Gutter Installation and Maintenance

If you're looking to protect your home or business from storm damage, gutter installation and maintenance should probably be on your to-do list. When it comes to installing and maintaining an optimal gutter system, the small details can make a big difference.

Here are some gutter installation and maintenance steps to consider when storm-proofing your home or business.

Gutter Assessment

You should regularly check on your gutters to make sure they are performing as intended. If you haven't assessed your gutter needs recently, your home or business might be susceptible to damage during violent storms.

• Post-Storm Assessment: the most organic way to assess your gutter needs is to assess how precipitation drains from your roof during storms. To truly assess how well your gutters are functioning, it can be helpful to take pictures or shoot videos of your home or business after a storm. When you review the shots you capture, look for standing water or other evidence of water pooling. You can also hire a gutter installation professional to give you a quick assessment of your gutter system.
• Trouble Spots: you might also find signs of trouble around your home or business. These might include signs of erosion, high-water marks, bald spots, and/or recessing around the foundation. These trouble spots can be clear signs that it's time to upgrade or clean out your existing gutters.

Upgrades

Many gutter systems suffer from improper installation, sagging support systems, degradation over time, and/or frequent blockages. Gutter installation professionals can help you upgrade your gutter system to solve these problems so that your home or business can handle bad weather.

• Slope: you don't need to be a professional gutter installation pro to understand that water drains more efficiently when gravity is allowed to help. If your gutter system has sloping problems, precipitation is likely to back up and cause serious drainage issues. Use a laser level to quickly spot any slope issues.
• Supports: between the accumulation of water, snow, ice, leaves, and other debris, your gutters need proper support to prevent buckling under the added weight. If your gutters need more support, a gutter installation professional might need to upgrade your existing support system with stronger gauge metals and/or anchored screws.
• Protection: when leaves, dirt, and dust can settle in your gutters, it can create a muddy, gluey, mix, impeding water from draining efficiently. A gutter installation professional can install a cover system that allows water to pass through a mesh screen, which will prevent leaves, sticks, and/or dirt from settling in your gutters.