Gutter Maintenance Can Protect Your Property Minneapolis MN
As we welcome spring, there are a few home repair issues related to rainwater, gutters and drainage Minnesota homeowners need to address. In short, moving rainwater off your roof and away from your foundation prevents a multitude of problems, from dry rot to mold. Over the long term, gutter maintenance is one of the simplest things you can do to protect and maintain your home.
Gutter Maintenance
Gutter cleaning and gutter maintenance are an important part of home ownership. Your gutters are the collection system, on the edge of your roof. They are designed to divert water that is running off your roof to downspouts. Without gutters, the water would run off your roof in curtains. Unfortunately, your gutters also collect debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt. If too much of that debris collects in your gutters, there is nowhere for the water to go and gutter cleaning becomes necessary. Gutter cleaning is not a pleasant chore, but it is something that every homeowner has to do for many reasons. We would like to give you gutter cleaning tips and suggestions about gutter cleaning tools. This information could mean the difference between a beautiful home and a disaster.
Why Is Gutter Cleaning So Important?
Although gutter cleaning is a chore, if you do not complete it you could end up with far worse problems. Gutters are the first line of defense against erosion of soil around your home foundation. A gutter system is supposed to carry water running off your roof to down spouts so it does not saturate the soil next to your house. If this soil is saturated, then you run the risk of getting the foundation wet. A foundation exposed to water can lead to a multitude of problems.
When water comes across a barrier, it will look for the path of least resistance to continue. If that barrier is your foundation, water can find its way into small cracks in the foundation. No concrete foundation is going to be perfect and crack free. As water travels into the cracks, it will find another barrier because the cracks do not go all the way through the foundation. Therefore, the water will turn around and flow out of the crack, but it will take small pieces of concrete foundation with it. Every time water overflows your gutters and finds its way into the foundation, it erodes away at it. After enough time has passed, the cracks will work all the way through the foundation and water will leak into your basement. Water in your basement can lead to problems with mold, mildew, and other bacteria.
If your gutters are not cleaned regularly and they start to overflow, allowing water to find its way to the soil directly next to your house can also be a problem. As the soil on top becomes water logged, the water will travel deeper and deeper into the soil layers. If the soil underneath your foundation becomes too saturated then it could give way causing a cave in of your home’s foundation. In other words, your house would collapse into a giant sinkhole and could be unlivable.
Never underestimate the power of your gutters. Sure, they may seem useless but, in reality, it is your gutters that keep the rest of your house from crumbling. When your gutters are blocked, cracked or damage, you may notice that the entire roofing system is faulty. You may also notice your roof collapsing right before your eyes. If your gutters are not working properly, then you can expect additional problems down the road.
MN Seamless Gutter Systems Protect Your Home
Of course if you want gutter covers so you never have to climb that high ladder and clean your gutters ever again, there is a solution. You can have great looking seamless gutter covers so you never have to climb up that ladder and scoop out leaves and debris—at surprisingly an affordable price! Find out how a seamless gutter system can mitigate water problems from the roof to the foundation by directing water away from your building.
