Gutters play such a vital part in protecting your home from moisture damage. But many homeowners do not consider their gutters in Canton Michigan as such a crucial element of your home. Without the proper gutter system on your home, you can end up with water damage in your roof, as well as near the foundation of your home. This can lead to incredibly costly repairs including mold removal, structural repairs, and even re-leveling your home if the foundation sinks. Avoiding these problems means that you should take a closer look at your home’s gutters and when there is a problem with the gutters getting it repaired quickly is a must.
What to Look for In Your Home’s Gutters in Canton Michigan
The roof on your home is made from many different components. Each of these components has a specific job and if one of those components fail, the entire roof can have problems. What’s worst is that is one component fails and it’s not addressed it can lead to problems with other roofing components.
The gutters on your home are one of those crucial components of the roof. They carry water away from the roof and foundation of the home. When the gutters fail or get clogged up it can allow water to collect on the edge of your roof. This can cause roof ice dams to form and it can damage the fascia boards on your home. Both of these conditions could mean a roof leak on the home. And if you have a roof leak you may even have mold growing inside your home, walls, or ceilings. With that being said, here are some things you should look for to avoid problems with your home’s gutters.
To help you find the right gutters for your home, you need to consider some important features.
Type of Gutter
When it comes to your basic roof gutter system, there are two types you can choose from. The traditional gutter design is known as a half-round gutter because it come in half round tubes. These are simple and straightforward, and a great choice for older homes that want to keep the historical look. K-style gutters are designed with a flat bottom, as well as a flat back, with a more decorative front. This can look similar to crown molding, giving your home some nice aesthetic details. K-style gutters also hold twice as much as the half tube models.
Gutter Materials
The materials of your gutters plays a huge role in their durability and longevity. Aluminum is the most commonly used material because it is so affordable and lightweight. But this material will need far more maintenance to prevent corrosion and leaks. There is also a seamless aluminum design that has a lower chance of leaking, but still needs regular maintenance. Copper can also be used to provide gorgeous color, and will not rust. However, copper has to be professionally installed and it is more expensive. Zinc gutters also require a professional installation, but are incredibly durable and won’t need paint. Steel is another durable option, but will rust if it isn’t stainless. Vinyl is by far the cheapest option, but while strong, the material will absorb UV rays and will fade and crack.
Downspouts
Don’t forget to include a downspout to make sure that the water flowing through your gutters exits in the right location. This will prevent any worries about water soaking around your home’s foundation.
Gutter Maintenance
Gutters need to have regular maintenance done in order to get the best results to them. This mainly entails removing any leaves or debris from the gutters that might block the flow of water. Depending on what material you go with, you may want to use special cleaners and treatments to prolong the lifespan of your gutters.
Signs You Need New Gutters
If you are noticing that there are leaks in your gutters, you will need to replace that section, and possible the entire thing. Once there is corrosion, you may be able to slow down the process with lots of maintenance and some sealant, but it will not be a permanent fix. You should have a professional do an inspection to see just how severe the damage is and it is able to be salvaged.
Need More Help?
If you need repairs to your home’s gutters or roofing be sure to call the top roofing contractor in Canton Michigan which is Twelve Oaks Roofing at 248-525-6950. They can even give a free estimate on repairs or replacement.
