Gutters aren't the most prominent component of your roof, but they serve an important function. Quality systems direct rainwater straight to downspouts and prevent damage to your roof. But, over time, even high-quality gutters will start to rust due to age. Can you still fix or restore rusted gutters? Yes, you can, but there are a few factors to consider. Let's find out more in this post.
Sanding is useful for gutters with only a few rusted areas. Roofers can sand them away to reveal new layers and use acrylic paint for added rust protection. If they find holes, roofers will fill them in with caulk after the sanding process.
Rust occurs in areas where water has accumulated for a long time. It can create holes so large that sealing them with caulk won't be effective. Your roofers will propose replacing sections with huge holes to maintain your gutter's efficiency.
There are many cons to doing this. First, the newly attached sections have weaker sealing joints and screws that cannot match the performance of a seamless gutter. Next, it is a waste of good materials because you'll have to remove the new section after the other areas have significantly rusted. Lastly, the older parts can contaminate the material you just installed.
Professional roofers strongly recommend completely removing the old gutter system rather than repairing one area. A single rusted section can contaminate the others and has many benefits, such as having full warranties from manufacturers and certified installation from renowned roofers.
Here are a few ways to minimize the development of rust on your gutters.
Regular roofing maintenance will remove the pollen, twigs, leaves, and other debris trapped on your roof and inside your gutters. Roofers will also repair any hidden gutter and downspout damage they find, such as sanding small patches of rust and applying sealant if they find any holes.
Metal roof and gutter materials will sometimes cause accelerated rust due to galvanic corrosion, which occurs when two incompatible types of metal could cause each other to rust by interacting through a conductive material like water or physically touching.
If you're worried about your metal roof and gutter rusting for this reason, you can ask your roofer or builder about them. You can also consult the building records of your property to know for sure or ask your local roofing company to check it for you.
Quality gutter materials use protective acrylic coating to lengthen their lifespan and performance. Over time, this may come off and let water touch the gutter's metal surface and accelerate its rusting. Your roofer can sand the rust and reapply the coating if necessary.
You can count on SJ Winn Construction's top-notch roofing experts with decades of experience providing quality services in your neighborhood. We're a certified roofer of GAF and always aim to go above and beyond your expectations. Call us today to learn more about our services.
Raccoons, rats, and other small animals use your downspouts to climb up to your roof and nest in your attic or gutters. Small animals love creeping into small areas with moisture and warmth. As they grow comfortable, they would bring in materials from the site to create nests and multiply. Here are several ways to keep raccoons away from your downspouts.
Leaves, twigs, and debris are everything small animals need to nest in your attic. Remove them from your gutters regularly. Furthermore, any scattered paper, cartons, wood, and other materials in your attic can also be a source of materials that small animals use to create their nests.
Beautiful tree branches improve your aesthetics but also need trimming on a scheduled basis. Branches serve as jumping platforms for raccoons, rats, and mice, like your downspouts. During a storm, tree branches can also bend, break, and damage your roof after landing with intense impact. Trim them regularly and keep your roof safe and your attic free from small animals.
Small animals climb your downspouts to reach your roof. You can use pest spikes, baffles, or grease to make your downspouts challenging to climb.
Install pest spikes to deter raccoons from climbing without hurting them. Create vertical strips of pest spikes on all three sides of your downspouts. If pest spikes do not sit well with you, disc-shaped metal or plastic baffles prevent raccoons from climbing if placed high enough.
Animal-safe automotive grease ensures raccoons, rats, and other small animals will safely slip down on your downspout each time they attempt to climb. You can use alternative products that do not evaporate or get washed away easily.
Food left for pets outside should be kept inside. Small animals will smell your pet's meals and eat them when they're away, or no one's looking. They may also follow the scent of the meals indoors, encouraging them to climb your attic and nest inside.
Environmental and animal-safe repellents will discourage small animals from nesting inside gutters and attics. Consult animal control specialists about products that keep small animals away without harming them.
Birdhouses encourage animals to nest inside of them instead of your gutters. You can find them in most hobby or hardware stores, and they have clear construction and installation instructions. While they're not always effective, they're a great way to divert most birds that fly straight to your windows, gutters, or attic.
Guards for gutters originally prevent twigs and leaves from entering your gutter system. The guards can also prevent the entry of small mice and birds into the gutter. Use patented gutter technologies instead of chicken and mesh wires to ensure it has a long lifespan and top-notch performance.
If you have yet to find a dependable roofer to help improve your downspouts or fix any gutter and attic issues, you can count on SJ Winn Construction to help with your needs. We've spent decades assisting homes in your neighborhood with our outstanding specialist team and dedication to high-quality workmanship. Call us today to get started with your roofing service.
Gutters protect your property in many ways. This small, barely-noticeable system catches rain runoff from your roof and leads the water to your downspouts. Torrents of rainwater can destroy your gardens and yards by saturating them with water. Plus, too much water in the yard will cause high levels of basement humidity that cause damage to your basement.
If you don't maintain your gutters, you can experience these other issues.
Overflowing water from the gutters can fall in front of your doorstep and yard or soak and damage your fascia, sheathing, and rafters due to water infiltration. These wooden components can feed mold that has grown from excess humidity and weaken their integrity due to rotting.
Leaking water from the attic will start dripping down your drywalls. It will cause damage to your drywalls by weakening them.
The presence of moisture in your interiors increases the risk of mold growth, which will cause damage to drywalls further and will degrade your indoor air quality.
Gutter overflow causes attic leaks that will cause water damage to sheathing, rafters, and insulation materials. Absorbent insulation will become wet and feed colonizing molds that cause damage. If you see tattered and torn insulation in the attic and between drywalls, replace them to maintain your property's energy efficiency.
You may have gutter problems if you have encountered the following.
Clear gutters ensure your roof won't suffer from leaks and extensive damage during intense rains. Clogged gutters are blocked by leaves and caked debris. You can hire gutter experts to use augurs to remove the dirt and debris inside. Furthermore, they can remove downspout sections and clear any clogs inside of them.
Clogged gutters left unattended for a few months to a year will cause the water to weigh down and deform the section. Its loose hangers will pull out and start to dislodge the gutter section from its position. Your roofers can re-tighten the hangers, but the bent gutter can cause a difference in hanger spacing, making it difficult to repair.
Gutter holes might look harmless because they won't cause overflowing, but they will saturate your yard with moisture and affect your basement's concrete foundations. Your roofers can use temporary solutions, such as gutter sealant to seal the holes. They can also check for leaky seams and seal them too. However, we strongly recommend replacing the entire system with seamless gutters for a long-term and leak-proof gutter system
Heavy rain can deform gutters by weighing them down. On the other hand, they can suffer from wind damage during hurricanes with gale-force winds. You may need to replace your gutters if the system is beyond repair due to deformations, loose hangers, and other structural issues.
If you need top-quality roofing repairs with excellent quality and dependability, you can count on SJ Winn Construction's long-term experience and knowledge in servicing homes in your area. Call us today to set your appointment and start your roof repair, replacement, or installation.
156 Torrington Rd., Winsted,
Connecticut 06098
Phone: 860-379-8863
Email: sjwinnconstruction@gmail.com