It’s probably not something that you think about very much, but the gutter system at your home or at a commercial building serves a great functional purpose. Let’s look at five reasons why gutter maintenance is so important.
1. Gutters Help Keep a Home Interior Drier
A gutter is an attachment that resembles a trench. It is secured under the roof so that the water will keep moving away from the house. Without a gutter system on a roof, water can stagnate and may eventually seep into the home. This might occur over the course of many years and never be seen. But the damage could occur: it could cause mold and all sorts of other problems which can be quite expensive to repair. For example, removing water that has ponded on a roof costs nearly $3,000 ($2,688). The cost to repair water damage is also high, around $2,386. On the other hand, wind damage can cost up to $10,000, with the average being $5,757, and damage from fire and smoke totals about $4,172. Good gutter maintenance will save you money in the long run.
2. Gutters Add to the Resale Value of Your Home
Good gutter maintenance is like money in the bank. Should you decide to sell your home, a well-maintained roof and gutter system will give you an advantage, since buyers often are reluctant to undertake this type of project. The lesson here is that a bit of preventive maintenance can save a lot of time, money and headaches. It can also add to the resale value of your home and give your property an edge over other sellers.
3. Gutters are Part of a System that Protects a House
Essentially, gutters are the main link in a system designed to protect your home. Most gutters attach to downspouts, thus creating a way for the water to flow off the roof and away from a house. Efficient gutter installation and proper gutter maintenance will protect other areas of the home such as custom windows and doors from being flooded with rainwater and debris, both of which are potentially damaging to your property. Cleaning your gutters regularly will also help to prevent insects and critters from taking up residence in your gutters.
4. Gutters Protect the Foundation of Your Home
When discussing gutter maintenance, roofing, and siding, it is easy to think primarily of the area on top of your home as the area that is getting protected. However, good gutter maintenance can actually protect the foundation of your home, too. As you know, gutters get the water to flow away from the foundation of your house. This is important because if the water collects around your foundation, and then freezes, it could cause cracks in your foundation. But well-maintained gutters ensure that the water does not stay close to your foundation, rather it is removed from that area, thus preventing cracks and damage to your foundation.
5. Gutters Keep Your Home Safe
Gutter service and gutter repair are both relatively straightforward processes. If your home gets damaged in a storm and you need to call for help, having well-maintained gutters will be an advantage. Why is this? Because, as we said, the gutters are part of an interconnected system designed to keep your home as safe and dry as you need it to be. If you need an emergency tarp service, for instance, to cover windows, doors or even the roof after a storm, the gutters will have to be looked at, too, and maybe even repaired. If they are in good shape and well-maintained, it could help keep your overall costs down.
With some regular gutter maintenance, your gutters will do what they were designed for: clear the water away from your home so you do not end up paying for a problem that you might not even be able to see. Properly maintained gutters can actually preserve the life of your home, increase resale value, and keep a safe and secure roof over your head. With good gutter maintenance, you can be proactive and do everything that is possible to keep any problems from happening in the first place.
