Our roofs are one of the most essential parts of our homes, yet we often don’t think about them until there’s a problem. They have provided us with a solution where we can be safe from the harsh elements while bringing comfort to us. Like most people, you probably don’t know what to look for when inspecting your roof. We’ve put together this handy guide on better taking care of them.
The Consequences of Not Cleaning Your Gutters
As a homeowner, you have a lot of responsibilities, and gutter cleaning isn’t always at the top of the list, even though it should be. Eavestrough cleaning is the best way to keep your gutters open and water flowing to its intended destination when they are clogged with debris.
There are companies in York, SC, that specialize in gutter cleaning, and it is best to leave the work to the professionals because they are the experts. Cleaning up the channels that carry water from your roof is difficult, and when the gutters are clogged with silt, it’s making a huge mess. Also, climbing a ladder is a risk in and of itself. The overall process necessitates training to do so safely.
Consider this: if you don’t clean your gutters, what do you believe will happen? Flooding might occur in places you didn’t expect, and the damage that water causes is a cost that can be prevented by keeping your gutters clear. At Eason Roofing, we’d like to draw attention to the issues caused by clogged gutters, and throughout this post, you’ll learn how to avoid the problems that clogged gutters cause.
Issues Caused by Clogged Gutters
Severe Roof Damage
Stagnant water in your eavestrough will have various effects on your roof. First and foremost, water that comes into touch with the edge of your roof will degrade the integrity of the wood it comes into contact with. The wood will rot over time, resulting in a spongy surface that allows water to absorb, causing a weakness in the wood panels that make up the roof’s decking. If the contact persists without preventative measures, the decking will need to be replaced to safeguard the entire roof structure.
Wood and Fascia Damage
Please make no mistake: water is heavy, and it exerts a force of 3.8KG every 3.7L of water as it rests in your gutters. Your gutters aren’t intended to hold that much weight for long periods. Standard gutters cannot maintain standing water because water pouring through the channels exerts minimal weight as it is dispersed via the gutter network.
The weight of the water on the gutters pulls the fascia away from the side of the home, providing an opening for water to enter your roofing system. In addition, when exposed to the elements, the wood that makes up the fascia may decay and get damaged, requiring extra maintenance work on your roof at an exorbitant expense.
Damage to Walls, Windows, Doors, and Patios
Water will fall on whatever is beneath it when evacuated over the gutters due to obstructions. The walls, windows, doors, and patio weren’t built to withstand such a flood, and the problems will only worsen. Downspouts are essential for water drainage, and when they can’t collect water from clogged gutters, they don’t operate as well as they should to preserve your home’s infrastructure.
Landscaping and foundation Damage
Water damage can endanger your foundation, which is the cornerstone of your building. It works like this: as water erodes the dirt that supports the foundation, the foundation shifts, allowing water to enter via cracks. When water enters your home via the foundation, the cracks widen, and the foundation’s structural integrity is compromised. If the foundation can’t sustain the house on top of it, the house will list, posing a threat.
Your landscaping around the home will suffer irreparable harm when hit with cascading water. Think of watering your plants, trees, and other fauna with a fire hose on full blast instead of a garden hose. In addition, soil erosion leads to problems like a lack of support for the foundation and the loss of aesthetic value that landscaping provides.
Pest Infestation
Water is a petri dish for many things, including mold and mildew, but it’s also a breeding ground for pests you’d rather not have in your house. Water allows many different types of bugs to breed; consider mosquitoes and their diseases, and you’ll see why you don’t want water in your gutters. In addition, cockroaches and earwigs will make their homes in clogged gutters and make getting rid of them a nightmare. Pest control professionals will need to be consulted, and pesticides will be administered more than once to eradicate the problem. However, after the initial difficulty has been resolved, collecting the larvae when they hatch multiple times is necessary.
Eason Roofing Can Handle Gutter Clogs With Ease
The security of your most valuable possession — your house – has never been more critical. That is why gutter cleaning should be done regularly for any home. This service is one of a suite of roofing services offered by Eason Roofing that will extend the life of your roofing system while also protecting your property. When you want gutter cleaning, we will arrive with our equipment, identify the source of your issues, and execute the easy but crucial work of unclogging your gutter.
Gutter cleaning should be part of your roofing system’s regular maintenance schedule, whether you own a business building or a household. Gutter and downspout cleaning should be done twice a year, and a roof inspection should accompany each cleaning. Contact Eason Roofing for all the assistance you require in maintaining your gutters and downspouts clean and carrying water as they should. Please fill out our estimate form for a free estimate on the work, and we will send you an estimate. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Eason Roofing today for more information on keeping your gutters in good working order.
