When it comes to home maintenance, one of the most important things to consider is whether or not your home needs additional support for gutter installation. Installing gutters by yourself can save you money, but there are some drawbacks to consider. To determine if your home needs gutters, you should check the fascia and ceiling for signs of rotting wood, which must be replaced before installing rain gutters. You'll have to remove any roof molding or molding nailed to the fascia, just below the shingles, and prime and paint the bare wood before hanging the gutters.
Accurately measure the length of the gutter needed to run along the edge of the roof and purchase enough gutter material to stretch it this far and a little more if needed during the repair process. Some types of roofs may not need gutters, such as those with a significant cantilever that draw water away from the house. However, installing gutters on a roof with a cantilever can be a more complex operation. In some Arizona homes, expanding the roof rather than adding gutters can improve the aesthetics of the property.
A professional inspection company can check for wear and tear, evaluate your alignment, assess if your gutter system is working properly, and clean the gutters and downspouts. If you clean the gutters today and remove leaves from your yard or garden, you'll need to do so again soon as leaves will accumulate in the gutters. The eye test is one of the first rubrics you can apply to assess if it's time to install new gutters. Look for sunken gutters, those that move away from the house, hang or lean more towards the front instead of being level, or those with seams that are loose or separate at the seams and are too worn to replace.
How often you change your gutters varies depending on weather conditions in your region; however, routine maintenance can extend their lifespan. Damaged systems and clogged gutters can cause problems such as cracks and putrefaction in fascias and ceilings, which can jeopardize the outside of your house and leave foundations exposed to water bombardment that can cause costly damage and flooding in basements. Leaks or problems related to water could mean that your roof needs repair or replacement rather than new gutters. Leaky or damaged gutters can also damage exterior paint, costing thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs. If your home doesn't have gutters simply because it's too old, it might be time to make some major improvements. If your roof needs a gutter of less than 40 feet, have it lean slowly toward a single downspout at one end.
Whenever two sections of gutter need to be joined at a corner, create a miter joint in the form of strips in the corner. If you're still not sure if your home needs gutters or not, talk to a residential roofing contractor you trust. Gutters can't effectively remove water unless they're cleaned frequently, and damaged gutters can cause more damage than not having them at all. When replacing your roof, consider replacing your gutters and downspouts at the same time for total savings.
