Gutters are an important part of your roofing system. They keep rainwater away from vulnerable areas such as your home’s foundation, where pooling water can cause extensive damage. Gutters also help minimize potential damage to other exterior components such as siding and landscaping. Therefore, if the gutters are showing the following signs of wear, their replacement should be a top priority:
- Bubbling, Blistering or Peeling Paint – Bubbles and blisters indicate the presence of water under the paint layer. This doesn’t automatically mean you have to replace the gutters, but you should at least check to see if the water has led to corrosion. This is easier to determine if the paint has started to peel since signs of rust would be evident on the metal. Investing in copper or aluminum gutters can minimize rust and corrosion problems.
- Holes and Cracks – If left unattended, rust spots will eventually turn into holes, which will render the gutters ineffective. In some instances, the holes may occur at critical spots and turn into cracks. If you’ve just started noticing holes and cracks in your gutters, repairs and sealants may only be temporary fixes at best, which means that the gutters should be replaced soon.
- Stressed Seams – A typical steel gutter system is built from gutter lengths of about 10 feet. The overlaps, or seams, are attached and sealed. Depending on the installation, these areas should be able to withstand a considerable amount of stress. However, clogged gutters tend to place additional strain on the seams, and bent and stressed seams aren’t likely to last long. Even without events like storms or heavy rain, the gutters nevertheless become heavier as they become filled with leaves, water and debris. Seamless gutters and gutter protection systems are ideal upgrades for taking care of such issues.
- Rotten Fascia – Gutters are typically attached to the roofing fascia using nails. Being made of wood, the fascia can rot over time if not properly maintained. The gutters aren’t likely to stay attached to rotten fascia for long, so a fascia replacement immediately followed by gutter reinstallation will probably be necessary. To minimize the chances of water intrusion, choose gutters installed using brackets instead of nails or screws.
Contact Us for Your Next Gutter System
To learn more about gutter replacement, call Hader Solutions today at (513) 612-9201. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve Cincinnati and surrounding areas.
