Gutters

Gutters are extremely important for protecting your home against damage caused by rain and yet most homeowners never think about the rain gutters until there is a major problem. Neglecting your gutters, whether they are vinyl gutters, copper gutters or aluminum gutters, usually presents problems at some point. When it rains, it is the job of the rain gutter to capture the water runoff from the roof and away from your homes foundation. There are many problems caused by water collecting around the foundation because of broken or blocked gutters. These include soil erosion, a wet breeding place for insects, basement water damage, mildew and mold, and damage to your siding.

Each spring and fall a homeowner should inspect and clean out their gutter. You should remove all the debris such as twigs, leaves, weeds, bird nests, and balls from the neighbor’s children and do any gutter repair work needed. Replace the gutters when necessary but save the old ones and use them for a rain gutter regatta for the children. Take a stiff-bristled brush and scrub the entire interior of all your gutters. If you feel energetic, wash the outside of the gutter using a mild detergent. Next, make sure all your downspouts are clean of debris and in good condition. A clogged or damaged downspout blocks the water, which causes the rain gutters to overflow. Keep your downspouts clean and repaired to optimize their efficiency. If the downspout is damaged, clogged or missing, it will not be able to move the water away from your home. Be sure that they are strapped onto the house properly and carry the water away from your foundation. To keep debris from clogging your gutter, use a gutter guard, gutter helmet, or gutter screen. Gutter covers or gutter guards go over top of your existing gutter and prevent debris and leaves from getting into the gutter and clogging it or the downspout.

Knowing how to install gutters on your own home depends upon the type of gutters you want. Installing gutters made of vinyl or plastic varieties are easy for a do-it-yourself handyperson. Many of the plastic rain gutters today snap together making it an easy job to replace or repair individual pieces. Before you start the job, be sure to have all the necessary tools to avoid having to stop in the middle. Doing preventative maintenance by checking and repairing problems when they occur protects your home from water damage caused by faulty gutters.