It’s no secret, we live in Wisconsin. We have rain and snow and trees and wind all depositing things on our roofs. We have year round help from Mother Nature to make our lives interesting…and fill our gutters. And, if you ignore them, you’ll be reminded of why water is considered the Imost powerful element on Earth.
Rain gutters are designed to protect your homes against rain damage. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about gutters until a problem develops from neglect. Below are five basic things every homeowner should know about gutters and how they protect their home:
1. It's An Important Job — Gutters help direct roof runoff away from the foundations of your house. Pooling Water at the foundation of your house can cause soil erosion, rot the siding, create a breeding ground for mold and insects, and cause many other problems.
2. To Work…You Must Keep Them Clean — You should clean your gutters at least once a year, but twice — in spring and fall — is better. It’s simple:
• Remove obvious debris, like leaves, twigs and the occasional bird’s nest.
•.Using a stiff-bristled brush, scrub the interior of the gutters
• To wash the gutters’ exterior, use the same detergent you use on your car
3. Cover Them Up — Using a system designed to shield them from debris is the best way to keep them clean. Screens and Guards allow water but not debris to pass through. Other devices, such as a type of brush that sits in the gutter channel, also help keep gutters debris-free throughout the year.
4. Downspouts Are Key — your gutters’ efficiency depends on maintaining your downspouts. A clogged downspout, or one which is damaged or missing, will cause the entire system to fail in moving water away from your home. Be sure downspouts are properly affixed to the house and carry water farther from the foundations by using an extension.
5. Gutters Are Different — One inch of rainfall results in up to 1,500 gallons of water onto the average-sized roof, according to
www.savingwater.org. The channels on standard 4- or 5-inch wide aluminum gutters can’t handle that volume. Your gutter professional can review other options for you and your roof.
Gutter Shopping Tips
There are a number of gutter guard styles and materials out there to chose from and while each one claims to be the best solution. The fact is, individual results will vary depending on the style and pitch of your roof, the amount of rain and snow you get and the type and quantity of debris reaching your roof. The following questions may be helpful if you choose to get a gutter shielding product.
■ Who does the installation? Some products can be purchased and installed by any homeowner or contractor, while others can only be installed by factory-authorized dealers.
■ What is the installed cost? Some gutter guards are quite inexpensive, while others can be just the opposite.You want to know exactly what the installed cost will be -- which includes the cost of hiring someone to install them if you buy them and don't want to do the work yourself. Once you have that cost, compare it what it would cost to have a professional gutter company ome out once or twice a year and clean your gutters for you.
■ Will it work with your existing gutters? Not all gutter guard styles are compatible with all gutters, so be sure you check on this before making a purchase.
■ Will it work with your existing roof and roofing? Some gutter guards will not work with very steep or very flat roofs, or with some types of roofing materials.Again, be sure of the compatibility with your existing roof pitch and type of roofing before you buy.
■ What are the maintenance requirements? Few things are truly maintenance free. Find out what additional maintenance will be required, and if the company claims their product is completely maintenance-free, ask for a money-back guarantee in writing should that prove not to be the case.
■ What about ice and snow? If you live in an area that is subject to snow and ice buildup, be sure to check whether the gutter guard can be damaged by that or whether it contributes to ice buildup and ice damming.
■ How about warranties and references? If you are having a contractor do the work, be sure to ask for license and insurance information, references and a written warranty.
