The gutters of your home don’t only add to curb appeal, they also serve a function. They’re the biggest player when it comes to protecting your home against rain.
Your gutters are there to keep any potentially expensive moisture-related problems at bay, and even though they may not seem important, we guarantee you’ll see a negative change if they’re not functioning properly.
Although your gutter system could be the best of the best, they will always need replacement at some time or another.
Do you have leaking gutters? Here are the telltale signs that it’s time for a professional gutter replacement.
1. Spotting Cracks
Spotting cracks in your gutters is the first sign that they may need replacement. Although, the spotting of cracks isn’t as easy as it sounds.
You’ll definitely be able to see larger cracks on a dry, clear day but smaller ones won’t show until there’s a downpour of rain. Cracks in your gutters defeat the objective of keeping the rain away from the sides of your home, as water will simply leak through. Much like a bucket with holes in it.
If there are one or two individual cracks, they can be replaced. But if there are too many, you’re in for a gutter replacement.
2. Spying Peeling Paint
We know that gutters generally aren’t painted, what you’re looking for here are spots where the paint is peeling from the side of your home.
If your gutter system isn’t working properly, then water will create damage in the same spot repetitively and the paint will begin to peel. The gutters above the affected area are most likely the culprits.
3. Check For Rotting
This is one step further from peeling paint, if you didn’t catch the peeling paint sign in time then you’re most likely dealing with rot. Particularly on wooden homes, the malfunctioning gutter will allow rain to pour over the same area again and again.
Walk around your home and look for window sills and door frames that are beyond the peeling of paint and are displaying signs of rot, the nearest gutter is most likely the piece that needs to be replaced.
4. Mold and Mildew
Examining both the exterior and interior of your home for mold and mildew is necessary to see if you need gutter replacement. Check around the foundation of your home for signs of green patches.
If the area is very small, it might only be a clogged downspout. If not, then the mold and mildew are definite signs that you need your gutters replaced.
5. Broken Seams and Fasteners
The pieces that fit your gutters together are your seams and fasteners. A simple inspection of each of these joins will tell you whether the system is functioning correctly.
If the fasteners and seams are evidently not in place or seem dislodged then a replacement is due.
6. Separation of Gutters
This sign follows on from the broken seams and fasteners, although they may not evidently be broken, in this case, you’re looking for a gutter pipe that is very obviously hanging down and not doing its duty.
In this case, a repair won’t do the job, you need gutter replacement to get the whole system up and running again.
7. Sagging Gutters
Sagging gutters are a big no-no. Your gutters need to maintain a proper pitch around the entire house, if they don’t, water will continue to pool up in the same areas and keep spilling over. Possibly, this could erode landscapes and create mold problems in the long run.
In this case, replace your gutters immediately.
Gutter Replacement Success
Gutter replacement is not the same job as gutter maintenance, it is not a job for an amateur.
Ensure that you do your research when selecting a gutter replacement professional, check their credentials to save yourself trouble in the long run.
Check out our customer reviews to see that we could be the right professionals for you.