Having guttering that is clean and is in good repair is necessary in maintaining the value of your property and home. The continued care of the gutter is important in maintaining the supporting walls, the roof and facade of your home. Should you allow debris such as leaves and mud to build up over a period of time, sagging or bowing of your gutters can result. This weight can cause the guttering and surrounding structures to weaken under the excess weight. As the guttering is used primarily to transport the water through the downspout when it rains, it’s important to keep its framework in optimum shape.
In this article we’ll discuss the benefits of guttering, how to maintain it and the styles available if you’re looking to replace your existing gutters. By the end of this article you should have a better idea of the benefits of installing gutters and what maintenance is required to keep them in top condition.
A Variety of Styles and Colors
You can find gutters in several styles and colors. Traditional gutters generally are made of iron and are constructed by welding several joints together. They are normally replaced by seamless gutters that, as the name implies, come in one solid piece without any of the “seams” or the discontinuity that the traditional variety has. Seamless gutters are made of various materials such as copper (pictured), aluminum or galvanized steel. Vinyl gutters are usually relatively inexpensive and can be assembled quickly. People though, at times, find vinyl is not strong enough and will switch to aluminum gutters that are seamless.
Gutter & Downspout Combinations
Gutters can come in half round styles with circular downspouts and square styles with square downspouts. Most are offered in black, brown or white. They can be made of steel, wood, copper, aluminum, vinyl or from iron as many of the older gutters are.
Making the Right Choice
With regards to gutter material, you should consider the environmental conditions of where your property is located. If you have extreme winters, then you probably want gutters that can withstand the elements. Usually steel gutters work out best in this type of situation.
If you have a number of trees on your property, then installing leaf guards or gutter covers can helpful or you may want to consider a stronger material like aluminum over a less expensive and less durable material like vinyl.
Copper gutters can add to a value’s property by their pleasing appearance especially on certain higher priced homes.
Replacement
If you want to do it yourself, you can replace gutters without too much difficulty. First, you’ll need to take measurements of the gutters that need replacement. Next, make certain you have the requisite tools. These tools include a ladder, rivet gun and rivets, metal cutters, drill, hammer and sealant.
Keeping Everything Intact
Gutters are a protective barrier for the walls of your house. If they weren’t used, water flowing off the roof during a heavy rain could eventually cause the walls of your house to give way from the resulting water damage. Not only that, gutters and downspouts also protect a house’s basement or foundation. Therefore, they’re a useful structure on the house so they should be kept clean and free of debris. By making sure the roof gutter installation of your house is well-maintained and secure you can keep your house protected from water damage, surface damage and the beating it can take from extreme weather conditions. The picture shows a badly clogged gutter. Letting your gutters get like this can create serious problems.
Maintenance – A Semi-Annual Event
Normally, gutters should be checked and cleaned in the fall and spring. Their function is essential to the conservation and beauty of your home so developing a habit of checking and maintaining your gutters regularly can avert any future costly repairs.
Maintenance Checklist
When you do a routine check of your gutters, look for items that may need restoration. If you have gutters with seams, are they fitted tightly? Look for any cracks in the gutters. Are the gutters sound? Or are they bending? If you have metal gutters, do they exhibit any signs of rust? How do they look overall? Also, take a close look and see if you can find any punctures or holes. Make sure all nails, spikes and screws are secure.
Gutter Cleaning Tools
There are a number of gutter cleaning tools that can assist you in keeping your gutter and downspout clean. Depending on the size of your house and how much debris needs to be removed tools that are usually good for this type of task include a gutter rake, a shop vac or leaf blower. A gutter rake is about 5 feet long and can help you reach debris more easily. One end is used to scrape away material and the other end is made for collecting debris. The gutter rake is often used alone or in combination with a shop vac or leaf blower. A shop vac is ideal when your gutter is only partially full of sticks, mud or leaves and can be used on wet or dry contents. Using a leaf blower is helpful when your roof is a bit steep. It’s a good gutter cleaner to use when the roof is dry.
A Unique Gutter “Screen”
If you want to save on future repairs or reduce your maintenance, then using gutter guards or leaf guards can help with reducing your workload and expense. Another type of gutter guard is a foam material which is called GutterStuff. This material can be fitted into gutters to prevent the accumulation of debris and cut down on cleaning. Before using this product though you will need to make certain that all leaves and debris from the gutter are cleaned and thoroughly flushed out. Also gutters should be checked to make sure they are aligned properly and tilt toward the downspouts. In addition, the gutter post, spikes and attaching hardware should be fixed and sound.
After determining that the gutter is in good shape, insert Gutter Stuff into the gutter so it has a nice neat fit. Make certain there are no gaps. This is a good material to use as it isn’t absorbent so when it rains the water will go through it. Also, you don’t need to clean it as bigger pieces of debris blow off the foam and smaller pieces go through it and are washed through the downspout during a storm. The material will not blow away either as it fits snugly in the gutter under the individual spikes. It has a five year warranty so it may be an alternative solution to using a leaf or gutter guard.
Whatever method you select, maintaining your gutters is important to the aesthetic value of your house and in keeping your home sound structurally.