Don't Overlook Downspouts and Gutters

By: Ki Gray

When the rain starts to fall, the downspouts are there to whisk away the threat of leaks and damage to your home. They provide a fundamental service to your home that can minimize the risk of damage to basements, crawl spaces and even foundation shifts. Faulty gutter and drainage systems can also damage your roof and erode your landscaping. By regularly maintaining and inspecting your gutters, however, you can minimize the risks of damage.

The best place to start is with a simple cleaning to make sure your gutters and downspouts are operating properly. It is a good idea to have your gutters cleaned near the end of each spring and fall, when debris such as limbs and leaves are at their heaviest amounts. Obviously, the extent and frequency of cleaning can be adjusted based upon the proximity of large trees to your home and property.

While cleaning them out yourself is a viable option, hiring a professional can help in making sure the gutters and spouts and completely clear and operating smoothly. The cost of having gutters cleaned professional varies based upon the size of your home, ease of access to the roof and number of trees nearby. Periodic checks are also an important element of routine maintenance, such as tightening the screws that attach gutters to your home. You may also find that your downspouts can get periodically clogged, which can be remedied by running a garden hose down the length of the spout to clear the obstruction. As a general rule, if you can keep the entrance holes of the downspouts free of ice and debris, they will function extremely well.

No matter how well you maintain your gutters and downspouts the day will eventually come when they need to be replaced. The investment is worth it when you consider the consequences of a faulty system. As an added advantage, installing new gutters can also enhance the appearance of your home. Homeowners often try to install the gutters themselves, but a professional typically handles this project the best. If the gutters are not installed properly, it can lead to overflow back into the overhang and cause serious damage to your home. Hiring a professional may also allow you to take advantage of seamless gutter offerings, which minimize leaks that can drip down onto your landscape and foundation. Instead of hanging ten foot sections of guttering on your home, a seamless gutter is produced by a machine in a solid piece up to 100 feet long.

In addition, while popular opinion regarding their performance may vary, a variety of gutter covers are available to keep leaves and other debris from falling into your gutters. While some gutter covers do not prevent all debris from getting into the gutters, they do prevent larger debris and leaves from making their way into the gutters.

Article Source: http://home2garden.co.za

About The Author
Ki's lives, and works, in Austin, Texas. His website focuses on Austin real estate. It includes a search of Austin MLS listings and has information and statistics on Davenport Ranch Austin Texas.