Rain gutters may seem like a minor home feature, but they’re actually your home’s first line of defense against a severely destructive force of nature — water. Clogged, dirty or badly maintained rain gutters can have a literal trickle-down effect, as water that isn’t diverted properly gets into the roof, windows, walls and even the foundation, where it can cause expensive and irreparable damage. That’s why it’s so important that rain gutter installation is done right. Capitol Exteriors does rain gutter installation and rain gutter repairs in West Jordan and the surrounding areas.
Roof Damage
Rain gutters redirect water away from the home, but when they’re blocked or leaky, water can linger and soak into the home’s main structures. One of the first sections of the home to feel this impact is the roof.
As water soaks into your roof, it can damage your shingles, roofing cement and flashing, especially when that moisture is combined with the type of temperature changes we see in West Jordan. Insulation soon becomes waterlogged, which results in a loss of ability to insulate. On top of that, wet insulation is highly susceptible to mold and fungus growth. If the moisture remains long enough, it can start to damage structural elements such as studs, rafters and beams. Once these are weakened, ceiling collapse is a distinct possibility.
It’s well known that a new roof is the single most expensive home repair on the market, so this is a huge problem, though it’s only the first of many.
Drywall and Window Rot
As gravity pulls the water down, it soon seeps into walls, soaking the tops of the drywall and causing unsightly brown or yellow discoloring.
Water from damaged rain gutters can also affect windows as it runs down and through walls. Seals around the window can become loose, which can lead to leaky windows and further wall staining and rot.
Foundation Cracking and Shifting
Rain gutters direct water away from your home, but if they’re not working properly, water can pool around your home, eroding it from the top down and the ground up. If your home’s foundation is exposed in the long term to wet, saturated ground, it will start to break down.
This can result in cracks in your foundation, basement flooding and settling and shifting in your foundation. This can compound the wall and window problems we touched on above, as a shifting foundation can worsen cracks in water-damaged walls as well as crooked doorframes and window frames.
While a roof is the most expensive home repair, serious foundation problems are a close second and if they’re sufficiently advanced, are often beyond repair.
Mold
Once water has infiltrated your home, mold is sure to follow, especially in warm, humid conditions. Mold can grow nearly anywhere in your home — walls, ceilings, insulation, floors, basement. And once it sets in, cleaning and remediation can be difficult and expensive.
Luckily, it’s an easy problem to avoid. Call Capitol Exteriors for rain gutter installation and rain gutter repairs in West Jordan.
