Your Guide to Proper Gutter Maintenance
There are only a few easy steps that need to be followed for gutter maintenance. Take a moment to read and understand them.
- First, climb a ladder and clear the gutters of accumulated leaves and debris. The composted leaves make great mulch, so remember to pay close attention to the downspout. Water won't drain correctly if leaves and other debris obstruct it, and with mildew and dirt, you will soon have drooping gutters.
- Verify that every spike that should pass through the gutter, fascia board, and rafter behind it has done so. At most homes, these spikes miss the rafters entirely, usually because the spike has worked its way out of the hole over time. New gutter spikes should be purchased to ensure that the gutters are once again firmly fastened.
- Another thing you want to look at is the sources of any leaks, including holes in the gutters and cracked caulking in the seams. Use an old chisel to scrape the old caulking out and dry the area thoroughly. Then, add fresh bead silicon sealant to prevent water from penetrating under the gutters and decaying the boards.
- Examine the downspout's rivets when performing this inspection. Frequently, they will be unfastened or have fallen out entirely, and all that is required to reattach them is a rivet gun.
- The gutters are quite old if they are rusting. Aluminum and vinyl gutters have taken their place since they don't rust. Consider purchasing new gutters. If you need to stick with the older models, remove all of the rust, sand them, and paint them using a high-quality primer and rust-inhibiting paint.
- A splash block is a very important element. It prevents downspout water from digging a trench close to the house and prevents water from pooling around the foundation.
- When it rains, gutters direct rainwater from a home's roof to where it can drain away from the house. By doing so, they protect siding, windows, doors, and foundations from water damage.