Having properly functioning gutters is important for the safety and stability of your home and your family. If any part of your gutters is sagging or out of alignment, various water and structural damage can ensue. While monitoring the appearance and condition of your gutters may not be at the top of your to-do list, it is important to keep an eye on them and follow through with regular maintenance.
Read on to learn more about why your gutters might be sagging, what you can do to better protect your home, and how the team at FSM can help.
How to Spot Sagging Gutters
Gutters are situated just below the roof to catch and redirect excess rainwater and melting snow, which areas in Michigan and Northwest Ohio are no stranger to. It can be difficult to notice whether they are properly aligned or not because of how high up they are. Plus, gutters are installed with a gentle downward slope to drain water into the downspouts. Otherwise, water would just sit in the gutters and lead to problems like rust formation and corrosion.
If you have sagging gutters, you might start to notice the following:
- Gutters pulling away from the roof/home
- Missing gutter hangers
- Bent or dented gutters
- Water spilling over the gutter in one area
- Misaligned downspouts
How Sagging Gutters Affect Your Home
Sagging gutters can not only affect the appearance of your home, but the health and safety of the structure as well. Sagging gutters cannot properly catch or drain rainwater or melting snow, and some may spill over the sides or sit inside the gutter.
Water that overflows and dumps out next to the foundation oversaturates the soil. This can lead to hydrostatic pressure so great that it causes the basement walls to crack and bow inward, as well as allow water to leak inside or even flood the basement. This impacts the structural integrity of the home, as well as its health.
If the gutter is sagging in a corner and causing the misalignment of a downspout, water can easily leak inside a basement corner and result in wet walls and floor, stains, efflorescence, and mold growth. All these problems negatively affect your home’s health, as well as the health of your family.
If the problematic gutter is close to the attic, water can leak inside the attic and lead to damage including wet, moldy insulation.
If your area experiences frequent and heavy rain, the amount and weight of this water can lead to sagging in some areas of the gutters. If the gutters were not properly installed or attached, they also can start to pull away and sag or bend in spots.
If your gutters have started to sag and detach themselves and are not in severe disrepair, they may just need to be rehung. Having sturdy gutter hangers and gutter spikes properly installed should solve the problem. If the gutters are significantly damaged, sections may need to be replaced or the entire system may need to be upgraded to a more sturdy and reliable material. When in doubt, it is best to reach out to gutter repair professionals for assistance.
Having the right type of gutters that are properly supported and installed by professionals goes a long way in ensuring the life of these essential fixtures. It is also important to regularly inspect, maintain, and clean out your gutters. This allows water to flow freely through the gutters as well as catch any problems early enough before serious damage occurs. It’s a good idea to clean and inspect your gutters ahead of the rainy spring and fall months.