The damage caused by clogged gutters can be quite extensive and is not the type of damage covered by homeowner’s insurance. If you haven’t looked into gutter protection systems and don’t clean your gutters regularly, you’re leaving your home vulnerable to all sorts of damage. It doesn’t matter the material your gutters are made from or whether you have K-style or half-round gutters – clogged gutters can damage your home. Here are just a few types of damage we’ve seen over the years.
Wet Basements
If you have a basement and there’s often water that appears after a rain, look at your gutters. Chances are good they’re not doing their job, either because they weren’t designed well or because they’re clogged. When water runs over the gutter edge, it pools around your home and will eventually find its way into your basement.
Cracked Foundations & Crawl Space Issues
Whether you have a slab foundation or a crawl space, water causes damage. If you have wood footings and water gets into your crawlspace, the wood will rot. Mold and mildew will form in your crawlspace and eventually spread into your home. Water that collects around your foundation can cause frost-heaves in the winter, where the water expands as it freezes and shifts all or part of your foundation.
Fascia Damage
The fascia is the vertical band that runs along your roof’s edge. It’s often where a gutter installer attaches the gutters. Water doesn’t just run over the front of a clogged gutter; it can also run over the back against the fascia. As the water flows over the edge, time after time, the fascia begins to rot and deteriorate.
Landscaping Damage
Landscaping around your home can easily end up damaged by overflowing water. Mulch can float away, leading to additional landscaping expenses and work. Not only can delicate flowers be ruined by a gutter waterfall, trees and shrubbery may end up damaged by too much water.
What Can a Homeowner Do?
Keeping your gutters clean will prevent damage caused by clogged gutters. If the idea of cleaning your gutters seasonally doesn’t appeal to you, or you’re tired of hiring a gutter cleaning company year after year, look into gutter protection systems. Gutter Helmet® offers the best gutter guard for half-round gutters and K-style gutters. This gutter protection system is available in many colors to perfectly coordinate with your home.
Clean gutters also keep your family, pets and visitors safe. Standing water can lead to slip-and-fall accidents (especially when the standing water freezes), and it attracts bugs. Don’t let the task of cleaning your gutters lead to damage to your home or an injury to a loved one; look at gutter protection systems for your home. Call Gutter Helmet at (800) 824-3772 today or fill out our contact form.
