People usually don’t spend a lot of time thinking about their gutters. In fact, the only time they seem to notice them is when it’s obvious that they are not operating properly. Functional gutters are absolutely critical to a house’s maintenance. They protect your home’s interior, exterior, and foundation from water damage, and prolong the life of your roof and fascia.
If you know your gutters aren’t working as they should, it may be time to replace them. Here are four indications that may indicate it is time to get new gutters.
1. When Your Gutters Are in Serious Disrepair
If your gutters sag and bend, are detaching from your roof, or have noticeable cracks or stressed seams, chances are that they are beyond repair. Sometimes, gutters may look “okay”, but reveal their defects when it rains. If you see leaks and spouts that are not supposed to be there, you know the problem is serious. Gutters that are in such a state of disrepair that they are not capable of functioning as intended, it is time to replace them.
The problem with seriously faulty gutters is not just that they are not doing what they are supposed to do, it is that they are probably doing active damage to your home. Replacing old and faulty gutters will make a significant difference not only to how your house looks, but will protect your home from water damage, mildew, rot, and pest infestations.
2. Your Gutters Are Leaking
When your gutters leak, it means that they are not transporting rainwater off of your roof, toward a downspout, and away from the base of your house. Even if most of your gutters are functional but one area has a serious leak, that one leak may be all it takes to cause water damage to your home. When a gutter can’t perform its job, water will go wherever it can, leaving your roof, fascia, attic, or walls susceptible to rot and damage. Replacing a faulty section of your gutters may be necessary to save you from having to invest in costly repairs.
3. Your Gutters Are Too Small for Your Home
Even if your house has gutters, it is sometimes the case that a homebuilder has not provided gutters sufficient to do the job. Gutter size should be chosen based on calculating the volume of rainwater runoff that your roof sheds, which means that a house with a lot of roof or a steep pitch needs large gutters. If a homebuilder has skimped or miscalculated on your gutters, you may be seeing your gutters overflow often, even when rainfall is not very heavy.
You can find out if your gutters are too small for your home by having a professional calculate what size gutters your home should have. If your gutters are too small, the only solution is to replace them with the proper size.
4. Your Gutters Don’t Match Your Home
While gutters are designed primarily for function, that doesn’t mean you need to put up with ugly gutters even when they work as intended. While gutters are not regarded as the most important feature when it comes to a home’s looks, aesthetically pleasing gutters that coordinate well with a house’s style and color can significantly add to a home’s appeal. Today, gutters come in a variety of styles, colors, and materials, and there are numerous gutter accessories, such as rain chains, that can significantly enhance the beauty of your home.
If the gutters on your home seriously detract from your home’s looks and you want to upgrade, go ahead and install new ones. Even if the old ones worked, you can feel good that your new gutter system will function optimally: they will be clean, they will be the right size, and they will channel the water efficiently to where you want it to go.
If you think your gutters may need replacement but you aren’t quite sure, Precision Gutters can help. Our experts are happy to meet with you to show you available options, add-ons, and accessories, and together we will determine the right gutters for your home. Contact us today at Precision Gutters to learn more about our services and to get your free estimate.