How do gutters work?
Gutters take the water, that is shed from your roof and divert it away from your home’s foundation through the use of a downspout and potential downspout extension.
The gutters on your home are the horizontal (usually aluminum) system that is installed along the eaves of your roof. They’re open-faced on the top which allows rainwater to fall into the gutter system and then flow into the gutter downspout off your roof.
Your downspout is a vertical part of the gutter system that has no open faces that direct the water from the roof to the ground. Your drainage system should allow for the water to flow away from the foundation of your home. This would help alleviate water leaking into your foundation.
Even if your gutters are properly installed at the top of the roof, you’ll want to make sure that the downspout keeps water away from your foundation. Water can cause your foundation to crack and crumble leaving major damage to the structure of your home.
Two DIY options to keep water away from your foundation would be to get a downspout extender or a rain barrel. Both are available at major home improvement stores.
What happens when gutters are clogged?
- You start having foundation problems
As mentioned before, diverting water away from your foundation is extremely important. With properly functioning gutters, the water will flow seamlessly through your gutter system and run away from your home. When gutters are clogged, the water has nowhere to go except for spilling over the sides of your gutters and down your walls instead.
- Wall and ceiling damage from leaking water
Water could even rise above the gutter and go against the underlayment of your roof finding gaps that will allow it to soak into the decking of your roof. This would cause damage to your ceiling, walls, and the interior of your home. This trapped water would allow for the fascia boards to rot (these boards are where your gutters are mounted). In the winter months, when your gutters are clogged, ice damming would drive snow underneath your shingles resulting in more issues for your roof.
- Broken gutters from the weight of clogged gutters
When your gutters are clogged, water is just sitting in your gutters. A gallon of water weighs around 8.3 pounds. Depending on how much water is sitting in your gutters, the gutters could begin to sag and bend with the weight of the water and at some point even tear the gutters off the fascia board and away from your roof.
- Insects nesting
Do you notice mosquitos around your home yet you don’t have any standing water in your yard? Maybe it’s a sign that your gutters are clogged! Clogged gutters can be a great breeding ground for these insects. Damp mud and leaves could also provide a nice nesting home for bees and wasps.
Do you want to get rid of these annoying pests around your home? Time to clean and keep your gutters from getting clogged!
How can I keep my new gutters from getting clogged?
The best way to keep your new gutters from getting clogged would be to install gutter guards. At Cenvar Roofing we provide two options for gutter guards.
Shur Flo system
Leaf Solution system
Shur Flo system
Leaf Solution system
Shur Flo gutter guards are aluminum gutter guards that fit directly into your gutter. The filtration system for these gutter guards looks to stop leaves, pine needles, and twigs from getting into your gutters. With the air circulating throughout the system, leaves would later dry up and blow away leaving your gutters protected.
Leaf Solution gutter guards are a stainless steel mesh that resists corrosion and protects the gutters from even the granules from your roof coming into the gutters. This gutter solution is more expensive than Shur Flo but allows protection against multiple types of debris, small animals, and even insects.
- Stainless Steel Mesh
- Patented “Hemmed-Mesh” Design
- Triple-Dip Capillary Diverter
- Gutter Strengthening
I don’t have gutter guards, how can I clean out my new gutters?
We’d first recommend NOT using a step ladder. It’s best to use a sturdy extension ladder with a gutter standoff so that you don’t damage the gutters you’re trying to clean. It would be best to have a helper stand at the base of the ladder to allow for stability.
Roof and gutter cleaning with a leaf blower would be the most common way to clean out your new gutters. You’ll want to block the downspout first so that the debris you’re blowing won’t get stuck in the downspout. Once you’ve successfully cleared the debris from your gutter, you’ll want to take a hose and flush out the downspout.
Another way to clean your gutters would be to use a power washer if you’ve found that a layer of dirt and grime has been collected in your gutters. This method is messy and you’ll want to be extra careful to point the nozzle down the gutter and not underneath your roof.
You can also clean your gutters by hand. Have some gloves handy! You’ll still want to flush your downspout out if possible at the end of the gutter cleaning process. If your downspout is clogged, you could try to use a gutter snake to pull out the debris.
Which Cenvar Roofing Branches provide gutter replacement services?
All our branches offer gutter replacements with each roof we replace. If you’re looking just for new gutters on your home, you’ll have to give us a call and talk with our team to figure out if we are able to service your gutter request!
As we continue to grow in newer markets, we want to provide our customers with the best service possible and sometimes that means us telling you to use another company to service your gutter needs. When it comes to roofing, we’ve got you covered with expert new gutter installation and a quality product for your home.
We currently have local branches in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Harrisonburg, New River Valley, and Farmville. We only do gutter repairs for installations that we have completed.
What sizes do gutters come in?
You’ll typically find two sizes for gutters, 5-inch and 6-inch gutters.
For residential properties, you’ll typically find 5-inch gutters with the same 5-inch downspouts. There are 6-inch commercial gutters as well that are able to handle heavy amounts of water. These 6-inch gutters typically are put on roofs that have a steeper pitch and move water at higher rates.
The optimal size of your gutters should depend on how much water your specific gutter will need to handle from the rain off your roof. A larger, steeper roof can mean more water going into your gutter.
During your estimate, our sales representative will be able to talk with you about new gutters and give you recommendations that would best fit your roof and home’s situation. If you’re interested in getting a different-sized gutter for your home, talk with your estimator and let them know of your concerns and reasoning behind why you’re thinking of changing sizes. You may find that the gutter system you have installed on your home is just right and no extra cost will be necessary.
The Professional Gutter Installation Process
- The crew arrives at the scheduled time and prepares your home for the installation and protects your property where necessary
- Your old gutters are carefully removed
- The new gutters are installed
- Any additional materials, such as fascia board, gutter guards, or soffit replacements are installed
- The crew cleans up and leaves you to enjoy your new gutters
Do you need help paying for your new gutters or gutter guards?
We’ve worked hard to provide two options for homeowners that aren’t as predatory for financing for your new gutters for your home improvement project. While new gutters are the least expensive compared to a roof replacement, they still could be outside of what you were willing to pay out of pocket for this project.
After your free gutter or roofing estimate, our estimator will be able to give you a breakout of the costs associated with a new gutter installation. Protecting your home is extremely important so it might be time to bite the bullet and get new gutters or gutter guards.
We’ve partnered with Trust and Enhancify to offer payment options for paying for your new gutters. We wanted to provide options that would save our homeowners money than choosing financing companies that charge higher interest rates. Check out our financing page to learn more about each of these options.
If you have more questions about new gutter installation, purpose, or maintenance, you might be able to find the answer on our blog. You can also always call us and ask your specific gutter question. We have a team with varied experience that will be able to get you the answer you’re looking for!
If you are in need of an estimate, fill out our free estimate form and someone from your local branch will be in touch shortly. We look forward to serving you!
