Regular roof and gutter cleaning are important but often overlooked parts of home maintenance. While these jobs can be a tiresome, ignoring gutter cleaning can lead to some major roofing and drainage problems, which can cost serious money to fix.
While roof and gutter cleaning should be part of your yearly home maintenance schedule, sometimes you may need to push these jobs up your to-do list. During periods of heavy rain, wind or storms, the increased water flow and additional leaf matter on your roof can quickly block up your gutters.
If you notice any of the four signs below, then you need to get your gutters looked at as soon as possible to avoid any further and costly damage.
#1. Water is overflowing from your gutters
Gutters are designed to collect the water from your roof and direct it off the house and into the drains or a water tank. If your gutters are clogged, then the water will simply overflow. This can lead to water pooling in your gutters, on your roof or around the foundations of your house.
Besides the pooling water and obvious visible overflow, blocked gutters will leave a number of other tell-tale signs. Look for water stains on exterior walls. If your home has timber siding, the wood may even have started to rot.
Inside the house, look for signs of mould, particularly around the ceiling and upper walls. You may even notice leaks and damp patches on your ceiling. This can be caused by the fascia boards behind the gutters rotting, allowing water into your roof and ceiling cavity.
Left untreated, overflowing gutters can lead to some serious water damage issues including degradation of your roof structure and even foundation cracking. These are major issues that can render your home structurally unsound and unsafe to live in. They can also be incredibly expensive to fix, with repair bills running into the tens of thousands.
#2. Sagging gutters
Your gutters aren’t made to hold much weight. If they become overburdened, they can sag and even pull away from the roof.
When gutters start sagging, it does more than just affect the aesthetics of your home. It can also cause some major damage. As the gutters sag, they can pull away from and damage the fascia boards. This can let water into the interior roof and ceiling, which can weaken the structures and cause internal moisture damage.
Additionally, as the gutters start to sag, they will no longer properly collect the water from the roof. So you can also expect to see the kinds of water damage you’d get if your gutters were overflowing.
#3. Plants growing in your gutters
As lovely as it is to see green shoots growing, plants do not belong in your gutters. Plants are a clear sign that there is a build-up of dirt, leaf matter and other debris. This kind of build-up in the gutters can lead to a range of problems.
The extra weight accumulating in the gutters can cause the gutters to sag and pull away from their fixings, leading to the issues outlined above.
During summer, this accumulation of organic matter can also become a fire risk.
With a blooming garden on your roof, you can also expect to see more pests and creatures calling your roof home. Insects, spiders, rats, birds and even possums can be drawn to your roof and gutters. None of these creatures make good house guests. Nesting birds can clog your gutters further, while possums can get inside your roof and cause chaos.
#4. It’s been a while since you last cleaned your gutters
If the last time you cleaned your gutters is a distant memory, you need to act now. Even if you don’t see any of the signs listed above, your gutters should be regularly cleaned and checked for damage. Gutter cleaning should be a twice-yearly task for all Melbourne homeowners. Depending on how many trees are nearby, you may even need to clean your gutters every three months. Roof Gutter cleaning is made easy by the professional team of Himalayas Group.
Unfortunately, gutter and roof cleaning can be an arduous and even dangerous task. If you’re not comfortable getting up on your roof or you don’t have the necessary equipment, then call in the pros at Himalayas Group. We are the experts when it comes to roof and gutter cleaning in Melbourne. Give us a call today 0415 841 606 or contact us online.
