Gutters are one part of the home that homeowners like to neglect.  Even though gutters are a vital part of the security team for your home, people tend to forget all about them.  This can be a dangerous mindset.  If gutters were not that important, they would not be installed on almost every home.  Their job is a crucial one.  They carry water off of your roof, away from your home and your foundation.  The reason it is so important to keep your gutters clean is because a blocked gutter is an ineffective one.  And an ineffective gutter puts your home at risk of some major damage.

Roof Damage

When gutters are not maintained well, they can become blocked.  Things such as leaves and other tree castoffs, asphalt debris from shingles, and general dirt, mold, and mildew can all contribute to clogged gutters.  If the gutters get so dirty that water can no longer flow freely, the water will reach heights in the trough that it shouldn’t.  When water can’t be removed, the constant exposure to moisture can quickly lead to rotting and leaks. 

Secondly, the extra weight of the water and the debris in the gutters can cause damage to soffits and fascia.  The damage that occurs with this is normally cracks and holes.  This can obviously allow water to get into your home and cause major water damage.

One last way that unclean gutters that don’t remove water from your roof is early failure of your shingles.  Any shingles that are closest to your gutters that are allowing water to sit in the troughs are going to get water logged.  This will cause deterioration of the shingle whose job it is to protect your roof. When those shingles fail, leaks are right around the corner.

Foundation Damage

Besides protecting your roof and home from leaks and water damage, gutters also protect your foundation.  By directing water into your downspouts, it removes a majority of the water to an area away from your foundation.  The reason for this is because pooling water around your foundation can cause shifting.  The result of this shifting can be cracks in your foundation.  The most serious type of crack in our foundation is a horizontal crack.  If you haven’t had your gutters cleaned in a while, you might want to take a look at your foundation and make sure it’s free of any damage.

Landscape Erosion

This is certainly a case of too much of a good thing. As gutters fill up with castoff and water is unable to flow through the system, the rain water flows over the outer edge.  This causes a waterfall that pounds onto your landscape.  From washing away a protective layer of mulch from your garden to flooding of your lawn and gardens, clogged gutters can really wreak havoc on your curb appeal.   

This is Just the Beginning

This article has only just skimmed the surface of damages your home can sustain if you neglect to clean your gutters.  Be sure the check back because we’ll cover some other risk factors of not having your gutters cleaned.  No matter if you need gutter cleaning in East Brunswick or Freehold, we can help you keep your gutters in tip-top shape. By giving your gutters the care they need, you are protecting your home from major damages.  If gutters weren’t important, homes wouldn’t have them. Let us help you care for your home by scheduling your gutter cleaning today!