Do you really need to clean your gutters or is that all just a bunch of hype?
It’s real and could cost you big if you don’t keep up with it.
And here’s why…
Why Gutter Cleaning Is Important
Gutter cleaning is important because if you don’t clean them, you could be allowing hidden damage to occur – damage that could cost you more than just your gutters. Most gutter damage is hidden and isn’t discovered by the homeowner until it’s too late.
Five Bad Things That Happen When You Don’t Clean Your Gutters
Here are five bad things that could happen if you don’t regularly clean your gutters.
1. Roof and Fascia Damage
Debris in gutters causes water to sit or back up into the roof system, rotting your roof deck, fascia, and more. The more water that sits in your gutters, the more weight they will sustain. The strain of excessive weight could cause your gutters to pull away from your roof damaging your fascia, decking, and other structural components.
2. Pest Control Issues
Clogged gutters give many pests a place to nest. This could be anything from mosquitoes, scorpions, spiders, birds, etc.
3. Other Structural Damage
Water that overflows your gutters and repeatedly hits the ground in the same places could cause damage to your siding and foundation. This can result in expensive repair costs!
4. Landscape Damage
Gutters full of debris will overflow and spill down onto your landscaping and garden beds. This could result in flooding that will carry away mulch, drown plants, cause root rot, and more.
How Often Do You Need to Clean Your Gutters?
In most cases, it’s recommended you clean your gutters twice a year. Schedule your gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall, after most of the leaves have fallen. However, if you have a number of trees around your home, more frequent gutter cleaning will probably be needed.
How Do You Properly Clean Your Gutters?
You have two options for cleaning your gutters. You can have them professionally cleaned, which is recommended if your house is more than two stories. Or, you can clean the gutters yourself. If you want to clean the gutters yourself, you will need a sturdy ladder, bucket, tarps, hand trowel, hose, hose sprayer nozzle, gloves, goggles, and if possible, someone to spot you.
Begin by putting on your safety gear before climbing the ladder. Then use the hand trowel to dig out the large debris and put it into your bucket or drop it onto the tarp you’ve placed on the ground. Be careful not to reach too far beyond the ladder as this could cause you to fall. Once you’ve removed the debris, you can rinse your gutters and the inside of your downspouts with your hose.
Alternatively, you could use a leaf blower or power washer to clean out your gutters; however, this usually leaves a bigger mess than doing it by hand.
What’s Next
At Perry Roofing, we want to make sure your roof stays in prime condition for as many years as possible. Making sure you have properly working gutters is one great step to protecting the investment you’ve made in your roof and in making sure your home stays safe.
If you would like more information about Perry Roofing Contractors or would like an estimate for your roof repair or replacement, please contact us today. We have been serving Gainesville, FL, and the surrounding areas since 1976 and we are here for you when you need us.