Category: Blog

Keeping your property in great shape is essential, but it’s not always obvious what you should be doing. Sometimes some issues seem like a relatively minor problem until disaster strikes and you realize how important they were. Leaky gutters, for example, don’t concern too many people. So the gutters leak – does it matter? The answer, of course, is that yes, it matters. It matters quite a bit. You wouldn’t want electrical issues, shabby furniture, or even faulty appliances, would you? These are a few concerns caused by damaged gutters. Let’s take a closer look at the impact of leaky gutters on your home. That way, you can understand the importance of getting gutter repairs for your Portland home.

1. Roof Damage

If you hear pitter-patter from your roof, more than likely, there’s something wrong with your gutter. Water will collect on your top, and when it gets heavy enough, it will begin to seep through your ceiling. Gutters exist to help water drain off and away from your home. Sometimes, they detach from the roof. The downspout may cause this. When the water hits the gutters, in other words, it should be sent streaming far enough away from your home that water damage isn’t an issue. When they are leaky, however, they’re not doing their job correctly. Leaky gutters in Portland can lead to severe damage, including roof damage. As the water pools and drips instead of smoothly draining away, wood rot can begin to occur around the roof and eventually lead to costly repairs. Roofs can start to leak, which can cause interior home damage. Mold can also be an issue in your roof. These things lessen the lifespan on a roof that is meant to last at least 20 years. You may need to replace shingles as well as the roof. Other things to check for are damaged roof vents or soffits that are coming loose. Step flashing or rusted chimney flashing are also signs of water damage. If you have an attic, check for clogged or dirty soffits.

2. Property Damage

In addition to the roof damage mentioned above, leaky gutters can result in foundation damage. Foundation damage lowers your property value and makes it difficult to sell your home. If water can simply pool where it lands rather than being swept away and leaving your home in safety, it will eventually cause damage. The remedy isn’t quick or easy, whether that translates to mold in the basement or attic, cracks in the foundation, soil erosion, deck or porch damage, driveway or concrete damage, siding, or even mosquito infestations. Mold can be harmful to your health, causing skin irritation and allergies. It can be hazardous to your wallet, sometimes more than $5000. What’s even more costly is a foundation that shifts due to water damage. It can cost up to $15,000.

3. Collapsing Gutters

Finally, leaky gutters can eventually lead to gutters that collapse. Sometimes debris or water can cause the brackets to break, making the gutter collapse. This, in turn, can damage your roof as well as any part of the house hit on their way down. It can also hurt a passerby. Unless you’ve had your gutters for a long time, this can be an indication of your gutter holding too much water. Sectional gutters are more prone to collapse, especially with strong winds and storms. Gutters in Portland, OR, serve an essential purpose, and that should be to keep your home safe from the elements, not to damage it.

For more information about gutter cleaning in Portland and how leaky gutters impact your home, reach out to Gutter Empire today!

Keeping your home in great shape is essential. Not only does your home often serve as a reflection of yourself and your style, but once it begins to degrade, the situation can quickly turn into a disaster. Having a properly functioning gutter is part of the solution. Without this, you can have all types of issues, such as flooding inside your home. Even semi-functioning gutters can cause soil erosion or even siding damage. Stains, paint damage, or rotting may begin to be noticeable on your siding. It may even swell. Repair issues can get expensive.

It is especially true if the issues come from foundation problems, which can be incredibly costly to repair. Foundation can be severely damaged by water. Foundation problems are often caused by clogged gutters, which can cause water to spill over, leading to erosion of the walls or other areas the water seeps into. Some repairs that may be needed are roof repairs, walls, ceilings, basements, or even damage to your landscape. This can lead to issues with rodent or insect infestation. Porches, driveways, decks, and concrete can all be damaged from an improperly functioning gutter. The most significant damage may be to your bank account.

A straightforward way to help avoid water damage that could negatively impact your home is to clean and repair your gutters. Let’s take a look at why your gutters in Portland might be leaking and how you can stop them.

