Your gutter system is more important to the integrity of your home than you may think. Cleaning out your gutters two to three times a year may seem like a hassle, but neglecting to do so can lead to serious and costly home repairs. From foundation issues to roof leaks, clogged gutters can lead to repairs that are not only expensive, but a headache to deal with, too. Let’s take a look at what can happen to your home when you fail to clean out your gutters:
1. Foundation Damage
Arguably the most costly to deal with, the foundation of your home can be put at risk when your gutters go uncleaned. When water accumulates around your home, and is failed to be diverted properly away from the base of your home, this can lead to foundation issues. Erosion begins to weaken your home, removing layer by layer of your foundation until cracks begin to form.
Average Repair Cost: $5,000
2. Soffit and Fascia Rot
Your soffits and fascia are the closest part of your home to your gutters, so when your gutters become clogged, water goes where it shouldn’t. Water will begin to eat away at your fascia and soffit, causing these areas of your home to rot. Eventually, with the weight of the debris in your gutters, and the water rotting your soffit and fascia, your gutters will begin to pull away from your home and eventually fall to the ground.
Average Repair Cost: Soffit $20-$30 per foot.
3. Roofing Damage
Roof replacement and repair can easily cost thousands of dollars. Clogged or backed-up gutters can cause rainwater to accumulate on your roof, causing it to rot, rust, and leak. Eventually, if left neglected, your roof could even collapse in.
Average Repair Cost: $350 to $1500 per 100 square feet.
4. Landscape Erosion
The purpose of a gutter system is to direct water away from your home, protecting your home from any excess rainwater. When clogged gutters mishandle the flow of rainwater, the possibility of landscape erosion becomes real. This means, any hard work that you put into your landscaping and garden can be washed away by stagnant water around your home.
Average Repair Cost: $1,000 to re-slope a lawn.
5. Heaving Driveway
If you have trees near your home, then you have complex root systems growing all around your largest investment. Roots are naturally drawn to water, which means that the roots of your trees can end up where they shouldn’t. This can cause serious and costly damages to your driveway.
Average Repair Cost: $2.50 per square foot or $1,850 per 750 square feet
6. Flooded Basement
Your basement is meant to be dry and clean, but stagnant water around the base of your home can seep into your basement, causing flooding. This can ruin all of your belongings in your basement. You may even have to invest in basement water proofing or a new basement renovation.
Average Repair Cost: Loss of belongs plus repairs will vary.
Key Takeaways:
As you can see, neglecting your gutter system can lead to homeowner headaches and costly home repairs. If you are not too keen on cleaning your gutters two to three times a year, one alternative way to prevent clogged gutters is to protect your home with a gutter guard such as LeafFilter.
Author Bio: LeafFilter is a micro mesh gutter guard that attaches to your existing gutters and provides you with clog free gutters for the life of your home.