Tired of cleaning out your gutters every year, and not sure if your gutters are due for replacement? You’re not alone. When you become a home owner, there are a lot of new tasks you inevitably take on. With that being said, these are the typical tasks you see coming when you become a home owner. Now, the projects you might not see coming – which could wind up being the most important projects of all – are the ones that might not be in the forefront of your mind.
Day after day, year after year, your gutters and downspouts are always on call to channel damaging storm water away from the home. If you’re not certain whether or time the time for replacement has come, look out for these telltale signs of failure.
Cracked gutters are about as pointless as a bucket with a hole on the bottom. To inspect your gutters and downspouts, be aware that while larger cracks are plainly visible on dry, clear days—at least with the aid of binoculars—smaller cracks may only reveal themselves in a storm.
Seam Stress. The average gutters are often most vulnerable at the seams where two horizontal sections meet. Here, both leaks and separations are common, with both types of failure eventually leading to any number of undesirable outcomes.
Peeling. Believe it or not, malfunctioning gutters can ruin a perfectly good paint job. Check your exterior siding for any paint that has bubbled up or peeled away due to excess moisture. Wherever you find a section of compromised paint, be sure to check the condition of the nearest gutter. If even your painted gutters are peeling, then you very likely have a leak.
Exterior Rotten Wood. If allowed to rot, exterior wood trim elements like window sills and door jambs become unable to keep out the weather.
If your gutters are showing these signs, it may be time to look into replacement gutters. Experts point out that water damage to the roof, fascia board, decking, or rafters is a sure sign that gutters are due for replacement. “Most ordinary gutters last about 10 to 15 years”.
