When was the last time you had your gutters cleaned? Many homeowners choose to procrastinate or ignore their gutters. But make no mistake: falling behind on gutter maintenance will allow for the accumulation of leaves, twigs, and debris.
This will eventually clog your gutters and prevent them from channeling rainwater away from your home. Clogged gutters can be detrimental to the structural integrity of your home. From roof leaks to foundation damage, there’s a lot at stake if you don’t keep up with regular gutter cleaning.
1. Foundation and Basement Problems
As clogs grow, rainwater flows out and over the side of the gutter, pooling around the base of the home. The influx of water seeps into the ground, where it causes erosion and exerts pressure on your foundation. This can lead to foundation cracks and settling.
Over time, the cracks will allow water to leak into the basement and cause extensive and costly water damage. Worse yet, if the situation is left unattended, the foundation’s structural integrity is significantly affected. This leaves the home vulnerable to a collapse or cave-in.
2. Interior Damage
If water backs up in your clogged gutters, it can get up under the roofing material, causing the edge of your roof to soak in the trapped water. The water will have enough time to find openings and leak behind interior walls and ceilings. This will inevitably lead to water damage and the growth of mold and mildew.
3. Broken Gutters
When your gutters are filled with leaves and debris, the water they should collect has nowhere to go. As a result, it fills your gutters to the brim. The extra weight causes the gutters to sag, break, or detach from the fascia, causing even more costly damage.
4. Pest Infestation
Clogged gutters can make desirable homes for birds, insects, and rodents. The moist conditions are ideal for mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches. The damp, decaying environment also lures termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-destroying pests.
Rats, mice, and other rodents won’t mind living in your clogged gutters. They could even find a way into your home, making the problems worse.
5. Lost Landscaping
As much as flowers, shrubs, grass, and other greenery need water to thrive, too much of it can be devastating. Clogged gutters allow overwhelming volumes of water to cascade onto your plants. All it takes is one storm to compromise your landscaping.Cleaning your gutters at least twice a year can prevent damage to your home and save you thousands in possible repair costs. Let the team at Midwest Roofing take care of the hassle for you. Contact us to learn more about our roofing and gutter services in Columbia or Springfield, MO.