Clogged gutters are often a bothersome issue that every homeowner has on their roof. This is because it’s often tedious and a bit dangerous to clean them each time even if you have the basic safety equipment for the job. However, gutter cleaning and maintenance are still necessary to avoid water pooling and damage on your roof.
To ensure your gutters stay clog-free, it’s still important to understand what’s causing them to prevent future problems. Our gutter and picture window installation team at Hinkle Roofing explain some of the most common ones below:
Sludge
This is most recognizable as a slimy black material made of a rotted mess of broken-down leaves and branches. It can sometimes even be made from animal carcasses that were unfortunate enough to get stuck inside your gutters. The sludge can sometimes be used as organic matter in a compost pile if you have one; just make sure that you clean it off and dispose of it properly when you find it clogged in your gutters. If it’s left stuck inside your gutters and downspouts, they won’t effectively direct the water runoff and slowly cause rotting damage on your roof’s edges.
Bird Nests
Birds tend to flock to your gutters and use the accumulated debris to build their nests. While some may just get some debris and build their nest at a nearby branch, others may stick around and build their home directly on your gutters. To prevent this from happening, make sure to work with a trusted roofing contractor and conduct regular cleaning and maintenance checks. Also, consider getting a gutter guard installed to further discourage the birds from making a home on your gutters!
Small Branches and Leaves
These are common causes behind gutter clogs since they usually come from overhanging branches of nearby trees that shed their leaves throughout the year. They’ll shed even more during the fall season, so it becomes a tedious chore to clean them off your gutters and roof by yourself. Otherwise, the leaves and small branches will make their way towards your gutters and cause clogs and other additional problems during the winter season.
As one of the best local roofing companies in the area, we’re your number one choice for any of your roofing and gutter needs. Call Hinkle Roofing today at (205) 324-8545 or by filling out our convenient online form!
