Common Gutter Problems and How to Prevent Them in Mason

Gutters rarely get attention until something goes wrong, but they protect the foundation, the siding and the roof edge every time it rains. In Mason, with heavy spring rain and winter snowmelt, a neglected gutter system turns small problems into expensive ones quickly. Here are the six problems we see most often, and how to head each one off.

1. Clogs

What happens: leaves, seeds and roof grit build up, especially in the fall. When water cannot flow, it spills over the front edge onto the fascia, the siding and the ground at the foundation.

Prevention: clear the gutters at least twice a year, more under heavy tree cover, and run a hose down each downspout afterward. Or fit GutterDome gutter guards, which keep debris out while letting water through, so the cleanout is no longer your job.

2. Leaking joints

What happens: the seams between sections loosen and crack with age, letting water drip behind the gutter or down the siding.

Prevention: seamless aluminum gutters are formed in one continuous length for each run, so the joints that fail on sectional gutters simply are not there.

3. The wrong pitch

What happens: a gutter that is too flat, or sloped the wrong way, holds standing water, which leads to rust, sagging and mosquitoes.

Prevention: gutters need a slight, steady fall toward each downspout. If water is still sitting in the gutter a day after rain, the pitch needs correcting.

4. Overflow in heavy rain

What happens: water spills over clean gutters in a downpour. The cause is usually gutters that are too small for the roof, or too few downspouts, which is common on older homes in Mason.

Prevention: larger gutters and extra downspouts, sized to the area of roof that drains into each run.

5. Gutters pulling away from the roofline

What happens: loose hangers or softened fascia let the gutter drop away from the house, sending water straight down the wall.

Prevention: the fascia behind the gutter has to be sound before anything is reattached. An inspection shows whether it is, and whether the gutters themselves are worth keeping.

6. Ice at the roof edge

What happens: snowmelt refreezes at the eaves, blocks the gutter, and backs water up under the shingles.

Prevention: go into winter with clear gutters, keep the attic properly insulated and ventilated so the roof deck stays cold, and use gutter guards to keep out the debris that holds water and ice.

A simple routine

• Look the gutters over after every major storm.
• Clear them in spring and fall, or after heavy leaf fall.
• Check the seams and hangers once a year.
• Make sure every downspout discharges well away from the foundation.

Gutters in Mason

Our office is in Mason, and gutter work across Greater Cincinnati starts the same way: a free inspection that tells you whether guards on your existing gutters will do the job, or whether new seamless gutters with guards is the better answer. GutterDome guards carry a 30-year transferable warranty.