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Why Skipping Gutter Repairs Can Cost You Big

Consequences for Ignoring Gutter Repairs

Gutters play an important role in protecting your home from water damage. They collect rainwater from your roof and direct it away from your home’s foundation and walls.

Over time, gutters can deteriorate and develop many issues. Like any part of your home, gutters require regular maintenance and care. If you neglect your gutters and allow them to become clogged or damaged, you risk major water damage problems.

Unfortunately, many homeowners overlook their gutters until it’s too late. Clogged or broken gutters and downspouts can lead to a variety of costly issues.

Wood Rot

A common gutter problem is clogging. Leaves and debris get stuck in the gutters. This blocks the water from flowing through. The weight of the leaves, debris and water puts extra weight on the gutters. Gutters are not made to hold a lot of extra weight. This extra weight can cause significant damage to your gutters, making them sag or even pull away from the roof. You will soon start noticing water flowing down the siding of your home. When water seeps into the wooden components of your home, it creates an ideal environment for rot to develop, compromising the structural integrity of your home. It is expensive to fix rotted wood.

Pest Infestations

Clogged gutters are more like a magnet for pests and insects. Rotting leaves and debris stuck in gutters attract bugs like termites and carpenter ants. And, the shape of the gutter combined with the moist debris, provides an ideal home for these pests.

As temperatures drop or rains come, the insects may then seek shelter inside your home. Once inside, an insect or pest infestation quickly takes hold. And, when you want to eliminate a full-blown infestation, it requires calling an exterminator, which is a costly service. However, you can prevent it by routinely clearing out leaves and crud from your gutters.

Home Foundation Damage

Your home’s foundation is extremely important – it’s what keeps the entire structure standing strong. Gutters play a key role in protecting this foundation by directing rainwater away from the house. When gutters are clogged, the water has nowhere to go and overflows directly onto the ground around the foundation.

And, it goes without saying that too much water seeping into the soil around the foundation causes the soil to expand. This expansion puts immense pressure on the foundation, which can lead to cracks, shifting and severe structural damage over time. Fixing foundation issues is incredibly costly and complicated.

Install Gutter Guards

Installing the best gutter guards in Australia is an effective way to prevent foundation damage from clogged gutters. Gutter guards keep debris out and allow rainwater to flow freely.

Benefits include:

Stopping water from overflowing gutters and leaking into your home

Saving you money since you won’t need to clean gutters as often

Following fire safety rules by keeping flammable leaves and sticks out of gutters

Keeping birds and critters away from making nests inside your gutters

Bottom Line

Don’t neglect your gutters and risk expensive repairs down the road.

Tradecom Group specialises in gutter guard installation, roof and gutter repairs, etc to protect your home’s foundation and overall structure.

We also offer metal roof repair, roof installation/maintenance, tile roof repair and emergency leak repair services.

Contact us today to have a professional assess your gutter and roofing needs.