Homeowners often forget about their gutters, but cleaning this part of your home is vital to the integrity of your roof, landscaping, and foundation. It’s recommended you clean your gutters at least twice a year, and after every major storm in your area to avoid the need for Denver roof repair. But, why do you need to do it? How do gutters get clogged? Here’s everything you need to know:
Causes of Clogs
Gutters are designed to allow water to flow off of your roof, but they can quickly become clogged with leaves, twigs, or other debris. This is especially common if your home is situated close to trees, or if there are low hanging trees that could drop leaves directly onto your roof.
However, other times a gutter clog has nothing to do with nature. If the gutter downspouts are designed poorly, they could trap debris and allow it to build up and block water from passing through.
Now that you understand why gutters get clogged, it’s time to learn about what could happen if you don’t call a roofing professional to clean your gutters on a regular basis:
Roof Damage
When debris prevents water from flowing through the gutters, the water will build up on your roof and possibly damage the surface and the wood sheathing underneath. This could lead to costly repairs, so it’s best to invest in a regular gutter cleaning to save money down the road.
Foundation Damage
Functioning gutters will take water off of your roof and direct it away from your home’s foundation. However, if there is a blockage in your gutter, the water will either slide off the sides of your roof or your gutters and collect on the ground near your home’s foundation. Although a little bit of water won’t do much damage, as the puddle begins to build up, it may cause your foundation to crack. Even if your foundation is strong enough to withstand the water, mold can grow and cause serious respiratory issues for everyone inside the home. Learn more facts about mold and dampness.
Landscape Damage
Clogged gutters can also cause water to fall on landscaping instead of carrying it far away from the home. Over time, the flower bed that you worked so hard on may be ruined all because of a gutter clogged with leaves and twigs.
Accidents
Because a clogged gutter causes water to fall in places it shouldn’t, someone may slip on a puddle of water located around your home. Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious, life-threatening injuries, so avoid this possible danger by taking good care of your gutters.
To learn more about keeping your gutters clean, talk to a roofing professional in your community. Big Creek Roofing is the premier roofing company in Denver, with a staff that specializes in every aspect of roof maintenance, repair, and replacement. When you hire our team to tackle your roofing project, you can expect on-time and high quality service at a reasonable price. Contact us today to discuss your roofing needs!