They say your home is your castle–and without adequate drainage, you might just find yourself with your very own moat! Not exactly the most desirable outcome, but one that’s often inevitable when gutters and downspouts are neglected.
However, with proper gutter and downspout repair and replacement, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in the long run.
Regular Maintenance
The trouble is, many homeowners are guilty of completely overlooking the health of their gutter systems until they present quite severe problems. It’s a little like never bothering to have your car serviced, only to then react with shock when it needs major repairs. Gutter systems are relatively simple, though cannot be taken for granted and expected to perform flawlessly forever.
So rather than waiting for water damage to wreak havoc on your home and landscaping, it makes much more sense to be proactive with routine maintenance. Sooner or later, every neglected gutter system will back up and land you with one serious headache.
Repair or Replacement?
Good professional gutter cleaners should check for minor cracks, gaps, and small holes in your gutters and downspouts. These can sometimes be patched using professional-grade gutter sealant. We include this inspection as part of your gutter cleaning service, and can provide you an estimate for any repairs.
It’s also worth checking the gutter to downspout connection to make sure that it is secure. Most of the problems you are likely to encounter will be relatively simple in nature and can be repaired by a professional.
Where possible, repairs will be less expensive than outright gutter or downspout replacement.
Replacing Gutter Sections
Almost all modern gutters, whether steel or aluminum, are continuous gutters, without seams in the middle of a run. If a section is damaged, it is possible to cut it out and replace it. However, the seams from the replacement will be visible. If you have several areas that need repaired in this way, you are probably money ahead in the long run to go ahead and replace at least the entire run. Regular maintenance and repair will help extend the life of your gutter system, but eventually all gutter systems do need to be replaced.
You will want to make sure to match the type of gutter that you have on your home. There are several styles to choose from, and not everyone has every machine required to make the various types. We can tell you what type of gutters you have, and we replace the standard styles.
Downspout Replacement
One area of frequent failure is with the modern style “plain square” downspouts. They are called “plain square” because they are plain, with no fluting or other decorative touches, and they are basically rectangular in shape in the cross section. They are always made with steel, and the only way to make a bend in them is to cut them and bend them. The cuts leave an exposed, unpainted edge, which will naturally oxidize or rust. Over time the rusting process can cause these pieces to fail sooner than any other component of your gutter system. Replacement is usually straightforward, but should be done only by a skilled professional.
Any time you replace a downspout, consider installing a leaf trap at the bottom of the new downspout. A leaf trap is a device that catches debris near the bottom of the downspout so you can get to it easily to clean before the debris go into your drain system.
Regular care and maintenance can help extend the life of your gutter system. Neglect will cause premature failure of your gutter system. It really is that simple.
To learn more about how we can help you, and to receive a free estimate, please click the button or give us a call at (503) 407-3346.