When installed by a professional, rain gutters can work like clockwork with only basic maintenance in between. However, there’s a reason why reliable repair services are such an important resource for homeowners. Rain gutters can still sustain damage, and this shouldn’t be a surprise when we consider their main purpose: they are meant to redirect rainwater and withstand different weather changes all year round. Because they’re often custom-made to match a building’s layout, seamless rain gutters have a very long lifespan, but their design also entails a complex process when it’s time to make repairs or replace the guttering system.
How to Deal with a Damaged Gutter?
You can’t leave your rain gutters unattended for years and expect them to work without a hitch. Among other things, proper maintenance will help you catch cracks, fissures, clogs, and other problems long before they start affecting your gutter’s performance, saving you time and money in the process. When it comes to finding solutions to these problems, the most viable option is either repairing the damage or replacing the gutters with a sturdier rain guttering system. Both options require a monetary investment, so it’s normal to ask yourself ‘should I repair or replace gutters?’ before contacting the company of your choice. The answer to this question will ultimately depend on the extend of the damage your gutters have sustained.
Here’s a list of common rain gutter problems. When you catch them in time, most of these problems can usually be fixed with a professional gutter repair service, but in other cases, they might point to deeper gutter damage.
- Cracks or holes: Cracks are an obvious problem for a system that’s meant to catch the rainwater before it falls around your foundations. Small cracks will likely allow repairs without having to replace your gutters, but there are instances when people can’t find a fissure until it’s grown big enough to leak water whenever it rains. If you start finding several cracks on your gutters, a replacement would be the most practical solution. Such occurrences usually signal that the gutters are nearing the end of their lifespan.
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- Clogged gutters: The best solution for this problem depends on how severe the obstruction and how long it has kept your gutters from working properly. The damages caused by clogs can be easily avoided through regular cleaning and maintenance.
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- Leaks on your gutter’s joints: As seamless gutters have no joints dividing their structure, this problem is more prevalent for sectioned gutters. Sometimes, the sections are not properly assembled and in other cases they aren’t attached tightly enough to keep the water in. In most cases, this can be solved with sealant or by replacing one section of the gutter.
- Loose/fallen screws: This is also a common occurrence for sectioned gutters, but there are cases in which seamless gutters are poorly fastened on their edges / to the downspouts. An isolated problem can be easily solved through a professional repair service, or by replacing the screws securing the gutters, but if the incident repeats itself on more than one portion of the guttering system, a full replacement might be the wisest approach.
When Is Gutter Replacement the Best Option?
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- Parts of your gutters are visibly rotten: Rust and corrosion are clear signs of decay, and the best option is to install a brand new guttering system before your current gutters fall apart. Sectioned gutters might allow repairs, as well as the option to replace the rotted portion without having to take down the whole structure, but once you start finding multiple points of corrosion, you can expect the damage to worsen with time.
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- Spillage and stains on your home’s sidings: Your gutters are failing at doing their job if you get water on your walls and soil, and a replacement is the best way to rectify the problem. When you see strips of water running down your sidings or your wall’s painting falling off, it’s probably because water is overflowing from behind your gutters and around your house.
- Your gutters are sagging and losing stability: If your gutters aren’t properly in place, or you see parts of them bending at odd angles, the safest option is to invest in a replacement that fits your home’s layout more effectively. Custom-made gutters are the best way to ensure that your rain guttering system remains properly attached below your roof while keeping the rainwater flowing away from your home.
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