Sagging gutters can be a serious concern, but gutters pulling away from the roof need immediate attention. When gutters separate from the roofing system, they lose their ability to provide efficient drainage. This issue can lead to a buildup of rainwater, ice, and debris, causing clogs and eventual leaks.
Why Gutters Pull Away from the Roof
Your gutters may pull away from the roof due to improper installation. If you installed the gutters yourself or you hired a cheap general contractor to do the job at a discounted price, your gutters may fail sooner than anticipated. When it comes to serious projects such as roofing work, you should avoid cutting corners and stick with roofing professionals. Professional gutter installers have the correct tools and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines so warranties remain valid.
Gutters can also pull away from the fascia due to the excessive weight of water, leaves, twigs, and other debris trapped in the gutter system. This excess weight can cause your gutters to sag and gradually pull away. Using seamless gutters can eliminate the problems caused by regular sectional gutters enjoined with fasteners. Incorrect installation of the fasteners or too many seams can cause sections to separate and pull away. Additionally, incorrect hanger spacing may cause the gutters to sag, putting pressure on fasteners. Gutters must be pitched properly during the installation to prevent water buildup and sagging.
What Problems Could Gutters Cause When they Pull Away?
If your gutters are not fully draining or have an incorrect pitch, they could lead to interior leaks and insects breeding in the gutters. Your gutters and downspouts should effectively divert the flow of water away from your house.
- A clogged gutter allows water to splash over the sides of your roof and pour down your walls.
- Pooling water around your home’s foundation can cause erosion and weaken the walls, leading to foundation cracks and settling.
- Clogged gutters can also trigger leaks on the inside of your house.
- Trapped rainwater can rot the wooden fascia boards holding your gutters, allowing moisture to enter your home.
- During the winter months, ice dams can push snow to melt beneath your shingles and cause leaks.
- When gutters pull off from the roof, water pouring down your foundation can cause a damp basement. It’s due to water seeping through the porous floor and walls of the foundation.
Gutters pulling away from the roof can also lead to the following problems:
- Foundation issues
- Wet basement
- Wall and ceiling damage
- Siding and landscape damage
- Pooling water
- Mold and mildew growth.
Sign Your Gutters are Pulling Away
The first sign your gutters are pulling away from the house is when you notice leaks between the house and the gutter system. If your gutter has a waterfall behind it whenever it rains, and you can see a gap between the gutters and the fascia board, your gutters have loosened up and pulled away from the roof. Your gutters may also appear visibly loose, and you can see them sagging in various areas. Gutters are designed to run perfectly straight, so if they seem to sag or bow anywhere, they need to be re-secured with new hardware.
Repairing Pulling Gutters
If broken fasteners are causing your gutters to pull away from the roof, a skilled roofing contractor can reinstall the brackets by drilling new holes and covering the old ones with caulk. The contractor may also need to drill new holes when spaces between brackets and hangers are too far apart.
The best way to prevent your gutters from pulling away from the roofing system is to have them installed correctly in the first place. For longevity, always ensure your gutters don’t get clogged debris, so annual inspections are critical. Even if it seems like your gutters require little upkeep, they still need regular maintenance to function correctly and protect your home.
Consider scheduling at least two annual cleanings and gutter repairs to remove silt and debris which often build up in them over the year. If you live next to a tree or if there’ve been numerous massive storms or high-wind events, you may want to schedule more frequent inspections and cleanings.
Why Should You Hire A Pro for Gutter Installation?
Gutters are critical components of a roof and should be installed by professionals to ensure they look and function as intended. Most DIY gutter installations often leave too much slope, which is an eyesore, or too little slope which makes gutters ineffective. Aside from issues with your gutter, a roofing expert may also identify other problems with your roof which need immediate attention. Overall, properly installed gutters and downspouts will effectively catch water and carry it away from your home, preventing severe and costly damage to the basement, siding, and foundation.
Additionally, gutters require regular cleaning and maintenance, and when installing or replacing gutters and downspouts, be sure to give them as much consideration as you would to your roofing system. Working with a professional roofer ensures the quality of your new gutters and downspouts and exceptional workmanship. Contact Bill West Roofing in Lee’s Summit, MO, to get peace of mind knowing your gutters are correctly installed the first time.
