FS Roof System Blog
Feel that Dripping? Signs your Eavestrough is Ready to Throw in the Towel
Your eavestroughs work hard for your home, directing the water that runs off your roof away from the house. They play an important role in protecting your roof and home from damage, both inside and out. While it’s easy to miss the signs that your eavestroughs are aging, paying attention to their performance in the spring and fall can help you avoid significant, costly damage. Now is the time to take a look! Here’s what you should be looking out for.
- Clogggggg…ggg..gging
If you experience spillage due to constant clogging, your eavestroughs might be fine, but just need to be cleaned. This is an important home maintenance task every spring and fall. If you find this to be too much work, a good idea is to install gutter guards. Also known as a leaf guard system, they keep debris from landing in your eavestroughs, offering an easy solution for gutter maintenance.
- Drip, drip, drip…
When your eavestrough system is free of damage and clogs, they should remain effective even in a substantial downpour. We recommend grabbing your boots and an umbrella the next time it rains to take a walk around your house to see how the water flows. If you are seeing minimal dripping, chances are they are fine. Although it can be hard to tell if the water is raindrops or overflow, if you are seeing cascading water, or ongoing, persistent dripping that appears to be coming from your eavestroughs, it’s time to call in an expert to take a look.
- Damaged Seams
Older eavestrough systems use a series of troughs connected by seams to span the perimeter of your roof’s edge. These seams will ultimately begin to separate over time from the force of rain, ice, and snow. As these seams separate, your gutters can’t do their job. The more damage there is to your seams, the more urgent it is to replace your eavestroughs. When you do replace your eavestroughs, you can avoid this issue in the future by choosing a seamless eavestrough system. This reduces the number of opportunities for separation and provides a far sturdier system that can resist separation, rust, and damage.
- Cracks, Holes and Rust
If you have old eavestroughs made of metal, they can show their wear a lot easier. Things like cracks, holes and rust spots can be a clear indicator that your eavestroughs are aging. In some cases, you can make repairs here and there, but when you encounter several spots with this kind of damage, your eavestroughs are cracking because they can’t handle the ongoing pressure of changing weather conditions. To endure a Canadian climate, it’s important to address these issues otherwise small cracks will become big ones, and the next thing you know, your roof is leaking, or your basement is flooding.
- Peeling, Blistering Paint
Old gutters that have either been repainted or are losing their original paint are not as effective at resisting water, as they are missing their protective coating. This in turn leads to roof and foundation damage due to improper water management. Notice some peeling elsewhere? When the paint is peeling on your home exterior it could be caused by spillage from your gutters. Constant exposure to water can damage your home and is often a result of damaged or malfunctioning gutters. Time to replace!
- Mould and Mildew
There’s not expiry date on your roofing system, so it’s important to look for signs of mould. Moisture leads to growth that you can find both inside your home and on the exterior. Look for discolouration on your exterior walls, soffits, and fascia for of mould growth. Inside it’s most likely in your basement or attic. In more severe situations, the moisture might affect the ceilings and walls of your upper rooms. Rain and melting snow can spill down the side of your house instead of being carried away in your eavestroughs, creating the perfect conditions for mould.
- Signs of Sagging or Awkward Gait
Gutters should be parallel to your home. If they appear to have pulled away from your house or are sagging towards the ground, there is no question your eavestroughs need to be replaced. You might also notice the gutters have an awkward slant in some places. When this happens, water can pool in certain areas causing spillage. This requires at the very least a repair, but more likely a replacement.
- Flooding and Leaks
If you really wanted a pool, it’d be in the backyard! Poorly functioning eavestroughs can send water into your basement. It can start as a foundation leak but eventually cause flooding. This is extremely costly to repair. If your insurance company finds your home was not maintained, they can choose to reject your claim. If you experience leaks or flooding, have an eavestrough expert come out and assess your gutter system to see if it needs to be replaced.
Paying attention to your roofing system and eavestroughs can feel tedious, but it comes with owning a home. The good news is general maintenance and upkeep will prevent larger, more emergent and costly fixes down the line.
You may not always know when the time is right for a repair versus a replacement, but our team at FS Roof Systems and Exteriors can help with that. When you contact us, our industry experts will provide you with a FREE roof inspection and full report, including details about your existing roof system and/or exterior needs such as eavestroughs, soffit, facia, and siding. We’re always as transparent as possible, so together we’ll sort out an action plan to get started with a repair, replacement and maintenance solution that will best suit your needs, backed by the best warranties. We also offer low financing options for residential projects of any size. We’re available for emergent and non-emergent services 24/7, 365 days a year – even if Santa is on your roof, we’ll still come inspect it!