Your gutters will experience a lot of wear and tear in their lifetime. Exposure to extreme temperatures, boat loads of snow, clogs from leaf debris, rushing water in rainstorms, and other natural ravages are common. Sometimes during gutter installation, holes made by screws to fix the gutters in place can damage them. Because of all this abuse, the longevity of copper gutters will be shorter than your home.
The lifespan of your gutters will depend on their material. For instance, steel and vinyl gutters are the most affordable and therefore, popular but they’re also the least durable. Copper gutters are the toughest and naturally the priciest. Having said that, an occasional leak doesn’t mean it’s time for new gutter protection systems. You can easily fix a gutter leak by yourself. In addition, a short roof or missing or small flashing/drip edge can lead to leaks.
Here’s what you can do if you notice water dripping from your gutters and running down the sides of your home:
Determine if it’s a clog or a leak.
If there is a blockage present, rushing rainwater will hit this obstruction and surge over it. Then it will spill over the gutter and trickle down the sides of the house. What can you do? After the storm subsides, grab a ladder and a pair of work gloves. Take a peek inside your gutters. If you notice bunched-up leaves and smelly build-up, it’s likely what’s causing the spillover. Take a gutter scoop or with your gloved hands, remove this debris and place it in a bucket. Next, use your garden hose to blast away the remaining debris. Once the gutters are cleared, fill up the gutters with water using the hose. Observe how the water runs through. If it’s running down the downspout, you’ve resolved the issue.
If it’s not clogged, then you need new gutters.
If there is no clog, then the water will run from the roof, over the shingles and trim, but not into the gutters. You might consider installing a drip edge. However, this will only temporarily fix the problem. A drip edge is installed underneath the shingles and at the edge of the trim. It does a good job and protecting the fascia and roof deck, but it won’t divert the water into the gutters.
Gutter flashing is a better option. This is neatly tucked in under the roof shingles. It provides effective protection for the roof deck. It differs from a drip edge because this “L” shaped flashing hangs over your gutters. The flashing redirects rainwater into the gutters, preventing water from reaching the fascia and soffit.
To install gutter flashing, get and estimate in the link below. Fixing this issue early on will save you lots of money and prevent damage to your home.