Gutter leak Clogs

One of the most common reasons gutters leak is clogged. And unless you’re regularly gutter cleaning in Portland, you might very well find them full of debris and leaves, leaving little to no space for water to pass through. As a result, the water leaks through wherever it can. This is often over the sides of the gutters, so if that’s where the leak is coming from, you might very well be dealing with a clog. Quick gutter repairs are the remedy. Left untreated, you can begin to have issues with mold. Dry rot is another issue that can develop, which is caused by excessive moisture in the wood.

Weather Worn

Another issue that commonly results in leaking gutters is the result of exposure to the elements. Your gutters withstand the worst that nature can throw at them, but that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. Eventually, cracks and holes will form, and it is through this that water will leak. And, to make matters worse, the water running through these holes and cracks can make them worse. One terrible storm can leave you swimming in a basement pond. There are waterproof sealants that you can purchase to remedy this issue. If you have metal gutters, be sure to check for corrosion. Rain is not your only enemy. Strong winds can impact your gutters as well. Sometimes gutters fall or dismantle due to strong winds. Gutter’s built-in sections are more susceptible to weather damage.

Another issue that your gutters must face is hail and ice. These forms of precipitation are especially harsh on your gutters. The ice can weigh them down, and the rain can lead to dents or even crush sections of your gutters if it is bad enough. These issues often lead you to need gutter repairs on the low end and require a brand-new gutter installation if the problem is severe enough.

Gutter leak Sagging Slope

Gutters in Portland, OR, need to have just the proper slope to carry water safely away from your home. They may have begun to sag over time and are no longer properly angled if you notice leaking. If you like to do things yourself, you may want to re-angle the gutters, reposition them, or repair any visible damage. Even with maintenance, gutters wear over time. Seeking gutter repair professionals can help fix this issue and restore the gutters to working status.

Gutter Empire can help with your gutter cleaning needs in Portland! Reach out to us today for more information.

Keeping your home in great shape is the goal of most homeowners, but sometimes things fall by the wayside. One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of home care is the home’s exterior. More specifically, the gutters of a house are often disregarded when taking time to engage in home repair and cleaning, often because they don’t tend to stand out until there’s a problem. 

Unfortunately, this can lead to plenty of issues, such as leaky roofs and mold; even rodents, with the gutters in Portland that could be solved by simply maintaining them. A little time to maintain and clean them now can save you significant time and money in the future if you can avoid needing a new gutter. Let’s take a look at the right way to clean your gutters.

Preparing To Clean Your Gutters!

The best time to clean gutters is probably in the spring. Remove debris that has built up in the fall. Also, remember to wait a few days after the rain to get started. However, if you have pine needles around, it’s best to clean them quarterly. The first thing you should do when getting ready to clean your gutters is to find a sturdy ladder you can trust. You don’t want something rickety that might result in dangerous accidents. You may want to use a stabilizer if the surface that supports you is not flat. Otherwise, being on an unstable surface may cause the ladder to shift. Also, make sure it is the right height for the job. You must be able to reach your gutters. Remember, don’t ever stand on the top two rungs, and secure your ladder. Additionally, keep the task in mind – you’re going to be getting dirty, so dress accordingly. Long-sleeved shirts, rubber gloves, and work pants are the best, most functional options. Consider wearing plastic gloves under work gloves, which will keep your hands dry. Finally, make sure that you have the right tools for the job, including a small plastic scoop, or a trowel, a hose (that can reach), a couple of pails, and a tarp. Connect one pail on each side of the ladder. One will hold the tools, and the other the debris you find in your gutters. You can pick up a gutter scoop at most hardware stores, but you can also use a small sandbox shovel or a spatula in a pinch.

