The Hidden Dangers Of Clogged Gutters
When it comes to designing the aesthetic of your home, it’s fun to plan around the architectural style and structure, including the colors of siding, shutters, and doors, or even the stone and brick type. What’s not as fun? Planning for your roof’s gutter system. True, gutters might not be as alluring as vertical white siding with black trim on a modern farmhouse-style home, but gutters are a necessary feature on every home in Lewes, DE, and a vital part of your overall roofing system.
Keep reading to find out why gutters are necessary, and more importantly, why having Champion Gutter Guards installed through a commercial or residential professional roofing company can prevent exterior structural damage to your home or building.
Out of Sight But Not Out of Mind
Living in a beach environment means your eye is going to be drawn to the stunning architectural exterior of your home. That exterior includes gutters, but from our best guess, that’s probably not the first, second, or even third thing you notice. Though not on the forefront visually, gutters play a vital role in your roofing system.
Gutters are the way your roof effectively drains and moves water away from your home. When installed correctly by a professional residential roofer, your gutters should funnel water into specific gutter channels, which culminate in a downspout at different junctures within your roofline. Downspouts move water away from your home and from seeping into the ground near your foundation.
Gutters are absolutely essential for helping to keep your home or building at a reduced risk of interior leaks, water damage, or even mold. Water is the antithesis of a healthy home’s foundation, and gutters play an important role in keeping foundations dry.
Look Out For These Hidden Gutter Issues
With proper maintenance and regular inspection, a good gutter system should hold up for years. That being said, there are a number of potential gutter issues that can put your home at risk. These include:
Debris Accumulation
In a coastal environment like Lewes, DE, there is a constant presence of wind, which can cause a buildup of debris in your gutters, especially if you live in a pine-laden area. Pine needles can be particularly damaging to gutter systems. When debris accumulates and is not removed from your gutters, additional damage can occur. Coastal communities are near the ocean, which means that moisture from saltwater in the air can get trapped under debris from clogged gutters. This can lead to accelerated levels of corrosion on your home’s exterior, including the rusting of gutters.
Water Damage
Heavy rainfall is a seasonal commonality in coastal areas. Excessive water that is not effectively and efficiently moved away from a home’s roof and foundation can put a home at increased risk of water damage. When gutters are clogged with debris and then experience inundation with water, excess water can overflow the gutters. Water that spills down the home and seeps into the ground can come dangerously close to the foundation. Clogged gutters left untreated can lead to continual water seeping into the ground of your home. This can increase your risk of cracks in the foundation and a weakening of the overall structure of the home.
Mold Growth
Clogged gutters filled with debris create a damp and dark environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to thrive. Oftentimes, these two are called silent threats because you don’t typically see mold or mildew until it’s too late. Keeping your gutters free of debris and other clogs reduces your risk of mold and mildew growth. If left untreated, mold and mildew can damage the external structure of your home and, if bad enough, the health of the home’s occupants.
Gutter Guards - Your Home’s Best Defense
No, they aren’t exciting, but gutters are incredibly important to your home’s overall ecosystem. Properly maintained gutters are free from debris and checked regularly to ensure they are performing optimally. Ideally, gutters should be checked a few times a year and more frequently after serious storms.
But what if we told you there was a system that was easily installed, protected your gutters, and could reduce your regular gutter maintenance schedule? Gutter guards are a great way to protect your home from the increased risk of water damage and mold. By acting as a barrier, they help prevent the accumulation of debris and reduce the exposure of gutters to corrosive elements like moisture from saltwater.
Introducing - Champion Gutter Guards!
Platinum Roofs is pleased to install Champion Gutter Guards which are designed to effectively block debris from entering your gutters. This helps to prevent overall clogs from occurring, ensuring that rainwater flows freely and moves away from your home, reducing overall risk of water damage.
Champion Gutter Guards are durable, making them a long-lasting asset to your roofing system. They are easily installed by the professional commercial and residential roofers at Platinum Roofs. Simply put, they are an easy choice for homeowners.
Reduce your gutter maintenance while improving your overall gutter performance. At Platinum Roofs, we’d be happy to walk you through the ins and outs of Champion Gutter Guards and how they can help reduce the risk of water damage to your Lewes, DE home. Our residential roofers have installed hundreds of gutter systems. Is your home ready for gutter guards? Give us a call today.
