Shopping for Gutter Guards around North Huntingdon Pennsylvania?
The Roofing Company will walk you through troughs, downspouts and the ground they drain onto
Contact us at 412-858-8858 and describe what the roof edge is doing
Where Roof Water Is Supposed to Go, and Why It Matters to the Walls
A roof sheds a surprising amount of water in a storm, and the gutter line is the only thing that gathers it and sends it somewhere useful; even a short stretch of failure shows up as a stain or a puddle.
Dripping from the edge of a gutter line is an early sign that something upstream is not working; stains under the roof edge point to the spot where water escapes.
Questions about Gutter Guards are easier to answer after a look at the roof edge from the ground and from a window; note any stains, drips or sagging sections.
What a Pittsburgh Winter Does to Gutters: Weight, Ice and Sag
Meltwater that refreezes at the cold roof edge fills a trough with ice, and a trough full of ice weighs far more than the same trough holding water; a downspout packed with ice cannot carry water away.
Gutters get blamed for ice dams, but warm attics and poor ventilation are often the cause of what happens at the edge; sealing and insulating the attic floor reduces the melting.
A sensible plan for Gutter Guards takes account of snow load, closely spaced hangers and downspouts that can drain when it is cold; a straight answer will mention hangers and fasteners.
Choosing the Style of the Trough: a Practical Overview
One-piece troughs are shaped on site from a single piece of metal, which leaves joints only where the line turns a corner or ends; sectional gutters are easier to fit on small jobs and tight spots.
Steel is stronger and is often coated, but a scratch that reaches bare metal can begin to rust; factory finishes on aluminum and steel do not need painting.
Capacity depends on the roof area feeding the trough, the pitch of that roof and the number of downspouts, and an undersized line spills over; a downspout is usually needed for every thirty to forty feet or so.
Questions about Gutter Guards are better when they name the corners, the ends and the hangers; ask what the crew does when a section is damaged later.
The Hidden Support System, From the Wall Out
Hangers hold a gutter up only as well as the wood behind them, so soft or rotted fascia has to be dealt with first; a roofer should press on the boards to test them.
Water that gets behind a gutter soaks the boards, the soffit and sometimes the wall inside, which is a common cause of hidden rot; a gutter set too low catches runoff poorly.
Anyone planning Gutter Guards should ask what will be done about the fascia, the hangers and the drip edge; photographs of the exposed boards are a useful record.
Leaves, Debris and Guards: the Problem
Leaves, shingle grit and small twigs gather where the trough meets a downspout, and a plugged downspout turns the whole line into a bucket; cleaning in late fall and again in spring keeps most lines working.
Gutter guards are covers of mesh, metal or foam that let water in and keep most large debris out of the trough; some designs sit above the shingles and need to be installed with care.
A guard needs to fit snugly against the roof and the gutter so that water flows in and leaves stay out; ask whether the guard can be lifted for cleaning.
A plan for Gutter Guards should say how leaves will be kept out and how the line will be cleaned afterward; keep expectations modest and focus on keeping water moving.
Where the Water Ends Up: Extensions and Drainage
Downspouts should empty several feet from the foundation, because water that pools beside a wall tends to end up in the basement; a downspout that empties onto a walkway makes ice in winter.
Underground drain lines that once took roof water away can fill with debris or collapse, which sends water back up the downspout; a roofer may suggest drainage work by a specialist where needed.
Questions about Gutter Guards should cover the slope of the ground, the extensions and any buried drains; point out any basement that takes on water.
Box Gutters, Half-Rounds and Surprises: Planning for the Unknown
Many older Pittsburgh houses have built-in box gutters, which are lined channels set into the roof edge and not hung on the outside; a leak may show up as a stain far from the source.
Crooked or sagging edges are common on old houses, and the crew should straighten them or work around them; ask who decides when extra repairs are needed.
Any plan for Gutter Guards on a house of this age should leave room for what the roof edge reveals; pick a crew that knows older houses well.
From Old Trough to Final Downspout: Remove, Repair, Hang, Test
Preparation includes setting ladders safely, checking for wires near the roof edge and covering shrubs below; soft boards are repaired before anything is hung.
Next the new troughs are cut or formed, hung at the right slope and joined at the corners, and the downspouts are attached and secured; ask what you will be shown at the end.
- What shape is the fascia behind my gutters, and can you show me?
- How will the line be tested after it is hung, and what are the trade-offs?
Simple Upkeep for Troughs and Downspouts, Without Climbing Up
Look at the gutters during a rainstorm, since sagging, dripping and overflowing are easiest to see while the water is flowing; avoid chipping at ice with sharp tools.
A gutter line that is checked in spring and fall and kept clear tends to outlast one that nobody looks at; early action keeps small leaks small.
Upkeep is part of any plan for Gutter Guards, since a well-made line still needs clear troughs and a watchful owner; a line that is looked after tends to cause fewer problems.
Let Us Look at Your Gutters, and Get Started
Every house depends on a line of gutters that must work through leaf fall, downpours and hard freezes; we are happy to explain the options in plain terms.
Contact us at 412-858-8858 to go over Gutter Guards for your roof edge; tell us about the age and the style of the house.
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