3 Major Problems Caused by Poorly Installed Gutters
What can truly happen from having poorly installed gutters? They're only gutters right? At first, it may seem like a good idea...a solid way to save a buck. But using an inexperienced handyman or the guy down the street to install your gutters will often cost you much more in the end. The gutters on your home aren't there for show. Gutters have the critical job of directing rain, melting snow and streams of water away from your home's windows, siding, foundation and basement.
While you may not spend your days thinking about the health or performance of your gutters, your attention will quickly be directed to them if or when something goes wrong. However, you can prevent many common gutter issues by having your gutters expertly installed and properly maintained by the seasoned professionals at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island. If not, let's take a closer look at some of the most common calls we receive that are the result of poorly installed gutters.
The Most Common Issues Caused By Improperly Installed Gutters
It's Not the Gutters - It's the Fascia!
If we've said it once, we've said it a thousand times — "it's not the gutters, it's the fascia!" We regularly get calls from customers who think they need new gutters because of a leaking problem. Upon inspection we often find that it isn't the gutter that's the problem, it's actually the gap between the fascia board and gutter that's causing the dripping water.
This is one of the most common problems we see from improperly installed or poorly installed gutters. When gutters are properly installed, it's vital they fit underneath the drip edge flashing of the roof, which allows the rain water to fall directly into the gutter. Although it takes more experience, attention to detail, and time to install your rain gutters the proper way, it results in improved longevity.
However, inexperienced gutter installers, unscrupulous individuals, and some “Jack of all Trades” guys regularly cut corners (specifically this corner) to offer you a lower price to simply get the job done. Avoid this from the start and make sure your gutters are installed properly — by going with the name and people you trust at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island.
Poorly Installed Gutters Have the Wrong Pitch
For water to properly flow off of your roof, the gutters must be pitched or angled at the right degree. The correct angle depends on the length of the gutter, but a good rule of thumb is to bend it a minimum of a quarter inch for each 10 feet of installed gutter. If you think your gutters may not be pitched properly, it's relatively easy to determine.
Look out of a window and peer into your gutters. Can you see standing water? Some standing water is ok but anything more than ½ - ¾ of an inch of standing water typically means that the gutter more than likely needs to be adjusted. An improper gutter pitch will slow the evacuation of water and create those areas of standing water. The consequences of this can include:
In addition, it could cause damage to your roof from the excess weight. In some rare instances, we're able to simply bend the gutters into the proper pitch; while other pitch issues require the reinstalling of the gutters, which can be a labor intensive job. However gutters with an improper pitch are almost always the result of a poor installation job.
Poorly Installed Gutters Regularly Sag
If you allow standing water, twigs, and leaves to build in your gutters, overflowing isn't the only problem you'll have to face. The growing weight from this debris and standing water can cause your gutters to begin to sag due to excessive weight on the hanger brackets. The hangers on your gutter are the screws and hardware designed to secure your gutters to your home.
Over time, the hangers can begin to pull out because they can no longer hold the excess weight. Your sagging gutters could be the direct result of a poor installation job — typically, where the hangers are placed too far apart and fail to provide the necessary support. Sagging gutters could also be the result of improper pitch or a lack of gutter cleaning and maintenance.
Regardless of the underlying cause, sagging gutters should not be ignored. It can lead to exponentially more expensive repairs in the long run. At Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island, we offer several gutter repair solutions for sagging gutters. Sometimes we're able to simply assess the problem and make some inexpensive adjustments and achieve an acceptable solution.
Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning for the Right Gutter System
Some homes do not have any gutter system at all, which can cause a myriad of problems. Almost as bad, some homes have the wrong or undersized gutter system installed. In either case, the wrong or poorly installed gutter system can cause damage to your foundation, windows, siding and basement during a rainstorm.
Anytime you need new gutters on your home, it's best to have them professionally installed by the experts at Ned Stevens Gutters Cleaning of Long Island. Doing so, will help you avoid all of the most common problems previously discussed.
