The Dangers of Unkempt and Uncovered Gutters

Last updated 1 year ago

Before the April showers start to fall, make sure that your roofing is equipped to handle the rain by having your gutters prepared by an Atlanta roofing company. Clogged, leaky, or bent gutters can spell disaster for your roofing, foundation, and landscaping. Here’s a look at some of the problems commonly caused by poorly maintained, uncovered gutters.

1. Debris Clogs
Throughout the fall and winter, your home can become covered in dead leaves, twigs, and other debris. While many homeowners make sure to clean this debris off their lawns and driveways, many forget to clean them off their roofing and gutters. This debris can fall into your gutters and pile up, causing them to become clogged and restricting the flow of water to the downspout. In many cases, the downspout itself is clogged with debris.

2. Sagging Gutters
As your clogged gutters fill up with leaves and other debris, they become saturated with rainwater. This causes the debris to become heavy and weigh down on the gutters. Prolonged weight can actually cause the gutters to bend or become warped, making them ineffective at retaining or directing water.

3. Water Damage and Rotting
Leaving your gutters dirty and clogged can quickly lead to water damage and rotting in your roof and fascia board. As your gutters get heavier and heavier, they start to pull away from the fascia board and roof, exposing them both to water. With enough time and precipitation, this can lead to roof leaks, water damage, rotting, and a host of other water-related roofing issues.

4. Foundation Damage
Finally, dirty gutters can contribute to foundation settling. As your clogged gutters overflow with water, runoff will fall directly to the perimeter of the home below. This water will then seep into the ground and erode at your foundation, causing basement leaks, settling, and other foundation-related issues.

To learn more about how gutter covers and roofing services can help to prevent these issues, contact Findlay Roofing, the Marietta area’s premier roofing company. Visit us online or call (678) 905-4155 to learn more about our services.