How Clogged Gutters Are a Danger to Your Home

Contrary to what most people believe, your gutters are more than just an optional piece for the roof. They actually play a critical role in your home’s natural water management, responsible for safeguarding the structural integrity of the walls, roof and the foundation.

Clogged gutters are a common problem that, unfortunately, most people only bother with when it’s a serious and expensive concern. Read on as our gutter experts at Exterior Source discuss in-depth the dangers of clogged gutters and how we can help you address and prevent them.

Exterior Damage

Water won’t flow properly into your downspout if your gutters are clogged. With nowhere else to go, it will eventually run down the walls or onto your siding, potentially softening the soil around your foundation and causing it to crack.

Rainwater spilling from clogged gutters will do long-term structural damage to the roof on top of reducing the aesthetics of your property. Exterior damage on top of an unsightly facade will result in diminished value for your property.

Gutter Damage

The clogged litter will also eventually damage your gutters. With the leaks spilling through the seams, you’ll see the material quickly deteriorate as more and more debris-filled rainwater escapes the gutter. Clogged debris, especially from leaves, can also spread its rot on the material, resulting in the premature deterioration of your gutters. Most of the gutter repair work our company does specifically addresses damage from clogged debris in the gutters – a testament to just how damaging these clogs can be.

Damage to the Roof

Clogged gutters also spill towards the roof, specifically, towards the soffit and fascia – the two weakest parts of the roof. Continuous water damage will weaken the roof over time, which will cause leaks to form. The clogged gutters can also pull down the roof edge, misplacing shingles and weakening its overall structure even further.

Foundation Damage

The most dangerous effect clogged gutters have on the home is that they can permanently damage the foundation. The water running down the walls will eventually pool near the foundation of the home. This causes long-lasting and continuous damage to the foundation, weakening it to the point that it will crack.

If that isn’t bad enough, the water can even cause the soil near the foundation to move, shifting the very position of your entire house. Damaged foundations are very expensive to address, and will cause the interior walls to bulge and crack over time.

LeafGuard: Our Solution to Clogged Gutters

Our solution to clogged gutters is to protect your home with LeafGuard during your next gutter installation or replacement project. Its unique, patented, and clog-free system keeps debris out completely and keeps water moving away from your home.

This one-piece system is installed with internal hangers made from thick aluminum, allowing the system to resist the harshest weather. It also comes with ScratchGuard paint finish that is guaranteed to not crack, chip or peel, and also comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

We build LeafGuard gutters on-site, taking into account your roof’s measurements to create a custom-fit protection system for your gutters. Install LeafGuard and watch your gutters turn from a problematic piece of hardware to a self-cleaning, low-maintenance system for your home. Without overflowing gutters troubling your home, you don’t need to worry about your roof’s fascia, soffit, siding, or your foundations anymore.

Let our team from Exterior Source help you with your gutter problems. homeowners can contact us at  (804) 275-5323. Tidewater residents can reach us at  (757) 464-2060. You can also fill out our contact form to learn more about our services.