Ready For Rain?

Have you ever walked out the front door during a rainstorm and been met by a cold sheet of water coming off the roof? The cold splash of rain is a reminder that rain gutters are a “must-have.” Your roof’s rain gutters are a critical part of roofs, but what exactly do they do? Rain gutters guide hundreds of pounds of water from the edge of the roof and to a downward spout or exit for two main reasons: to guide water away from your home’s foundation in order to prevent an interior moisture or mold problem and/or to guide the water to one location for collection or dispersal.

Cleaning and maintaining rain gutters with the change of the seasons is a “to-do” that most people don’t consider on a regular basis. To help your rain gutter system function and achieve its maximum life expectancy, homeowners should ensure that their rain gutters remain clean and free of any debris that may block the flow of water. This includes loose debris removed from both flat and sloped roof areas. With safety playing a huge role in the process, rain gutters can be cleaned by hand and rinsed with water to insure each downspout is flushed thoroughly. Here are a few things to consider when checking your rain gutters from ground level to assure proper flow and determine if there are any trouble areas or repairs required.

1Downspouts and gutters should be cleaned about twice a year, spring and autumn. Plan for rain gutter maintenance in the spring just before heavy rains arrive, and then again in the fall when leaves, tree limbs and other debris might cause problems.

2If you find your gutters seem to catch too much debris due to a location near a tree, you may choose to install metal meshing screen or a “leaf catching system.” I highly recommend you select a style that you can easily remove and replace during the cleaning of the gutters.

3Be sure to check downspouts for rust, peeling paint and leaks. Beyond the actual gutters, be sure to inspect the fasteners holding the gutters to insure that they are tightly affixed to the fascia boards. Check each section to make sure that all fittings are snug and tight. This is also a time to check the fascia boards themselves for dry rot or other damage. If needed, replace them with lumber treated with wood preservative that is finished to match the other boards.

Be Mindful of the Slope!

People think gutters are merely attached to a fascia and that is the end of it. The fact is the slope at which the gutters are attached can either hinder or improve the flow of water. You may find the slope of your gutter may need to be adjusted from time to time where a fastener may have loosened or a piece of wood could have bloated and pushed the angle off. To determine water flow, do a water test by running water through your rain gutter system. If you find the water drains slowly, inspect and reposition to insure the gutter slopes toward the downspouts at a rate of 1/4 inch for every 10 feet. So, if the length is 20 feet, the drop of the rain gutter from end to end should to 1/2 inch.

Alls Well That Ends Well

Now that the rain gutters are working and flowing well, another thing to take into consideration is where all of this water is going to end up. To prevent soggy ground and extra moisture around the foundation line of your home, be sure your downspouts expel water well away from your house. Often, downspouts are left to flow water right at the corner of a home. This forces the water to rush down into the foundation right along the base of the home. If you are experiencing moisture in your basement, check the downspout on the outside. It may be a huge factor to your moisture problem. If necessary, add downspout extenders to carry the water away from the home. You may also consider concrete or plastic “splash blocks” that are slightly sloped and extend away from the house at least four feet.

Always Consider Safety

One of the biggest reasons people hire a company to clean out their rain gutters (or don’t clean them out at all!) is because of the height and the safety required to handle an appropriate-sized ladder. The bottom line for me with safety is this: if I don’t feel comfortable, I don’t do it. The DIY ends when I simply don’t have a good feeling about a project. Whenever working with a ladder on the exterior of a home, ALWAYS have someone with you to serve as a spotter and to help with anything required with balancing or handling the ladder.