Gutters & downspouts are the most crucial part of the roofing system. One small blockage, and you can expect a plethora of leakage issues. These roof elements call for regular maintenance, whether it’s autumn or snow.
Many DIY roofing folk have set out to save bucks by maintaining or replacing their gutters only to cause more damage to the drainage system. Before you get riled up to hit the local hardware store & get supplies, consider some mistakes you could be prone to making.
1. Installing The Wrong Pitch
For those unfamiliar with the term, a gutter pitch is the slope of the gutter away from the roof. Too flat, and the water won’t drain and instead pool around, breeding algae. This also means a possibility of a gap between the gutter & the roof’s edge. Instead of draining correctly, the standing water will trickle over the gap and onto your house’s stucco or siding.
Rule of thumb: a gutter’s pitch should slope not more than an inch along the installation length to the downspout.
2. Installing The Wrong Gutter Type
Sonners is well versed in the types of gutters out there. While they aren’t meant to be ornamental, but if you DIY your way into buying a gutter for the looks, you are in for a long haul of misery. Gutters are judged on quality material. Aluminum is the ideal choice, but please consult with an expert to buy the right gutter for your home despite your DIY whims. An expert will acquaint you with the required gauge & width as per your roof type.
3. Hangar Spacing
Hangars are those curved metal bits that act as gutter supports and fix them to the roof. Simple DIY folks place the gutters too far apart, which affects the slope of the gutters and again interferes with proper drainage.
4. Excess Seams
DIY roof installers assume that the more seams there are in a gutter, the firmer it will be. In truth, this is the worst mistake one can make. Seams are usually welded together; too many seams compromise the gutter’s structural integrity and cause grounds for breakage. Poor welding can also make the gutter vulnerable to inclement weather.
5. Placement Blunders
Inexperienced gutter installers make the fatal mistake of installing gutters right to the roof’s edge, which means the water is flowing into the gutter. Still, a vast majority of it is trickling down. This is a fatal flaw that makes a gutter’s purpose void. Install the gutter a couple of inches below the roof to catch the water dripping underneath it.
While it’s true that rain is relatively scarce in Littleton, CO, it sure does get sufficient snow. All that ice melt needs somewhere to go & house appeal etiquettes call for a maintained set of guttering about the length of your pristine home. It’s a win-win if only you involve a professional in your DIY gutter installation project!
Check with Sonners Contracting’s for a better guttering job. Don’t worry; our team is friendly, and you can get some hands-on experience with us.
You’re welcome to request a free quotation on services!
