The gutters play a key role in managing rainwater coming from the roof. They are responsible for protecting the roof edge, exterior wall and siding, and even the very foundation your roof is built upon. It also helps keep the soil in your property from getting too saturated.
When leaks appear in the gutters, they can have a big impact on your entire house. Hinkle Roofing explains more.
Roof Damage
Leaks in the gutters will first affect the roof, specifically, the edge and the fascia. The roof edge is where the gutters are typically installed and will get weaker as it gets damaged by the leak. The gutter leak will eventually travel to the fascia from the roof edge, where it will damage the slightly weaker wood panels and cause wood rot.
Exterior Walls
More often than not, the gutter will leak directly to exterior walls. While you can mitigate this with exterior wall paint or water-resistant vinyl siding, the leak can cause the exterior wall paint to peel prematurely. The leak can often find its way under the siding or pool on the horizontal slats. Even the most resilient siding can still get worn down by constant exposure to water.
Foundation Damage
Finally, a leaky gutter can cause water to pool near or around the foundation of your house. Continuous water damage will cause the foundation to crack over time or loosen the soil; both can compromise the structural integrity of your home.
Preventing Gutter Leaks
While immediate repair is the only solution to a gutter leak, you can prevent it entirely. One way to go about this is to install a gutter protection system. Most leaks originate from clogs and blockage that add unnecessary weight to the gutters, causing them to crack and form leaks.
Another way is to replace your old sectional gutters is with a seamless system. Seamless gutters are a continuous structure instead of several parts. This means there are no gaps in the gutters where a leak can potentially form as the structure expands and contracts.
At Hinkle Roofing, we offer complete gutter services. We also install replacement windows and siding. Call us today at (205) 352-1940 to learn more about our services. We install gutters and gutter protection systems in Tuscaloosa, AL, and other parts of Alabama.
