Avoid Property Damage from Overflowing Gutters

Overflowing gutters can be a true nightmare. When gutters overflow and cause the ensuing damage, it makes you appreciate the benefits of installing an effective gutter system and hiring a professional gutter cleaning company to do preventative maintenance. Why? Because overflowing gutters are a major cause of property damage and often lead to expensive and extensive repairs. Now is your opportunity to stay ahead of the game with preventative maintenance.

And the experts at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island can help. Don't hesitate to reach out to the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island to schedule preventative maintenance. And in the meantime, continue reading to learn a few of the top causes of overflowing gutters and how to prevent water damage to your home.

What Is the Cause of Overflowing Gutters?

The main cause of overflowing gutters is clogging due to a buildup of debris in the troughs and downspouts. Gutters will eventually fill up with leaves, twigs, sand, dirt, acorns, and other types of debris if you forget to give them some TLC at least twice a year. Gutters also overflow because they are not the right size, improperly pitched, or incorrectly installed. Then comes the rain; and instead of draining the water away from your property, the rainwater runs over the front edge of the clogged gutters. Some water will remain stagnant in the gutters. This is a recipe for dangerous insect infestation, property damage and unnecessary repairs.

Types of Damage Caused by Overflowing Gutters

As unassuming as they may appear, gutters work around the clock to channel water away from the foundation of your home. However, a plethora of problems can occur when they clog up and overflow. The most common issues are:

Gutter damage: Standing water and piled up debris can weigh down the gutters and cause them to come off-pitch, leak, detach, or break away from the roof.
Roof leaks: Standing water in the gutters and overflows can seep under the roof and destroy the wood sheething, shingles, and ceiling. If you notice small yellow or brown stains on your ceiling, that is a sign that water is getting under the roof or behind the gutters.
Wood damage: Water from overflowing gutters may seep down onto the fascia, siding, walls, and window frames and will eventually rot and weaken the wood.
Foundation damage: Pools of water can form and saturate the earth beneath the foundation. This can weaken the foundation leading to cracks, unevenness, house shifting, and structural damage.
Landscape damage: Water saturation on the ground can destroy plants, shrubs, grass, and other vegetation and mess up the aesthetics outside your home.
Mold infestation: Mold can begin to grow within three days of water leaking into your house. Mold doesn't only damage walls and ceilings, it can also a health hazard because it releases toxic spores into the air.

5 Tips to Prevent Property Damage Caused by Overflowing Gutters

You can avoid the stress associated with overflowing gutters by proactively giving your gutters a little TLC. Here are a few simple but necessary steps you can take to protect your home and wallet.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts Regularly to Prevent Overflowing Gutters

This one seems to be a no-brainer, but believe it or not, a lot of homeowners do not take their gutters seriously until they start to cause property damage. You can avoid this by hiring the professionals at Ned Stevens to clean out the gutters at least twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall seasons. We have the skills, experience, and tools to effectively get the job done.

Install the Right Size Gutter System

Gutters and downspouts are not one-size-fits-all. So it's important to choose the right size gutters and downspouts to maximize the runoff and flow of water away from the land. When getting your gutters installed by the professionals, they will also consider things such as rainfall intensity, roof size, design, and pitch in order to prevent overflows.

Trim Trees Surrounding Your Home

Tall trees around your home are good for shade and improving the aesthetics of your outdoors. While you don't need to cut them down, you can minimize the risk of clogging by keeping overhanging trees trimmed and outside the reach of the gutters.

Invest in Gutter Covers or Screens

Gutter guards prevent large debris, such as leaves and twigs, from entering the gutters. By blocking debris buildup, gutter guards also help improve water flow in the gutter and downspouts. Additionally, you wouldn’t need to have your gutters cleaned as frequently once you install a gutter protection system. If the roof valleys are too steep, you can also consider installing splash guards to prevent water from spilling over the gutters at the corners.

Hire a Gutter Company to Do Professional Installations

Prevent property damage caused by overflowing gutters by getting your gutters professionally installed, cleaned, and maintained by contractors who know what they're doing. It may cost a little more than a do-it-yourself project, but you'll enjoy a superior peace of mind knowing the job has been properly done. Most importantly, you won't need to worry about climbing a ladder and risk falling from your roof.

Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island

If you're looking to avoid the potentially costly expenses associated with overflowing gutters, the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island can help. We are experienced in quickly determining the underlying cause of overflowing gutters and administering cost-efficient solutions.

Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island today for all of your gutter cleaning, repair, and installation needs.

Erika Cruz

Erika began her career at Ned Stevens in September 2009 after 4 years of managing investment portfolios for banks and credit unions. She graduated with her business degree in Management in May of 2016 while working Full-time at Ned Stevens. With 11 years of gutter expertise, as office manager she is in charge of the day to day operation and is fully dedicated to her staff and customers.