You walk out your front door and around the corner of your Downriver home. Looking up at your roofline, you notice that the rain gutter is pulling away from the house.  And since they are no longer connected to the roof, they are able to do their job.

Gutters separating from the structure are actually a common issue for homeowners.  A common misconception is that rain gutters do not need any kind of maintenance. The next time they get checked up on it is when they are already in bad shape.

If you don’t have a rain gutter, everything that falls on top of your roof will flow downwards in a straight path. But with a gutter system, all this precipitation flows in a specific path at the roof’s edge to the downspout and disperses to a specific area where it is absorbed by the ground.

Water coming straight from your roof has the tendency to go down directly around your home and it may pool around its foundations. This can cause foundation damage.  Straight-line runoff from your roof can also affect your gardens and grass around the house.

Rain gutters prevent this from happening.

Sagging gutters are one thing. When they start pulling away, rain gutters lose their efficiency once they separate from any house. Too much weight held by rain gutters is one reason why it sags and eventually pulls away. This happens when water and debris settle and remain in the rain gutters for an extended period.

Another likely cause for problem gutters is incorrect installation. This is important because it determines if reattaching them will work or additional repairs need to be done. If the installer failed to check the condition of the fascia or soffit before attaching them, or the fasteners are incorrectly installed, there is a great chance for them to detach from your house with time. Any gutter repair or replacement includes both rain gutters but the fascia boards where they were attached. If everything checks out, all that’s necessary is to reattach it to the fascia.

The spaces in between these hangers or brackets may also be too far apart, which causes the sagging of your rain gutter. To fix this, new brackets, spikes, and hangers will need to be installed and the existing holes on both the fascia and rain gutters will have to be covered up.  Rot is the most common issue with fascia boards. The only remedy is to get the board replaced. Only then can the rain gutters be reattached.

Damage to the rain gutter itself can cause it to sag and separate. They may withstand extreme weather but they can still get damaged, especially when they get repeatedly hit hard by tree branches and other objects. When this happens, it is more likely that you need to have the damaged sections replaced. If you have the seamless type, you might need to replace your entire gutter system.

The best long term solution for your gutters is periodic cleaning, inspection, and maintenance.

This will let you know if there are problems not just on your rain gutters but also on the fascia where it is connected to and the roof itself. Rain gutters are generally sturdy and can last years, but they are not immune to any damage. Because they are up high, it is not easy to see if they are damaged or have issues. Regularly checking up on them allows you to discover any problems with your gutter. Missing screws are immediately replaced, cracks or holes are promptly patched up, and damaged parts are quickly changed. These easy fixes only cost you a few dollars and will prevent you from spending up to thousands if you discovered the issues on your rain gutters too late.

Don’t forget – wild animals can also make a home out of rain gutters, especially when a lot of debris from nature settles there. Some animals that make rain gutters their nesting grounds can be harmless, but there are also those that can be dangerous. With regular inspections, the possibility of them staying in your gutters is eliminated.

Why Should You Hire A Pro?  You think that you save money on materials and labor, but professionals often get deals and discounts when they get various materials? They often get contractor prices for these items, especially when they repeatedly purchase from the same stores. Having  professionals do the work means they can leverage these discounts, which may be more than enough to cover for their installation.

Logistics may be an issue for you – lengths of rain gutters can be quite long. Consider how will you be able to transport a 10-feet gutter from the hardware store to your home, along with all the other materials you need? Transporting a seamless gutter system will be even more difficult for you. Once home, how will you bring up those lengthy gutters up on your roof and in place?

You risk damaging your materials. Rain gutters made from cheaper materials like aluminum are susceptible to getting damaged because they are lightweight. If you accidentally hit them, this may cause them to bend or get damaged. The slope or pitch of the gutter is crucial to their effectiveness. Most DIY’ers generally have a hard time with this.  Too much slope is an eyesore, while too little makes your rain gutters ineffective.

Aside from issues with your rain gutter, you may also have other issues with your roof that needs attention. What happens when you are working on this, and you discover an issue you hadn’t thought about.  Now, you have to replace and repair sections of your house.

Safety is also a concern.  This is dangerous work. Any kind of work that involves a ladder and high spaces is already a safety hazard. Your safety is at risk if you attempt to do this kind of work.  You will have to spend most of the time standing on top of a ladder.

Gutters and downspouts catch water, carrying it away from your home, preventing severe and costly damage to basements, siding, and foundations. They require regular cleaning and maintenance, and when replacing or installing gutters and downspouts, you should give as much consideration as you would to new roofing material. The quality of your new gutters and downspouts is essential, coming in a wide variety of materials and colors to match your personal style and your home’s architecture. To get the peace-of-mind knowing that your home’s gutters were installed properly the first time, contact us today!