Reasons to Have Gutter Replacement

Gutters are an essential feature of the outside of your home. They prevent water damage and make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

However, gutters can also fail and cause problems. It is why it’s essential to know the signs that indicate you need gutter replacement.

Water Damage

One of the main reasons homeowners have a gutter replacement Vancouver is to protect their homes from water damage. When gutters aren’t working correctly, water can leak from the roof, flood basements, and seep into the siding.

Having water damage in your home can be costly and time-consuming to fix. Therefore, addressing any issues as soon as you notice them is essential.

Signs of damaged gutters include leaking, sagging, and cracked or missing gutters. Sagging gutters can eventually pull away from the house and dangle loosely or tilt instead of draining properly.

Clogged gutters can also cause the pooling of rainwater on the ground near the house, causing it to seep through cracks and pores in the foundation. It can cause the concrete to deteriorate and the house to shift under its weight.

If you live in a climate where it gets cold in the winter, water that pools in your gutters could freeze and corrode porous materials like concrete. As a result, it can cause extensive structural damage to your house and even require the replacement of entire sections of your building.

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon that happens when soil particles are moved by water or wind. It is a problem that affects many areas around the world.

In many cases, soil erosion results from human activity, like deforestation and improper land management. These activities remove the protective canopy of trees, cut down the leaf litter that protects soil from heavy rains, and disturb the land’s surface.

If these factors occur, the soil can erode much faster than it usually would. As a result, it decreases agricultural productivity and can lead to landslides and floods in the future.

Thankfully, there are several steps you may take to avoid soil erosion. One of the most important is to have your gutters and downspouts replaced.

Cracks, holes, or rust spots

These aren’t always repairable, but if you can see more than half a dozen sections of your gutter with these issues, it’s time to replace them.

Peeling paint or orange flecks is another telltale sign that your gutters must be replaced. If you see these peeling areas in multiple locations, your gutters leak and need replacement.

Dented gutters are also an obvious sign that they need to be replaced. They aren’t a significant functional problem, but they can cause a dip in the bottom of the gutter that could cause water to overflow or leak around it and into your house.

Lastly, if there are large puddles of water by your doorways, windows, and entryways after rains, that’s a clear signal that your gutters need to be replaced. Even if the water isn’t pooling near your foundation, it can still eat away at the siding, eventually leading to mold growth and structural damage.

Mold and Mildew

When gutters are clogged, water can pool around your home and cause damage. That can lead to stained bricks, cracking porches, and drowning plants.

Similarly, water that pools in your basement can cause flooding, which leads to mold and mildew growth. Again, that can result in health problems like allergies, respiratory issues, and asthma.

Mold can be hard to remove and spread to other areas of your house if you don’t take care of it immediately. It hides in places no one sees, such as behind furniture and under cabinets.

Mildew, on the other hand, grows on flat surfaces and can be removed easily. Unfortunately, it can also be found on your home’s damp surfaces, paper, fabrics, and organic materials.