Best Way to Cleaning the Gutters

Once you have all of your tools ready to go, spread your tarp out underneath where you’re going to be working to help make clean-up easier – and you won’t want to have to scrape gutter gunk off of your lawn, so don’t skip this step! Next, place your ladder on a sturdy surface. Avoid landscaping rocks, as an aside, as they can always shift unexpectedly. Next, get to work scooping everything out! Flush the downspouts and gutters with a garden hose when you’re done cleaning them.

Downspouts 

Downspouts are often overlooked in the cleaning process. However, if they are clogged, they can create damage inside your home. Use your hose to run water down the spout. If it comes out slower than it goes in, you have a clog. You can get rid of it by pushing your hose up as far as it goes into the downspout, giving it full power. 

Remember to seal any leaks from seams or joints that you find during the cleaning process. This is also a good time to check the water flow of your gutter system, which may require some repositioning. Replace any split sections you come across. Looking for more information about gutter repair, gutter cleaning in Portland, or how to maintain them in general? The experienced team at Gutter Empire can help!

Deciding to invest in a home is no small feat. In addition to the financial commitment such a decision requires, the time commitment to maintaining your property is equally as concerning. One item that is often overlooked is a gutter. Gutters are usually made from copper, galvanized steel, aluminum, vinyl, or zinc. Vinyl is chosen most often to complement vinyl siding, but it is the least expensive, which is why it’s most likely to need repairs. And one of the last things that anyone wants to hear is that something has gone wrong and their home needs to be repaired. Unfortunately, that’s the reality for many people, and when it comes to essential elements like gutter repair, you don’t want to wait for the fix. Let’s look at how to know when your gutters need to be repaired.

Gutter Repairing Needs when it Leaks

One of the easiest ways to determine if your gutters need a bit of help is to see whether or not they are leaking. There are several indicators that you may have leakage. If the gutter is cracked, sagging, loose, or damaged, water is running into your basement, there are cracks around the foundation (or puddles when it rains), your gutters are more than likely leaking. Untreated gutters can damage your landscape or the exterior of your home. Sometimes they may not even drain. Hopefully, your issue is a more straightforward fix. Let’s start by checking for leakage. You can do this by using a hose to flush through the pipes themselves. Don’t be surprised if you see something – when it comes to gutters.

Gutter Repairing Needs when it Damage Paint Job

When gutters are placed, they’re typically coated with a certain kind of paint to help them protect against moisture damage and rust. A little rust is repairable; a lot of rust says, “replace me!” Prevention is best with regular maintenance, such as cleaning out debris after the rainy season, scrubbing away minute areas of rust, and regularly checking for clogs. Painting your gutters is not just for aesthetics value; it can also strengthen the gutter itself. Make sure to use appropriate paint. Vinyl and aluminum gutters require different paint and cleaning methods. If the paint job is peeling, then something more might be going on. Make sure that you check your Gutters Cleaning, Portland, OR well – you never know when they might succumb to the weather. A little maintenance can add a lot of life!

Gutter Repairing needs when Foundation Damage

The entire point of gutters is to channel moisture away from your home so that your foundation remains dry. If you notice foundation damage, particularly mildew or water, then you might have an issue with your gutters. Take the time to inspect them well or to hire a team specializing in gutter cleaning in Portland. Left untreated, clogged gutters can lead to an infestation of bees, wasps, or mosquitos. It can also lead to interior damage to your walls or ceiling, and if your basement isn’t waterproof, it can lead to a damp basement. 

Many factors go into choosing gutters. Gutters come in a variety of shapes and two installation processes. There are European and K-Style, Fascia and Half-round. Half-round often overflows and clogs, making it the least desired option. To prevent gutter issues, get seamless gutters installed by a professional. Sectional gutters are available for do-it-yourself projects and are more likely to lead to costly repairs. The best part about it is you won’t have to worry about cleaning them. For more information about your gutters, how to maintain them, and how to repair them once you realize they require some help, reach out to the team at Gutter Empire today! We can help with all of your gutter cleaning needs.