Gutter Systems: Simple and Routine Maintenance
Not only does a gutter system protect homes from water and soil damage but is also an integral part of a functioning weatherproofing system. When installed and maintained properly, they function with your roofing system and prevent costly repairs to siding, fascia, and wood damage. When your gutter system is installed poorly or improperly maintained, it will cause more harm then well. Pooling water or leakage is a problem sign and should be addressed immediately. This can lead to hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs.
It is always advised to hire a professional but gutter maintenance is a simple task if one is comfortable with heights and proper ladder setup and use. Safety is always a priority in attempting any household tasks but especially anything involving ladders or heights. They are extremely dangerous. Never set a ladder against a gutter to avoid damage and slipping. Always use a proper stand off for your ladder which is sold at many home improvement stores. The stand off allows a ladder to be placed on a wall or roof and pushes the ladder out from the surface allowing access to a roof without crushing the gutter.
Most times many problems can be solved with a garden hose. Washing the gutter out on the inside with the hose will clean your gutter and allow you to check for pooling or leakage. Leaks are easily addressed with a tube of silicone or butyl caulking. Always make sure surface is dry and clean before caulking and be sparing on application to avoid creating a water dam. In addition, always wipe excess caulking off with a moist rag or finger. Many times slight adjustments or tweaks will resolve most pooling issues.
To avoid further a deposit buildup in your gutter system, many hardware stores carry a netting type material which is just placed in your gutter. This allows windblown debris to not get drawn into your drain and cause clogging. For a more permanent solution, metal or plastic panels are sold which fasten on top of the gutter. These are highly recommended as there is zero maintenance involved with these types of screens.
As you can see, it is possible a few minutes of prevention will save large amounts of money and labor over time. These few simple steps will save you and your house much labor and maintain the value of your home for years to come.
