Does your usual yard maintenance include cleaning out your gutters? Do you find yourself doing repairs to the gutters and downpipes more frequently? It may be time to consider a more effective solution.
Opting for the gutter replacement Melbourne residents are using to keep water damage at a minimum is often more cost-effective than continuously repairing old and worn gutters.
Know the Signs of a Worn Gutter System
Many homeowners try to avoid the cost of a full gutter replacement by continuously doing repairs on broken and worn components. However, you can repair old and water-damaged gutters for so long only before a replacement becomes inevitable.
Don’t wait for one of your gutters to fall down and potentially injure someone before you opt for replacement. Rather, use our list of signs to know when it’s time to ditch the repairs and speak to a professional for an effortless new gutter solution.
1. Gutters and Downpipes Have Started Sagging
You may think that all older gutters will eventually sag to some degree. The reality is that gutters of any age can sag and start pulling loose if they aren’t maintained often. This issue is made worse if you live in an area that experiences high rainfall as this leads to excessive leaves, twigs, mud, and other debris falling into the gutters.
Leaving debris in the gutter will not only cause the gutter to become heavy and sag but will also cause damage to the fascia boards. In some instances, your roofing contractor can clean out the gutters and reattach them to the wall and roof. However, if your gutters are old and too badly damaged, repair will no longer be an option.
2. There are Signs of Water Damage
If your property gets a lot of rainfall, you may not find it unusual to have water pools under or around your gutters. It’s also not uncommon for older, narrow gutters to take longer to empty. It’s essential to distinguish between residual water and actual pooling around the bottom of the gutter.
Signs that potentially indicate water damage can include:
- Water stains at the top and bottom of downpipes
- Walls around the gutter remain wet long after the rain has stopped
- Dark mould spores form on the walls and gutters
- Paint on the gutters and surrounding walls has started peeling
You should also keep an eye out for rust damage along the seams of your gutter and downpipes. Rust will form in these areas when water has been pooling in the space for a considerable amount of time. If left untreated these sections will eventually rust right through, causing severe leaking onto the exterior wall and into the foundation.
3. Gutters Always Seem to be Overflowing
Even the best-maintained gutters will occasionally overflow if there is significant rainfall. As with water drainage, it’s important to distinguish between regular overflowing and continuous leaking.
When the level of overflowing doesn’t match the amount of rainfall, it’s essential to check if your gutters are blocked. Sometimes it may be the downpipes that are blocked when leaves and mud build up in the middle of the pipes.
Where possible, place a hose at the top of the gutter to wash dirt and debris out. It’s also possible that your gutter system isn’t large enough to handle an increase in rainfall in your area. Gutter replacement is also the perfect opportunity to upgrade to a more effective system.
4. Gutters Have Started Cracking or Splitting
With the beating your gutters take from the harsh Australian weather, it’s no wonder that they will eventually need to be replaced. Other factors such as original materials used, quality of initial installation, the volume of rain, and how well the gutters have been maintained will also determine how long your gutter system lasts.
A huge indicator that your home needs gutter replacement is the appearance of cracks and splits in the top of the gutter as well as the downpipes. While it’s true that you may be able to patch up a few odd cracks, the reality is that this will still affect the integrity of the whole gutter system.
Keep in mind that patching cracks may only work once or twice and shouldn’t be seen as a long-term solution. Ultimately, the gutters will start ripping loose and this can lead to extensive damage to the roof and exterior of your home. When this happens, you’ll be looking at the cost of home repairs added to the cost of a new gutter system.
Final Thoughts
A functioning gutter system is crucial to keeping excess water away from the foundation and interior of your home. This makes it well worth the effort to routinely check for clogged, leaking, and damaged gutters.
Choosing to upgrade your gutter system to a larger, more efficient option is often the best way to eliminate the need for frequent cleaning. It will also reduce the long-term costs of continuous repairs. Speak to your local roofer for the best gutter type for your home’s modern needs!
Comments are closed.