Rain gutters are an important part of your home’s structure. They protect your home from dampness, garden erosion, and foundation damage which could lead to repairs that can become costly over time. If your home does not have a properly functioning gutter system, it can prove to be costly over time.
Like other aspects of your home, with time, your rain gutter system can suffer the effects of the weather and nature. Most of the time this will lead to leaks and cracks that if aren’t taken care of right away can get worse over time. There are several aspects to take into consideration when determining the reason for a leak such as gutter material, gutter installation, and how often the home owner performed maintenance on the gutters.
Like other aspects of your home, with time, your rain gutter system can suffer the effects of the weather and nature. Most of the time this will lead to leaks and cracks that if aren’t taken care of right away can get worse over time. There are several aspects to take into consideration when determining the reason for a leak such as gutter material, gutter installation, and how often the home owner performed maintenance on the gutters.
Here are 5 of the most common causes for leaky gutters.
Gaps and Holes
Gaps and holes can happen when your gutter system isn’t maintained very well, and rainwater accumulates in certain spots of the gutters, rust begins to accumulate, causing holes to appear. This can eventually cause dampness problems that effect your home. Gutters who accumulate debris over a long period of time, can also be a serious problem. If gaps and holes start to occur, it recommended to use a silicone waterproof sealant that can help repair the leak and add more life to your gutter system.
Cracks
Cracks are a common issue that galvanized steel gutters frequently experience. Cracks are often found in the joints of the gutters. When your gutters are exposed to extreme weather changes, they tend to crack along the seams, gutter nails, and braces. To avoid having to fix cracked gutters it is recommended to paint them several times a year. This helps prevent rust from accumulating under the coats of paint detouring cracks, holes and gaps from appearing.
Loose Gutters
Sometimes leaky gutters can be the result of loose hangers. Your rain gutter system is normally attached to your roof by facia boards by hangers that are specifically designed for gutters. They can be either internal or external, and over the course of time they tend to sag due to the weight of wet debris and rain water that gets stuck in your gutters. The weight from the rain water bogs down your gutter and cause strain on the hangers, so it becomes harder for them to properly hold the weight. To fix this issue, your gutter specialist must clean the gutters and remove all the debris, then they must fasten all the loose hangers to the fascia boards again to help the gutters perform properly.
Incorrect Slopes
For peak performance, your gutter system needs to have a downward slope to move the rainwater away from your foundation. Sometimes it is hard to notice this issue once the install is finished because everything looks wonderful, until you get a good rain. Once you get a good rain, you will start noticing water accumulating in small pools along your gutter face, because the gutters do not have the correct slope. When this happens excessive weight from the water will cause sagging over time. This causes a leak effect because the weight from the water and the incorrect slopping will create drips and spills. This is a pretty simple fix though, you just need to ask your specialist to adjust the slope.
Clogs
For both residential and commercial buildings, the most common cause of leaks are clogs. When you don’t perform routine maintenance, debris from tree and animals can build up, and create a mass that blocks the whole gutter system. This why a routine maintenance schedule is important part of keeping your gutter system working properly.
For all your gutter needs call your experts at Legacy Gutters. We would be more than happy to help you with anything your gutter system needs! Call (719) 464-8945 to schedule your appointment today!
Gaps and Holes
Gaps and holes can happen when your gutter system isn’t maintained very well, and rainwater accumulates in certain spots of the gutters, rust begins to accumulate, causing holes to appear. This can eventually cause dampness problems that effect your home. Gutters who accumulate debris over a long period of time, can also be a serious problem. If gaps and holes start to occur, it recommended to use a silicone waterproof sealant that can help repair the leak and add more life to your gutter system.
Cracks
Cracks are a common issue that galvanized steel gutters frequently experience. Cracks are often found in the joints of the gutters. When your gutters are exposed to extreme weather changes, they tend to crack along the seams, gutter nails, and braces. To avoid having to fix cracked gutters it is recommended to paint them several times a year. This helps prevent rust from accumulating under the coats of paint detouring cracks, holes and gaps from appearing.
Loose Gutters
Sometimes leaky gutters can be the result of loose hangers. Your rain gutter system is normally attached to your roof by facia boards by hangers that are specifically designed for gutters. They can be either internal or external, and over the course of time they tend to sag due to the weight of wet debris and rain water that gets stuck in your gutters. The weight from the rain water bogs down your gutter and cause strain on the hangers, so it becomes harder for them to properly hold the weight. To fix this issue, your gutter specialist must clean the gutters and remove all the debris, then they must fasten all the loose hangers to the fascia boards again to help the gutters perform properly.
Incorrect Slopes
For peak performance, your gutter system needs to have a downward slope to move the rainwater away from your foundation. Sometimes it is hard to notice this issue once the install is finished because everything looks wonderful, until you get a good rain. Once you get a good rain, you will start noticing water accumulating in small pools along your gutter face, because the gutters do not have the correct slope. When this happens excessive weight from the water will cause sagging over time. This causes a leak effect because the weight from the water and the incorrect slopping will create drips and spills. This is a pretty simple fix though, you just need to ask your specialist to adjust the slope.
Clogs
For both residential and commercial buildings, the most common cause of leaks are clogs. When you don’t perform routine maintenance, debris from tree and animals can build up, and create a mass that blocks the whole gutter system. This why a routine maintenance schedule is important part of keeping your gutter system working properly.
For all your gutter needs call your experts at Legacy Gutters. We would be more than happy to help you with anything your gutter system needs! Call (719) 464-8945 to schedule your appointment today!
