contractor.
If following gutter cleaning tips and troubleshooting gutter issues in Oklahoma City is something you’d prefer to leave to the pros, L & S Seamless Guttering can help. Our services include the installation and repair of gutters. We can also add rain guards and surface drains to control water accumulation on your property. Call us today to schedule an estimate.
This post first appeared on https://lsseamlessgutter.com/