Leaky rain gutters are always bad news. When this problem occurs, it’s not a question of whether or not there’ll be water damage but to what extent. Leaky gutters become an enemy, a silent enemy that will create enormous damage – perhaps, complete destruction and in a quick manner, too.
Leaks are never good news. After all, they are leaks. They have to do with water found where it doesn’t belong, and they cause floods. And such problems bring more problems. It’s not about mopping the floor or extracting water from the basement but also (possibly) dealing with mold or the structure’s integrity. Things get worse and worse, as you can see.
Now, when the leaks come from your roof’s gutters, you can expect the worst-case scenario.
The consequences of leaky gutters?
• Roof damage
• Fascia damage
• Siding damage
• Foundation saturation
• Falling gutters
• Soffit damage
• Internal leaks/flood
• Mold growth
Not a nice list! Is it?
What’s the extent of damage?
Exterior damage
Let’s start with the exterior of your home. Gutters leak when they are clogged. This means that the gutters are filled with all sorts of leaves, needles, debris, tree branches and so, the rainwater cannot flow. The gutters become very heavy with the risk of dropping. They don’t only leak but they may also fall, putting your family at risk.
The leak will also affect your garden, the soil. The heavy gutters may also cause damage to the mounting brackets and eventually, to the fascia, while you may also expect to see some discoloration on the exterior walls. Gradually and depending on their condition, the exterior walls will saturate and may also make the internal walls wet. The water may find its way around the windows and depending on how well they are caulked, they may become the spot where water finds its way into your home. That’s if there’s not a roof leak yet – a highly possible fact.
Foundation damage
When the gutters leak, the water goes straight down into the soil. Without immediate gutter cleaning and solutions to any problem that have emerged, the soil will start giving away. Eventually, the foundations will be affected and most likely, saturated. Not a good thing for the building’s integrity.
Let’s move into your basement
Excessive water around the home’s foundations will most likely lead to a basement flood. Or, the pooling water will affect the walls around the basement, increasing the humidity indoors – thus, the possibility of mold growth as well. Really bad news.
Let’s go indoors now
One of the worse effects of leaky gutters is roof leakage. Even if the roof leak is not dramatic, the continuous water leak from the clogged gutters will cause water damage in different parts of the house. The water may come from windows, doors. And even if there’s no flood in the house, there’ll be quite an increased moisture.
What happens with roof leaks? Destruction. Depending on the extent of the leak, many structural elements (wood, floors, drywall) may be destroyed. Carpets will be soaked. If electrical components get wet, there might be a fire. If the roof becomes damaged, it may fall.
Water damage leads to mold contamination. Even if there’s no flood indoors but the walls are wet or there’s high moisture, the possibility of mold infestation is highly likely. And mold travels quickly. Within two days, mold can grow and quickly spread.
Learn the causes to prevent leaky gutters
Gutters leak when they are clogged. Apart from having them cleaned once in a while, install quality rain gutter guards to prevent the overaccumulation of debris. This way, you can prevent or delay the possibility of the gutters getting clogged. It’s important to check the gutters and the roof after a big storm.
You need to rely on a gutter service contractor to inspect – and fix, if needed, the flashing, the gutter, the downspout, the roof. Preventing gutters from leaking is not hard and the benefits are so important that it’s totally worth your while.
