Heavy rain can do a number on your roof, which is understandable considering rainwater weighs almost five pounds per inch! This means that anytime a strong storm rolls into your area, your roof will be pounded by up to 2,000 pounds of water. For this reason, it’s essential that your gutters are as strong and sturdy as your roof.
Signs That You Need New Gutters
While copper rain gutters can last for up to 50 years and aluminum and galvanized steel gutters will hold up for around 20 years, when buying a new house, it can be hard to tell exactly how old the gutters are. Thus, you need to be on the lookout for specific signs which will indicate that it’s time to replace the gutters.
With all the stress of buying and moving into a new house, it can be very tempting to put the condition of the gutters on the back burner. However, it’s important to know the warning signs to watch for which indicate that they need to be replaced. Timely gutter replacement is critical in preventing damage to your home.
Below we’ve listed some of the signs that it may be time to replace your gutters.
- There are holes, gaps or cracks present. If there are a number of holes, gaps, cracks or rusty spots on your gutters, and they’re bad enough that you can’t fix them yourself, it’s probably time to replace your gutters.
- The gutters are sagging or separating. If your gutters are coming apart or pulling away from the house, this is a clear indication that your gutters need to be replaced. After all, they can only function effectively when each piece of guttering is fitted tightly to the next one, and each section is attached securely to the house. If the entire gutter system is separating from the house, it will probably be necessary to replace the fascia boards as well as the gutters.
- The fasteners appear to be damaged. The metal fasteners holding your gutters in place against the roof also help keep them straight and level, so water flows smoothly in the right direction. If you replace the damaged or broken fasteners but continue to have problems with the gutters, you may need to replace them as well.
Regular Maintenance Equals Longer Life
If you want your gutters to reach their full potential, it’s important to clean and maintain them regularly to remove clogs. Better yet, install gutter caps like those from Gutter Helmet to keep your gutters clear and eliminate the need for gutter cleaning this fall. For greater peace of mind and to learn more about the gutter protection service we provide, give us a call today at (800) 824-3772 or submit our online contact form.
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