A poor roof drainage system serves nothing but trouble. It only takes a moment to consider the actual usage of rain gutters and the role they play as the channels, which enable the water flow. It’s equally easy to assume what will happen if the gutters are blocked by filth of all sorts. It doesn’t really take a vivid imagination to see the picture: gutter obstructions overflow water or let it remain stagnant. Neither is good. The fascia is gradually ruined. The roof components eventually get saturated. The strain of the stagnant or slow-moving water on the gutters is immense and may become threatening. And if you think that all that wouldn’t exist with regular gutter cleaning, it makes one wondering of our priorities.
Clogged gutters – the reason for poor drainage
In spite of how expensive or cheap rain gutters are, they will still do their job of carrying water away from the home if they are clean. Clogged gutters will do the exact opposite. They will slow down the waterflow. In some cases, the gutters are so filthy – with leaves, dust, bugs, and flying items that have landed in there that the water cannot flow at all and remains still. What happens in such cases?
The main consequences of a poor roof drainage system
While the nature and extent of the problem depends on the gutters – seamless or sectional, old or new, aluminum, vinyl, or copper, the consequences of the clogged roof drainage system are more or less the same.
• Eventual damage of the soffit, fascia, siding
• Possible water leakage – hence, damage inside the house
• Gradual effect on the foundations of the building
• Potential landscape problems due to pools of water
You see, in order for the rainwater to flow off the roof on the ground and away from the house, the gutters must be intact – no filth, no damage. This is important even in a normal raining day, let alone when there’s a heavy and continuous rainfall – in which case, the dirty gutters may not even take the pressure. What happens is that the large quantities of water, which doesn’t find its way off the roof, will put extra pressure on the gutters and their components, leading to their distortion and – at stretched situations, to their collapse. Of course, how filthy or not the gutters get also depends on whether or not there are gutter guards and what type of gutter guards.
Downspouts cause problems too
And don’t forget about the downspouts. Not only should the gutters be clean but also the downspouts. Of course, the filth gathered in the gutters may end up in the downspouts – just portions. Also, absence of downspouts at regular intervals around the house will also obstruct the quick waterflow. And there’s more. That’s bad downspout and gutter installation.
Let’s see. If the downspouts are short, they will be very close to the building and thus, its foundation. If the area experiences a lot of rain and the size & material of gutters are not appropriate for the home, they won’t last for long – due to the pressure. That’s due to filth.
Solutions to gutter problems
The solution to such problems is regular gutter cleaning, for starters. Also, making sure the gutters and their accessories are proper for the location and the home at hand, and installed flawlessly. As for the downspouts, there are extensions that help them carry the rainwater farther away from the structure. As far as the landscape is concerned, you can place channels, French drains, pop-up emitters, catch basins. You can plant shrubs and bushes that need lots of water right where the water lands.
Puddling water can quickly become the go-to place for mosquitos, bugs, and all sorts of insects. Indoor water leaks will end up to mold infestations – apart from the significant property damage. Clearly, keeping the gutter system free of damage and filth is good for your safety, the structure’s integrity, the landscape – all things. And while all the above sound stressful, such gutter problems are truly easy to solve. That’s good news.
