The gutters on any home are one of the first lines of defense for protecting the structure from damage from the elements. If you are considering bringing in a professional to help with your gutters, here is a look at the services that are generally offered.
Cleaning
Cleaning gutters may not be the most enjoyable task, but it’s very necessary. Cleaning should be done in autumn, after leaves have fallen off the trees and begin clogging the gutters, and also in spring to get the leaves that weren’t removed the first time. If leaves obstruct the water in the gutters during rainstorms, it falls to the ground around the house and then seeps down into the foundation, and this leads to mildew, rot and other damage.
While this task is necessary, it’s also dangerous. If you choose to stand on a ladder and slowly move it around the house, it can take hours. If you choose to get up on the roof and then get low to clean refuse out of gutters, the process is faster but also has more of a fall risk. Especially for older people, it’s much better to hire someone who is licensed, bonded, insured and experienced.
Repairing
Because of the enormous volume of water that is going through them, gutters bend, warp and break. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as pounding some nails back in. Other times, leaks are replaced with special sealants. Sections that come disconnected from one another are reattached, and elbows are removed from downspouts to take out obstructions of leaves and then put back together. Sometimes, the board behind the gutters, the fascia, rots out, and needs to be replaced. Caulk is often added at gutter joints to add additional leak protection. Finally, sagging sections of gutter can be propped by different methods.
Installing
Installing an entire new system of gutters is best done by professionals. They can make custom sections of gutter themselves on the spot with special machinery, and this is much cheaper than using standard sections and having to cut them down to fit.
Special Systems
Screens and covers of different types can be put over gutters to keep out water in the first place. There are a number of companies that do this, and they have their own workers and equipment to tear down the old gutters, replace them and then recycle what was removed.
Gutters, more than most people realize, have many purposes. When properly installed, cleaned and repaired, they can go a long way toward extending the life of your home as well as amping up its curb appeal. Don’t hesitate to bring in a professional when you think you can use one! When you need gutter services in Mill Creek, WA, contact North Creek Roofing.
