Gutter cleaning
The specific function of the rainwater drainage system is to collect all water draining from the roof and then divert it far enough away from your home. You may rarely pay attention to it, yet this system plays an essential role in protecting the various components of your home.
Neglecting to regularly clean and maintain your eavestroughs will have many consequences, some of which are quite serious. Many signs of water and moisture damage are visible to the naked eye, but others require a more thorough inspection. |
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If the eavestroughs are blocked or broken and water does not drain properly through downspouts, but instead runs down the walls, you may damage: the eavestroughs themselves, the roof, exterior wall cladding, windows, doors, ceiling, basement, building foundations, flowerbeds and other landscaping.
Here are a few examples of the damage that can be caused by inadequate maintenance of your home's eavestroughs. The sooner you correct these problems, the less likely you are to suffer costly and unpleasant repercussions. Even better: don't wait until you see damage and do preventive eavestrough cleaning!
Here are a few examples of the damage that can be caused by inadequate maintenance of your home's eavestroughs. The sooner you correct these problems, the less likely you are to suffer costly and unpleasant repercussions. Even better: don't wait until you see damage and do preventive eavestrough cleaning!
Gutter damage
It is important to properly maintain your eavestroughs so that they remain effective throughout the year. This will prolong their life and avoid repair work or even the complete replacement of damaged eavestroughs.
Cracks and deformations
Ice can be created both within the vertical and horizontal segments of the eavestroughs. As temperature changes cause ice to swell or break, the eavestroughs deform or crack. This is one of the main causes of future water leaks, so you should caulk these holes as soon as possible. If the cracks are too big, a professional will be better equipped than you are to solve the problem permanently.
Change of slope
The angle of the gutter is designed to convey water properly to the downspouts. However, the weight of plant debris, water or accumulated ice can reverse this slope. If you notice standing water in certain areas of your eavestrough after heavy rainfall, this may indicate that the slope is not steep enough. A new installation will probably be preferable to a repair. In any case, this type of deterioration is difficult to correct by yourself and will require the intervention of a specialist.
Slumping
The formation of ice at the edge of the roof, the accumulation of snow, as well as the degradation of the parts that support the eavestroughs can cause them to sag over time and thus, lose their efficiency. The solution often consists of adding nails or hooks in the right places to solidify the eavestrough system. You can purchase the material at a hardware or big-box store and do the work yourself. However, if you want to make sure that there are enough fasteners and that they are placed in the right places, the best thing to do is to contact a professional. Once again, be aware that in some cases, it will be necessary to change the entire system. A regular inspection will allow you to see the damage and plan for repair before it gets any worse.
Roof damage
If water does not drain properly due to poor gutter maintenance, it will rise and seep through the roof and fascia board, sometimes causing the fascia board to rot. Also, an eavestrough from one roof discharging directly onto another lower roof will cause premature wear of the asphalt shingles. It is important to make sure that the eavestroughs direct the water towards the ground. Of course, the cost of maintaining eavestroughs is lower than the cost of repairing a roof. To restore water damage, you will have to replace several pieces of wood and therefore invest several thousand dollars. The cost will be even higher if the rot has attacked the structure of your home.
Damage to foundations
Downspouts are designed to direct water a minimum of 1.5 metres from the house, or more if the slope of the land brings the water back to the house. However, if eavestroughs don't do their job properly because they are improperly installed or have deteriorated, water that overflows and always falls in the same places too close to the foundation can erode or compact the soil over time. The depressions that are created will allow water to accumulate in them.
In Quebec, houses are most often built without a watertight barrier against the porous concrete foundations. The increased amount of water in the soil near the foundations contributes to moisture problems in the basement of the house. If poorly drained, water can even seep into the basement and create serious damage. In extreme cases, water frozen in the ground can adhere to the foundation and cause structural damage such as cracks. It is even possible that a section of the house, such as the garage, could be lifted a few millimetres!
Also, be aware that eavestrough downspouts are sometimes connected to the foundation drain, which is not designed to receive large volumes of water. When the foundation drain is overloaded and can no longer perform its function properly, you will surely notice a significant increase in the humidity level in the basement. Overloading can even cause efflorescence on bare concrete walls, as well as mold or rot on the floor and the lower part of the walls. Ideally, the eavestroughs should be extended down to the ground, away from the foundation, on a gravel bed covered with grass for example.
In Quebec, houses are most often built without a watertight barrier against the porous concrete foundations. The increased amount of water in the soil near the foundations contributes to moisture problems in the basement of the house. If poorly drained, water can even seep into the basement and create serious damage. In extreme cases, water frozen in the ground can adhere to the foundation and cause structural damage such as cracks. It is even possible that a section of the house, such as the garage, could be lifted a few millimetres!
Also, be aware that eavestrough downspouts are sometimes connected to the foundation drain, which is not designed to receive large volumes of water. When the foundation drain is overloaded and can no longer perform its function properly, you will surely notice a significant increase in the humidity level in the basement. Overloading can even cause efflorescence on bare concrete walls, as well as mold or rot on the floor and the lower part of the walls. Ideally, the eavestroughs should be extended down to the ground, away from the foundation, on a gravel bed covered with grass for example.
Insect Proliferation
When leaves and other debris accumulate in your eavestroughs and clog them, they trap water, creating a wet, swamp-like environment. The stagnant water and rotting leaves then become an ideal refuge for various insects such as mosquitoes to lay their eggs. This increases the risk of your family, guests and pets being bitten. If you want to avoid ending up with an invasion of mosquitoes or other disturbing vermin, check the condition of your eavestroughs regularly and consider installing an eavestrough guard. Note, however, that only certain models of eavestrough guards are really effective, so be sure to find out before installing one. Start by reading this page to get an overview.
Insurance contract
If your eavestroughs are improperly installed or maintained, they can, for example, cause mould that will damage the interior walls of your home. Be aware that gradual damage resulting from water infiltration or repeated overflows is generally not covered by home insurance policies. If this is the case for you, the repair work that you will carry out following these types of problems will not be compensated by your insurer and you will have to pay for it yourself. Doesn't the cost of preventive maintenance seem small in comparison?
Do it yourself?
Do it yourself?