How Gutters Can Help You Save Money on Repairs and Maintenance
Your gutters serve as a sort of unsung hero of your roofing system, creating an outlet for water to properly drain off your roof and away from your home. They’re important throughout all parts of the year, especially in Colorado where we get significant amounts of snow, hail, and rain.
But if you don’t pay attention to your gutters, you could be asking for trouble. Well-maintained gutters can save you a lot of money on repairs to your roof, siding, landscaping, foundation, basement, and other parts of your home. Read on to learn how gutters can help you save money on repairs and maintenance.
How Long Do Gutters Last?
The total lifespan of your gutters depends on several factors, including your climate, your home, the quality of original installation, and most importantly how well you maintain them. Generally speaking, well-maintained gutters should last around 20 years. As with any roofing or home maintenance issue, make sure you hire a roofing services professional who knows how to install gutters properly on your home.
How Can I Save Money on Gutter Repairs and Maintenance?
The state of your gutters can have a huge impact on your home and home maintenance. Ignoring maintenance and repairs can lead to substantial problems, sometimes requiring extensive roof leak repairs or other costly fixes.
Clean Your Gutters Regularly to Prevent Repairs and Replacement
A standard part of maintaining your home and keeping it in good shape is to regularly clean your gutters. This should be done at least twice a year—ideally in the spring and fall, and after a heavy storm to prevent clogs and sagging, overflowing and damaged gutters. Doing so will not only keep your gutters clean and free of debris that might cause clogs and drainage issues, but it will also give you a general idea of how well your gutters are functioning and if they need repair or replacement. This can extend the life of your gutters and prevent you from spending money on new gutters before it’s necessary.
Fix Water Leaks to Keep Your Foundation Strong
Water leaks from damaged or clogged gutters can create drainage issues and lead to water damage, including to your foundation. If there’s a gap or crack in your gutters, water will leak and erode the soil surrounding your home, which can weaken your foundation.
Note: Holiday lights are often hung from gutters, but they must be hung and taken down with special attention to make sure you don’t damage your gutters or have your gutters pull away from your roof. Here’s more information on how to safely hang holiday lights, as well as how to properly take them down.
Clean, Functioning Gutters Protect Your Home
Your gutters are a first-line defense against inclement weather that can lead to major damage. Broken or malfunctioning gutters can lead to issues with your siding, windows, garage doors, landscaping, and more. Water from strong storms (including melting hail and snow) must have a place to go, otherwise, you risk water build-up that can cause backups into your roofing system, winter ice-dams, staining from water overflow on the side of your home, and more. Each of these issues can be expensive to remedy.
Don’t Ignore Repairs and Maintenance
The best thing you can do for the health of your gutters and the protection of your home is to take care of issues as soon as they arise. If you recognize any damage to your gutters from strong hail storms, wind, or general age/wear and tear, you should take care of it as soon as possible. Doing so can save you money and keep your home in good shape.
Replace your gutters when you replace your roof
If you’re ready for a roof replacement, you might also consider new gutters. It’s the perfect time to tear-off and replace your gutters without any damage to your roofing system. There are many types of gutter systems to choose from including sectional gutters or seamless gutters. Sectional gutters have overlapping metal lengths and joiner pieces, while seamless gutters are extruded to form the gutters into place. There are many materials and colors available.
Seamless gutters are stronger than sectional gutters, making them more reliable and less prone to leaks and other damage. The cost of installing seamless gutters varies based on your home and how much will be involved in your gutter replacement. Typically, you can expect to spend somewhere between $9 and $25 per foot. Find a licensed, experienced contractor to install seamless gutters near you.
Let Us Help You
If you have any gutter or roofing needs, get in touch with us right away. Our team of knowledgeable professionals is certified in all materials we work with, and we provide service all along the Denver Metro, Front Range, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Northern Colorado areas.
Give us a call at 303-425-7531!