Harper Roofing

  • Roofing Services
  • Roof Financing
  • Roof Inspection
  • About
    • Customer Reviews
    • Contact
    • Blog
  • Roofing Services
  • Roof Financing
  • Roof Inspection
  • About
    • Customer Reviews
    • Contact
    • Blog

The Importance of Having Gutters and Maintaining Them

12/6/2017

3 Comments

 
Importance of Gutters
Importance of Gutters

Why Gutters Are So Vital In Preventing Roof Damage

Many homeowners don't think about or know the importance of having a system of gutters and downspouts on their homes. Installing a system of gutters, maintaining them and replacing them as needed is a major duty of responsible home ownership. Not having gutters can cause a great many problems for homeowners.

The Jobs of Gutters and Downspouts:
1. Removing Water From Your Roof
Gutters are responsible for removing water from your roof. When it rains or snow melts, water can get underneath the shingles on the roof causing damage to its structure. Gutters and downspouts also keep water away from the sides of the home. This will prevent water from getting behind siding or causing a "rusting" effect on brick. Constant water drainage can cause staining to the exterior of your home fascia, soffit, wood framing and outside walls as well as decks, patios, driveways and walkways.

2. Prevent Erosion of The Soil Around Home
Another important job of gutters and downspouts is that they prevent erosion of the soil around the home. Large amounts of water running down a foundation for long periods of time can cause cracks. Gutter systems may prevent cracks in the foundation and water in the basement. These systems facilitate the removal of water on and around your home, preventing damage to your home's roof and foundation.

The Negatives of Not Having Gutters and Downspouts:
1. Infestations
Not having a gutter and downspout system on your home can cause infestations. Mosquitoes and other insects breed in standing water.
2. Mold
Also, mold is caused by overflowing gutters which can create an environment for mold to grow in crawlspaces and basements. This constant moisture can cause fungi to damage to your landscaping.
3. Structure Damage
As you can see, having gutters and downspouts installed on your home is important in terms of preventing major damage to your home and its structure. Maintaining your gutter and downspouts is as important because in order for them to work properly, they need to be kept clean and repaired.

What To Do:
Gutter systems need to be cleaned twice a year, spring and late fall. Gutters can be blocked with leaves or other debris, which will cause them to not function as needed. Water needs to flow at least ten feet from the house. Many homeowners may want to clean their gutters themselves, however, there is always risk in getting on ladders. The cost of hiring a gutter expert to clean and maintain your gutters is minimal in relation to the amount of damage your gutter system prevents.

Gutter systems also need to be attached properly to your home. You may need to talk to the gutter professional about changing the spikes holding your system to your house to screws. Screws do a better job of holding gutters in place. Make sure you or the gutter professional check for rusted spots, dents and holes, broken gutter hangers, and disconnected joints and repair these as soon as possible.
If your gutters collect a great amount of debris, you may want to consider having screens installed over the gutter. A guard will not keep all the debris out, and up to 15 to 20 percent still gets in. A visual check should be done at least twice a year.

According to angieslist.com., the cost of gutter cleaning ranges from $75 to $225 for an average home, depending on the length of gutters, height of the home and scope of work. Most companies charge a flat fee per foot of gutter, but the cost can go up depending on the complexity of the work. Make sure that they carry liability insurance and worker's compensation for any employees they use for your job.

Having and maintaining gutters and downspouts is vital in the care of your home. Not only will they keep water from damaging your home, its roof and foundation, but they will prevent expensive damage to your home for years to come. Harper Roofing offers free roof inspections> and help for all your roofing needs. Call us for a free estimate or a list of all of our roofing services. Check out Harper Roofing's 5 star rating on Houzz>!

If you found this information helpful click "Like" or "Share" below and post this to your social media pages. Your "Likes" and "Shares" help others like you find the information they need.
We are happy for you to re-publish this article on your website or in your company newsletter with credit to Harper Roofing Charleston as the author and a link to our website http://www.harperroofingcharleston.com/​. The URL for this article is http://www.harperroofingcharleston.com/blog/the-importance-of-having-gutters-and-maintaining-them. Email us with any questions.
3 Comments

    Author

    Harper Roofing specializes in re-roofing residential homes in Charleston, South Carolina. Follow our blog for info on maintaining your home and protecting your family.

    Archives

    August 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    Categories

    All
    About Gutters
    About Gutters And Downspouts
    Adding Value To Your Home
    Attic Insulation
    Best Roofs
    Charleston Home Improvements
    Charleston Roofer
    Charleston Roofing
    Charleston Roofing Companies
    Charleston Roofing Contractor
    Charleston Roofing Contractors
    Charleston Roof Repairs
    Charleston Roof Replacement
    Curb Appeal
    Customer Review Benefits
    Customer Reviews
    Damaged Roof
    Free Roof Inspection
    Free Roof Inspection Charleston
    Google+ Review
    Gutter Cleaning
    Gutter Cleaning Charleston
    Gutter Maintenance
    Gutters
    Gutters And Downspouts
    Hail Damage
    Hanging Holiday Lights On Home
    Heavy Winds
    Holiday Lights
    Holiday Lights Charleston
    Holiday Lights On Home
    Home Additions
    Home Improvements
    Home Value
    House Gutters
    How To Skylight
    Hurricane
    Hurricane Checklist
    Hurricane Irma
    Hurricane Preparation
    Increasing Home Value
    John's Island
    Leaky Roof
    New Roof
    New Roof Benefits
    New Roof Value
    Online Reviews
    Outdoor Holiday Lights
    Preparation For Hurricane Irma
    Preparing For Storms
    ProArmor
    ProArmor Synthetic Roof Underlayment
    Roof Damage
    Roof Damage Charleston
    Roof Debris Removal
    Roofing
    Roofing Companies Charleston
    Roofing Contractor
    Roofing Contractors
    Roofing Contractors Charleston
    Roofing Materials
    Roof Inspection
    Roof Inspection Charleston
    Roof Insurance
    Roof Leak
    Roof Preparation
    Roof Repair
    Roof Repair Charleston
    Roof Repair Costs
    Roof Repairs Charleston
    Roof Replacement
    Roof Replacement Charleston
    Roof Replacement Costs
    Roof Replacement Process
    Save Money
    SC
    Skylight Benefits
    Skylight Installation
    Skylight Installation In Roof
    Skylight Installation Weather
    Skylight Placement
    Social Media Review
    Southern Homes
    Storm Damage
    Storm Preparation
    Storm Roof Damage
    Storms
    Summer Storm Damages
    Summer Storms
    Synthetic Roof Underlayment
    Water Damage
    When To Get A New Roof
    Wind Damage
    Winter Roof Preparation
    Winter Storm Preparation
    Winter Storms Preparations

    RSS Feed

Picture

Roofing in:

Charleston | Mt. Pleasant | West Ashley | Daniel Island | North Charleston | Summerville | Goose Creek
and surrounding areas


About Harper Roofing Charleston
Testimonials from past customers
​Roofing Services 
​Get a FREE Roof Inspection
Harper Roofing Charleston, SC 
​(843) 737-4745
Email us (form) ▶︎

© 2017 Harper Roofing Charleston
call Harper Roofing in Charleston, South Carolina - ​(843) 737-4745
Website by Kelly Coulter Internet Marketing