Your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make, so you want to make sure it is protected from the elements. Taking protective measures on the exterior of your home helps preserve its condition and visual appeal, making it possible for your home to retain and increase its market value in the long run. Spending the extra money, time and effort today will result in a much better payoff tomorrow. Aloha Construction is an Illinois-based general contractor that is fully licensed, bonded and insured. They provide a wide array of services including roof repair, siding, gutter, downspout systems, and window replacements. They’ve given us some tips on how to tell when you’re in need of gutter repair or replacement and why it’s important to be aware.
Why Have Gutters on Your Home?
One of the most important measures homeowners can take to protect their homes is to install gutters. By directing water away from your home, gutters help prevent erosion near the foundation that can lead to settling and uneven floors. Gutters also help keep water away from your siding, reducing damage, water stains, and other problems. Homes without gutters are exposed to the damage in ways that homes with gutters are not.
Gutters Do Not Last Forever
Gutters, however, must be periodically replaced as wear and tear make them less effective at directing water away from your home. Experts say that it’s crucial to examine your home after heavy rainfall to ensure everything is safe. If there is any water collecting in one place or any unnecessary moisture that is channeling toward the foundation, you may want to consider contacting a professional. Water that settles in these unwanted spaces may lead to wet basements, concrete damage, ground erosion, or even mildew issues.
Gutters that need replacement may actually cause damage to your home instead of protecting it. It’s important you do not delay installing new gutters for too long. Fortunately, it is not difficult to identify when gutters need replacement, and if your gutters are worn and must be switched out, you can trust Aloha Construction to do the job right. They specialize in oversized or regular, K-style, Omni-style, gutter guards, elbows, and miters.
Signs That Your Home Needs New Gutters
How do you know if your home needs new gutters? Replacement is likely necessary if your gutters show one or more of the following signs.
- Gutters Pull Away from the House
Over time, gutters may start to pull away from your house after years of bearing the weight of water and debris that collects in the gutters between gutter cleanings. If the gutters are pulling away from your roof or house, there is a problem that needs addressing.
- Cracked or Chipped Gutters
Gutters that show visible wear in the form of chips or cracks are in poor condition. When such deterioration is ignored, leaks and rust can occur and damage your home.
- Leaking Gutters
Gutters may leak even when they have no evident cracks or chips. Sometimes leaks are due to poor installation, and sometimes just wear over time. Either way, leaking gutters are in need of repair or replacement.
- Peeling Paint
When gutters are not working properly, moisture accumulates near the gutters themselves through overflows and leaks. This moisture, in turn, affects the paint, causing it to peel or crack. If the paint near the gutters is peeling or cracking, the gutters are not doing their job properly and will have to be looked at.
- Rust Spots
Although metal gutters are built to handle water, they will eventually start to rust. If you see lines or spots of rust, which will be orange in color, your gutters are weakening at those points and are putting your home at risk of damage.
- Sagging Gutters
Sagging gutters cannot direct water away from a home properly and are evidence that water is pooling in the gutters themselves instead of exiting them. This will lead to the gutters pulling away from the house over time if the problem is not addressed.
- Broken Gutter Fasteners
Your gutters are attached to the fascia of your roof with fasteners that can become loose over time. Sometimes these get worn out and break, and if they continue to break even after you replace them, there are more serious issues with your gutters that need to be looked into.
- Separating Gutters
Unless you have seamless gutters, your gutters consist of many smaller gutter sections that are joined together to make a continuous channel for directing the water. If you find your gutters frequently pulling apart at the seams where they are joined, something is wrong.
- Erosion and Other Landscape Damage
When properly installed and functioning, gutters direct water away from your home without causing erosion or other damage where the water exits. If mulch is washing away, soil erosion is happening or another landscape damage is in evidence, you have a gutter problem.
- Basement Leaks and Flooding
An excessive intrusion of water into your basement can be a sign that gutters are not directing water away from your house properly. If you are getting frequent water intrusion into your basement, you will want to make sure it is not caused by bad gutters.
Things to Consider When Replacing Gutters
If your gutters need replacement, there are several things to consider. Perhaps your most basic consideration is whether you want sectional or seamless gutters. Seamless gutters are not made up of multiple smaller gutter sections, so they are less likely to leak. However, seamless gutters are more expensive than traditional sectional gutters.
In addition, you will want to make sure that you hire a contractor who will do the work right the first time. Your gutters are an important investment in the longevity of your home, so you want the right installation company to do the work. You will want a contractor who will offer the best service at a competitive price and will be able to tell whether you need a new gutter system or just a few of your gutters repaired.
More on Aloha Construction
If you live in Lake Zurich or Bloomington or the surrounding areas of both cities and need repair or replacement of your gutters, Aloha Construction can help. They are one of Illinois’ most trusted providers of roofing, gutter and siding services, and have a variety of gutter options to meet your needs. Whether you need oversized gutters or regular-sized gutters, seamless gutters, gutter guards or anything else for your home gutter system, Aloha Construction can help.
The family owned and operated company is dedicated to helping their customers. Their trusted and bonded installers will offer a free, no-obligation inspection to help you determine which gutter system is best for your home and budget, and they offer financing options to those who qualify. Aloha Construction is standing by to help you, so contact them online.
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