The Most Neglected Home Maintenance Item

As a homeowner, it seems that there are dozens of maintenance items you are supposed to do on a regular basis.  And most simply end up getting ignored.  But there is one maintenance item that should be at or near the top of the list for home maintenance – gutters.

As a REALTOR, I can confirm that I have seen countless instances of preventable damage that can be traced back to gutter issues.  Virtually every home I have sold has some damage from gutters that have not been maintained.

So why are gutters so critical?  Roofs have a huge surface area, and as such they produce a large volume of water when it rains.  The gutters are responsible for collecting roof water and diverting away from the structure.  When properly maintained, the opportunity for water damage is greatly reduced.  If not maintained, the gutters can start rust which will eat away at the metal until they leak.  This can lead to other problems, among them:

• Dry rot in the wood fascia or trim.  When gutters leak, it usually causes dry rot to the wood fascia boards and trim in the area of the leak, leading to expensive repairs
• Roof damage/leaks.  Clogged gutters can lead to water backing up onto and under the roof, which can deteriorate the protective felt and even leak into the structure. 
• Foundation issues.  Clogged gutters and clogged downspouts can cause water to overflow onto the ground adjacent to the structure. We live in an area that typically has a soil with a high clay content. When clay gets wet, it expands.  When it dries out, it shrinks.  Allowing water to gather near the structure can expand the soil, putting pressure on the foundation.  This can lead to settling, and in extreme cases foundation damage.

As a homeowner, you should have your gutters cleaned every Fall and Spring.  It is also important to check the downspouts and underground drains to make sure they are draining properly, as blockage in the downspout or drainage system can cause prevent water from draining out of the gutters.  Gutter maintenance is the perfect example of spending a little time/money now to forestall much larger repairs later.