What are the warning signs that you need new gutters

Gutters serve an invaluable role in protecting your home from rain and moisture. People often underestimate how important gutters are during the rainy season. Water and moisture can cause quite a bit of damage to your home if you aren’t careful. Should the gutters start failing, you need to be able to recognize the signs and act accordingly. Here are some of the most noticeable warning signs of problems with gutters, and how you can take measures to resolve problems before they get even worse.

Peeling paint on the walls

Roof problems aren’t the only sign that your gutters are going out of order. A much more noticeable and characteristic sign of gutter problems is peeling paint on exterior walls. If your exterior siding is showing signs of bubbling and the paint is chipping away, you might want to check the gutters close by.

This happens because gutters are designed to keep most of the moisture away from your exterior walls. When they fail, the walls get overburdened with moisture and the paint job starts to peel off. The problem extends much further than just a loss in aesthetic value. Chipping paint on the exterior will leave the wall vulnerable to more moisture, possibly causing a buildup of mold. Repainting it is a must after the gutters are fixed. If a larger segment of the wall is affected by excess moisture, you might want to consider replacing the gutters outright.

Rotting wood elements

Damage to the paint job might be the least of your worries. Paint can be re-applied, while exterior wood elements can’t be so easily replaced. As rain cascades around the gutters and hits your home’s elements, the wooden parts start to absorb moisture. If this goes on for long enough, they soon start to rot and break away.

Exterior wood trim elements are quickest to be affected. Door jambs and window sills are no longer able to keep the weather out, and the moisture is able to penetrate your home. Before you even notice the wood rot, you’ll see your drywall peel around windows and doors. This should alert you to the problem rather swiftly. Replacing these elements will be a lot costlier than fixing the gutters, which is why you should probably keep them in one piece.

Visible damage

The gutters themselves are often vulnerable to all kinds of damage. They might be made of durable materials, but they are constantly exposed to the elements which can lead to their deterioration. Gutters are especially vulnerable in the autumn and winter. During autumn, leaves and stray branches tend to clog the gutters and cause blockages which are bad news for the roof.

Winter isn’t all that pleasant either. The gutters are often strained due to the enormous amount of snow and ice that form on the roof and slowly make their way down to the gutters. Homeowners often have to install durable gutter brackets and supporting elements to keep them in one piece. It helps to keep the snow and ice off of the gutters, but this isn’t something you can reasonably maintain during heavy snow seasons. Making the gutters stronger is a much more efficient way to make them work.

Mildew is spreading

The positioning of downspouts is no coincidence. They’re placed to allow the water to drain as far away from the home’s ground level as possible. This is because water can find its way through the tiniest cracks in the ground and reach underground portions of your home with relative ease. As long as the amount of water that reaches this is manageable, you won’t have problems. When the gutters and waterspouts aren’t doing their jobs, you end up with noticeable signs of moisture penetration.

When the gutters start failing, your basement will have mildew growing on the walls and ceiling before you know it. You might start noticing unsightly stains that grow in size every time there’s a downpour. Mildew isn’t something you want in your basement. Not only does it damage your wall, but it also reeks of deterioration. Any sign of mildew should be treated seriously, as it can very quickly spiral out of control and lead to leaks. Check the gutters and downspouts for signs of damage if you ever notice mildew.

Conclusion

Homeowners must take care of their gutters from time to time, or replace them if need be. They are integral to the protection of your home from moisture and water damage. Without them, you will quickly find signs of problems all over your home. Everything from the windows to the basement walls can be affected. Not to mention, the gutter’s role in protecting your roof is crucial for the safety of your attic area. As long as you’re able to recognize the warning signs in time, you’re going to be able to fix or replace your gutters before anything bad happens.

About The Author: Ron Wolf is a hobby designer and a DIY enthusiast, and, above all, a very blessed father of two. Besides that, he has a strong passion for writing. He is a featured blogger at various blogs and magazines in which he shared his research and experience with the vast online community. If he is not working he enjoys being outside with his family. Hiking, bike riding, and BBQing are always a thing for him. In the evening, he likes to watch documentaries or build something with kids in their lego corner. 

Images by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay & Kayelle Allen from Pixabay