Surrey, Delta and Langley windstorms — the hidden value of cleaning gutters
There's more upsides than downsides to living in the Lower Mainland. We live in a rainforest, with beautiful green trees and foliage. And they stay that way because of the rain. Lots of rain and wind. The rain and wind wreak havoc on our homes, especially perimeter drains and roofs.
I inspect houses all over — from Surrey to Richmond, West Vancouver to Chilliwack. And while on the roof, I often see glogged gutters. Clogged gutters can lead to a host of problem in and outside of your home.
Cleaning the gutters of your home is just no fun at all. That’s why the majority of homeowners list this tiresome, messy chore as one of their least-favorite tasks. If you hate gutter clreaning or you are not able to properly clean out your home’s gutters because of physical or structural challenges, you should hire a professional cleaning gutter service to do the job for you.
If you’re up to the task, cleaning out the gutters is a relatively straightforward process, but it’s an absolutely essential chore. Failing to clean out the gutters can cause massive damage to your home’s structure, costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair.
The Dangers of Clogged Gutters
The primary job of your rain gutters is to transport the rain from wind and rain storms down from your roof and away from your home’s foundation. When gutters get clogged with debris, leaves, twigs and animal activity, problems begin to surface. The first and most obvious risk with gutters filled to the brim is weight. Stress on the gutters can cause them to come crashing down, which can cost on average $1,500 to $2,500 to replace, depending on the size of your home.
What we see all the time while inspecting houses in the Lower Mainlnd (especially rainier areas like North Vancouver and parts of Coquitlam is water damage, which can lead to rot. Water from storms have to go somewhere. When the gutters are full, they drip down the side of the house, causing the siding to rot. Other concerns are stained siding, as well as the formation of ice dams during the winter. This can lead to expensive repairs and remodeling.
The next issue to confront is foundation damage. In addition to damaging or staining the siding, water can drop down to the basement, causing cracks and bringing the risk of mold and rot indoors. This can make your whole home fundamentally flawed, and is very expensive to repair. Clogged gutters can also cause driveways and walkways to crack and sag. This is a very common problem. If you end up with substantial flooding in the basement, its time to phone your insurance company. They will work on remediation and restoration.
A final worrying issue is pests. Mosquitoes and other insects love nothing more than standing water. At best, your family will suffer from bug bites, and at worst, you put them at risk for dangerous illnesses.
The Solution to Clogged Gutters
The solution is simple, but you have to do it! Regular gutter cleaning is essential. The most basic solution is to either hire a professional service to clean out your gutter, or get a ladder and a few basic tools and pull the debris out of your gutters.
Doing it yourself? You’ll need a ladder, hose, gloves, trough, and trash bags. Start by setting a steady ladder an arm’s length away from a corner downspout, tucking a few trash bags in your back pocket. Hold your garden trowel or trough in your hand as you climb the ladder, as they can harpoon you if you fall. Use your tool to pull debris away from the downspout, then put it in the trash bags and simply drop the bag to the ground when full. Move the ladder and repeat.
We have to come to terms with understanding that it's the Lower Mainland, and our rain and wind, and proximity to trees around our home contribute to us having to be proactive when dealing with our gutters. At minimum, gutters should be cleaned once in the spring, and again in the fall of each year.
Still hesitant on tackling this chore yourself? Consider using a professional service or even a local handyman. Get multiple estimates and references, and ensure that they are insured. Depending on where you live, the cost of gutter cleaning ranges from $75 to $225 for an average home, depending on the scope of work.
These services do a great job of cleaning out gutters properly, and can also address minor leaks, structural damage, and other challenges related to rain or water damage.