We have previously talked about some of the ways you can tell if your home needs new gutters, but in this post, we will break down why it is critically important that you replace your gutters if they are showing signs of distress. To recap our previous post about gutter replacement, you should consider replacing your gutters if they are sagging, showing a gap between them and your roof, they have cracks or rust, or if they’re clean and still overflowing (capacity issues). Simply put, your roof and gutter systems are your home’s line of defense against the elements. If either of these systems start to fail, your home could be at risk for expensive damages. Do not delay replacing your gutters in the Willamette Valley, because the climate here is not very forgiving to such mistakes. Often times when a Salem roofing company is called out for a roof repair, they’ll find downspout or gutter issues that have led to water leaking into the house.
If your gutters are overflowing or otherwise failing, this opens your home’s other exterior features to potential water damage. According to experts, your siding or paint could be exposed to much higher precipitation than they are intended to be exposed to, and this can cause more rapid deterioration. If you’re not quick with replacing your gutters, you could end up needing to replace a roof, gutters, and siding. Your siding isn’t the only feature that’s put at risk by delaying gutter replacement by any means. If you have a concrete or asphalt driveway, pooling water can cause problems for your driveway as well. This goes doubly for when it is below freezing outside, as this will contribute to the freeze-thaw cycle that haunts many concrete surfaces. This can increase deterioration on your driveway, which can reduce its lifespan. With the cost of a quality driveway being measured in thousands of dollars, it just makes sense to be proactive about protecting your concrete or asphalt surfaces. If you’re an avid gardener or landscaper, imagine pooling water on your landscape. It can cause erosion and knock over your plants in addition to just being unattractive and creating a muddy mess.
In addition to the exterior issues that bad gutters can cause homeowners, there are interior issues. The purpose of gutters is to capture and divert precipitation away from your house. If your gutter systems are failing to take the water away from your home, you could end up with water seeping into your basement, or the lower levels of your home. This can quickly cause expensive damage, if you have to redo your flooring and walls, replace electronics and other valuables that become water damaged, etc. You can see our point. Replacing gutters isn’t always high on the list for homeowners seeking renovation projects, but your gutters are an important part of your home’s front line security against Oregon’s moist climate.
If you are looking for roof cleaning or gutter cleaning in Salem, give Slate & Slate Roofing a call today at (503) 585-2338 for an estimate. If you are concerned that your roof has been damaged by pooling water due to a failing gutter system, give us a call today and we will make the roof repairs you need, as quickly as possible.
