Gutter Maintenance – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004   FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM

 

A TRUSTED NAME IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR THREE GENERATIONS!  EXPERTS IN SLATE * METAL * RUBBER * SHINGLE * GUTTER & DOWNSPOUTS

 

GUTTER MAINTENANCE

Do you take your gutters for granted?  Most of us do.  Gutters quietly and efficiently perform the routine miracle of saving your house from destruction by diverting vast amounts of rain away from your house.  Gutter maintenance and repair – issues that are usually low on most Homeowner’s priority lists – are actually more critical than one might imagine.

Neglecting your gutters over the long term can seriously cost you, both monetarily and in terms of labor and frustration.  Poorly working gutters can affect your home’s foundation and internal structure.  At the very least, ignoring simple gutter maintenance and repair season after season translates into huge, weekend-killing projects for you in the future.

To keep your gutters running effectively, learn tips on how to clean them and repair common problems.

Clean Your Gutters

You should clean out your gutters 2-3 times a year to ensure that they stay free flowing and exterior surface does not get stained.

Gutter Tune-up

Every few years you should do a tune up on your gutters and downspouts such as re-secure and re-pitch gutters, reseal corners, reattach loose downspouts and elbows.

Splash Blocks

Check to make sure your splash blocks are angled so the water flows away from the foundation of the house.  Do not angle them towards any walk or driveway since this could cause a slipping hazard.

Sagging and clogged gutters can overflow, causing damage to the soffit and fascia on the eaves of your home. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to keep gutters clean and properly maintained.

    • Secure Gutters: To repair sagging or loose gutters, replace the gutter spikes with gutter screws, using a cordless drill.  Gutter screws hold much better than standard gutter spikes, providing support and security.

    • Seal Leaks: Use a hose to check the joints and seams for leaks. To repair a leaking joint, clean the area thoroughly and apply silicone caulk to seal it.

    • Repair Downspouts: Make sure that downspouts are clear of leaves and other debris, and that any joints fit together properly.