Ready to Look Into Gutter Guards for a home on a hillside lot in North Huntingdon Township Pennsylvania?
The Roofing Company can show how a roof edge is meant to carry rain and snowmelt away from the walls
Phone 412-858-8858 before you pick a style
Where Roof Water Is Supposed to Go: the Basic Idea
Rain that is not caught at the roof edge falls on the walls, the windows and the soil along the foundation; a line that drains slowly is a line that needs a look.
Where water drops from a roof edge, paint peels, boards soften and basement walls take on moisture over the years; pay attention to where the water lands.
Anyone asking about Gutter Guards should begin by watching where the water goes in a rainstorm; mention how the gutters behave in a heavy rain.
Cold Weather Loads on a Gutter Line, and Why Hangers Fail
Snow sliding off a steep roof lands on the gutter all at once, and the load can bend the metal or pull a hanger from the board; icicles along an eave show where water is escaping.
Where attic air leaks and insulation is thin, snow melts on the warm part of the roof and refreezes over the gutter; clearing a gutter helps, but it does not cure a warm roof.
Anyone weighing Gutter Guards should ask how the system will cope with snow slide, ice and repeated freezing; compare what each proposal says about winter.
Materials, Shapes and Joints, Side by Side
A one-piece gutter is rolled out of a coil at the house and cut to the exact length of the roof edge, so long runs have no joints in the middle; 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; wider troughs carry more water in a heavy storm.
A gutter needs to be big enough for the roof above it and sloped enough to drain, since a small or level trough overflows in a downpour; 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.
Hangers, Fascia and the Roof Edge: Piece by Piece
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.
The drip edge, the roof edge and the top of the gutter have to be lined up so that water runs into the trough and not behind it; a gutter set too high lets snow slide over it.
Anyone planning Gutter Guards should ask what will be done about the fascia, the hangers and the drip edge; bring up any peeling paint or soft spots you have noticed.
Keeping the Trough Clear: 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; a roof under overhanging branches sheds more debris.
A guard is a screen, a perforated sheet or a curved hood set over the trough to turn leaves away while water still enters; a guard that is poorly installed can let water run past the trough.
The right guard depends on the roof slope, the trees nearby and the style of the gutter, and a poor match can make cleaning harder; putting guards over a sagging gutter wastes the effort.
Questions about Gutter Guards are better when they cover pine needles, fine grit and winter ice; tell the crew about the trees close to the house.
Hills, Slopes and the Ground Below: Extensions and Drainage
A downspout should deliver water several feet from the foundation, because water that pools at the wall finds its way into basements; extensions, splash blocks and buried drains move water farther away.
Rowhouses and tightly spaced homes often share walls and drain lines, so water has to be directed with extra care; a camera or a flow test can show what is below the ground.
Anyone considering Gutter Guards should ask what will be done with the water at the foot of each downspout; photographs of the wall during rain help a crew plan.
What Older Homes Hide at the Eaves: Honest Expectations
Built-in gutters are lined with metal or a membrane, and when the lining wears out, water leaks into the wall behind the cornice; a leak may show up as a stain far from the source.
Hidden damage found during the work should be shown with pictures, and the plan should be agreed before more is done; ask who decides when extra repairs are needed.
Thinking about Gutter Guards on an older home means planning for what cannot be seen from the ground; a straight answer now avoids arguments later.
What the Crew Does, Step by Step: What to Expect
Preparation includes setting ladders safely, checking for wires near the roof edge and covering shrubs below; weather decides when each step can happen.
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; seams and corners are sealed and checked.
- Which style and metal do you suggest for this house and why, and what do you recommend?
- How will the line be tested after it is hung, and what are the trade-offs?
Looking After a Gutter Line: a Plain Routine
Clean the troughs in late fall after the leaves are down and again in spring after the thaw, with or without guards; flush the downspouts with a hose to test them.
Keep a simple log of what you find, with dates and photographs, so a roofer can see how things changed; small repairs done early are easier than big ones done late.
Before you decide on Gutter Guards, ask how the gutters will be looked at in future seasons; bring up your own plans for trees and landscaping.
When You Are Ready to Talk: a Simple First Step
A roof edge without working gutters sends water where it does not belong, and the choice of a new line deserves some care; start with the gutters you have today.
Call 412-858-8858 to talk about Gutter Guards in North Huntingdon Township Pennsylvania; photographs of the roof edge help us plan.
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