Many homeowners don’t give a second thought to their gutters until something goes wrong and they demand your immediate attention. Unfortunately, in most situations, this is the point where things have already gone too far and the damage has been done. Now your gutters are in need of serious repair or a complete gutter replacement is necessary.
Although gutters are designed to last for a long time and stand up to everything Mother Nature can throw at them, like everything, they have a lifespan and one day they will need to be replaced.
Regular gutter maintenance and inspecting your gutters from time to time will help you extend their lifespan. Similarly to other things you own, if you look after them you will allow them to do their job for a while longer. However, a time eventually comes when repairing them will no longer do the job and you will just be throwing away your hard-earned money. There are some clear signs you should be on the eye out for that can indicate you need a gutter replacement.
Let’s a take a look at a few dead giveaways that your gutters have done all they can do and need to be replaced.
Small cracks might not worry you but they can quickly lead to much larger cracks which will cause extensive damage. While it is easy to see large cracks, smaller cracks in your gutters will only become apparent on a stormy day.
Try repairing them as they become obvious but over time, if there are multiple cracks, these will grow and split, meaning it’s time to replace your gutters.
If your house is painted, keep an eye out for bubbling and peeling in the paint near your gutters as this is generally a sign that your gutters are leaking. Likewise, the paint on your gutter system itself is meant to last through all seasons, however, as your guttering becomes older you may notice signs of peeling and orange flecks which indicates that rust is present.
Both of these scenarios are tell-tale signs that there is a leak somewhere and your system needs replacing.
You may find that your guttering is leaking at the seams, the vulnerable part of sectioned guttering where two horizontal parts meet. Yes, you can try and mend it, but it will probably happen again and more frequently than before. Once your seams are leaking like this it’s only a matter of time before your gutters burst open and gutter replacement is needed.
Tackle the issue head-on and install continuous spouting in place of the sectioned spouting, as there are no seams so you won’t have the same problems with leaky joints again going forward.
Gutters are designed to take water away from your house. If you see pools of water near the foundation, it means that your gutters aren’t working as they should. If you have a basement, check to see if water has penetrated to there and if there is a smell of mildew.
Faulty gutters, that need to be replaced often, cause leaks like these and you should take immediate action. You don’t want the excess water to cause structural damage to your house.
Finding rot in your wooden windowsills, window frames, fascia boards or doorframes can be a big indicator that something is wrong with your gutters, which will need to be addressed quickly.
If it has gotten to the stage where water is seeping into and damaging the timber in your home, you will need a gutter replacement quickly before the damage gets worse.
Conducting routine inspections of your gutters, especially after a heavy storm, is a great way to check for potential issues with your guttering system. You might try patching or repairing the problems first but once your guttering is compromised, there is only so long that you continue to repair it for until it needs to be replaced.
Keep an eye out for the warning signs and take action quickly to prevent further damage to your home and to be sure that your gutters are capable of performing properly moving forward.
