When it comes to home maintenance, cleaning out your gutters might not be at the top of your list, but it should be. Neglecting your gutters can cause serious and expensive consequences to your basement’s foundation.
Gutters are designed to funnel precipitation that hits your roof away from your home. They protect your siding, windows, doors and foundation from water damage. If they’re clogged, then the job can’t be done correctly.
Consequences of Clogged Gutters
If gutters aren’t functioning properly, water will start to accumulate around your house. When this happens, it’s only a short trip into the basement through a crack or window well. If enough waters accumulates around the base of your home, there will be unpreventable basement seepage that could lead to mold, roof issues and more importantly, foundation issues.
If excessive water accumulates around the base of your home, the foundation will begin to crack, shift or sink. Repairing a home’s foundation is a tedious, expensive task that you cannot do yourself.
Preventing it Early
This problem can be easily preventable. Cleaning out your gutters on a regular basis is a key factor in preventing this from happening; however, cleaning out your gutters multiple times a year can take a toll on the body, and paying someone to clean them can become expensive! Gutter guards are a time-saving and effective product for keeping debris out of your gutters. You can also waterproof your basement to help prevent water damage from occurring or slow it down if there is leakage.
No matter what method of gutter protection you choose, it’s still important to check your gutters periodically. Maintaining a clean gutter is the single most effective way to avoid extensive and serious problems. The time it will take for you to clean out your gutters or install preventable measures is worth saving the thousands of dollars you would have to spend if damage occurred.
Getting Assistance
If you do need assistance in repairing water damage or waterproofing your basement, call Tom’s Basement Waterproofing!