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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

How Clogged Gutters Can Affect Roof Lifespan

Severe weather and high winds can cause debris to collect on your roof rather quickly.  This debris, which can be comprised of twigs or leaves from nearby trees, can accumulate in your rain gutters.  Some customers have even reported that birds have constructed nests in their gutters, effecting damming the water flow and causing pooling or backup.  Cleaning out your clogged gutters may not be on your weekly to-do list.  In fact, you may not even realize that your gutters are filling up with debris until you notice costly damage occurring. That is why a routine cleaning of your gutters is a smart way to protect your investment and extend the life of your roof.

Possible Damage from Clogged Gutters

Roof Leaks: Clogged gutters that aren’t draining properly can cause roof leaks which may cause major damage.  Water runs downhill, and because the debris may cause water to back up or pool, the water will look for an avenue to travel downward.  Depending on the leaks, cracks, and openings the water may find, leaks behind interior walls and ceilings can easily occur and cause major damage.

Mold & Mildew: Standing water and moist areas of debris can also cause mold or mildew to grow on and under the roofing tiles.  While many think that mold, mildew or algae are purely aesthetic concerns, they can also be a health hazard or cause erosion to your roofing materials.  In fact, if mold or mildew is growing on your roof for any reason, consider cleaning your roof for its best possible health.

Damaged Foundation: When water cannot drain in a controlled way, it can do damage to the foundation of your home.  Given the structural importance of your foundation, damage can be quite serious and expensive.  Inspecting your roof and gutters on a regular basis, therefore, is a smart financial move.

Rotten Fascia: If water overflows out of your clogged gutters, it could cause your roof fascia boards to rot over time.  The fascia is a wooden board that generally attaches your gutters to the roof.  Aside from looking polished, the fascia helps to keep out critters and weather.  Rotting fascia wood can also attract pests – therefore seriously affect the integrity of your home.

Damage to The Roofing Structure: Gutters clogged with debris may sag from the extra weight, straining the gutter fasteners, soffits and fascia, and the gutters themselves.  Allowing clogged gutters to go unchecked may very well result in your having to purchase new materials to replace a sagging or damaged gutter system.

If someone gave you an empty bucket and asked you to hold it and your arm out for 30 seconds, it wouldn’t present much of a challenge.  However, as they begin filling the bucket with water, your arm will eventually feel the weight and droop.  Similarly, overflowing or clogged gutters put extra weight on your roof that it’s not designed to handle.  The unnecessary weight starts to strain the soffits and fascia.  These are essential components of your roof that promote air circulation and prevent moisture from getting in.  As the two components give in to the weight, you’ll notice cracks forming. From there, the excess water can seep in, causing ceiling damage, electrical problems, and hazardous mold growth.

Damage to Foundation:  Additionally, clogged gutters force the water to overflow along your home’s exterior and into the foundation.  A compromised foundation presents a safety risk and reduces your home’s market value. From a buyer’s point of view, the cost and time investment involved with foundation repairs typically aren’t worth the hassle.  The build-ups that cause structural damage are common after periods of heavy rain or snow.

Note: Although this is not an issue which will affect your roof lifespan, clogged gutters can also wreak havoc on your landscaping and flower beds.  When water overflows or spills out into the same area, it can erode your mulch, grass, plantings or flowers.

Water Pooling On Roof:  Blocked gutters are easily overlooked, especially after periods of heavy winds or storms. When you have clogged gutters, your home has no way of releasing the water it accumulates.  After some time, the weight of the excess water and debris can cause the exterior to create cracks for it to seep through. Generally, most homeowners are unaware of this problem until they notice water damage on their ceilings.  The only way to prevent further roof and ceiling damage is to remove the stagnant water and debris.

Leaking gutters lead to leaky roofs

When gutters cannot drain water properly, water has nowhere to go and builds up within the gutter.  Water backing up in your gutter from excess debris can easily overflow and get up under the roof’s shingles causing the edge of your roof’s surface and the underlying materials (normally a wood sheeting) to soak in the sitting, trapped water.  Here, it accumulates.  The water then has plenty of time to soak through the different areas of your home, including your roof/ ceiling.

The water that slowly seeps into the home, although it may go unnoticed for some time, causes rot and mold damage to a multitude of areas both within the home and in the exterior.  Water that drips into your home has the ability to ruin paint, furniture, appliances, and possibly cause electrical problems at minimum.  The wood sheeting rot eventually leads to weakness in the roof.  This weakness can cause the It can also cause larger damage such as a caved in roof. It can even lead to a danger zone for anyone that climbs on top of it.

As with every aspect of homeownership, routine roof maintenance is important to protect your investment and avoid costly repairs.  Keeping your gutters free from debris allows the water to flow freely and to drain properly, which will help to ensure that your roof and gutters last for their full lifespan.