Gutters are an important, yet one of the most ignored, roofing components. Functional gutters drain water away from your home, preventing water damage to your home and foundation. Since they are exposed to the elements, gutters become clogged with dirt, dust, and debris over time.
Clogged gutters are unable to properly divert water away from your home. Instead, the water spills over their sides, leading to different issues such as structural problems, basement flooding, mold & mildew growth, and foundation damage.
There is a reason why gutter cleaning is one of the most disliked roof maintenance chores. Gutter cleaning involves climbing up a ladder, an inherently dangerous task. To thoroughly clean your gutters, you must remove all the accumulated debris and dust from them and your downspouts, which can be a slow and cumbersome process.
You will spend hours adjusting your ladder while climbing up and down your roof to make sure your gutters are clean.
Here are some ways to simplify gutter cleaning from ARS Roofing, Gutters & Solar, Sonoma County gutter experts.
Trim Overhanging Branches
Leaves and twigs from overhanging branches can end up in your gutters and clog them. Trimming overhanging branches will reduce the chance of debris clogging your gutters which helps simplify maintenance
Cutting back overhanging branches will also prevent damage caused when they scrape against roof shingles and fall when knocked during a storm. Make sure the tips of overhanging branches are at least 6-10 feet away from the roof to prevent serious damage.
Install a Gutter Protection System
Installing a gutter protection system is a great way to reduce the risk of gutter clogs and simplify gutter cleaning. A gutter protection system is designed to prevent debris such as pine needles, twigs, and leaves from entering your gutters.
A gutter protection system can save you headaches and money on gutter cleaning down the road and minimize the need for gutter repair in Sonoma County. There are different types of gutter protection systems, including foam-filler gutter protection systems, bottle brush gutter protection systems, screen or mesh, and reverse-curve gutter protection systems.
Hire a Professional for Gutter Cleaning
Why do back-breaking work when you can hire a professional to clean your gutters. A professional has the tools, experience, and expertise required to complete this task thoroughly and efficiently. Professionals take all the necessary gutter cleaning precautions.
During a gutter cleaning session, a gutter cleaning expert will scrub your gutters with a brush, wash them with steam cleaners, and remove moss, algae, or other unsightly marks.
They will check your gutters for structural problems, repair seams, and reattach detached gutters or downspouts. Pests such as rodents make nests in gutters. Your roofing contractor will remove any nests to unclog them and make sure water can move through freely.
ARS Roofing, Gutters & Solar is a renowned roofing company in Sonoma County. We are committed to helping homeowners get the most out of their roofing systems in all senses. To schedule a roofing inspection and maintenance, call our office at (707) 584-5900.