Blackstone Exteriors

Your home’s gutter system protects walkways, driveways and other areas within your property from water accumulation. However, many homeowners overlook the health of their gutters until there is a heavy leak. As such, it’s recommended that you perform a gutter inspection twice a year. This way, you keep your gutters in good condition and fully operable.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on gutter inspection.

Step #1: Inspect Gutters From Ground

Before you climb up your ladder, it’s best to visually inspect the gutter from the ground. From this angle, you can examine the slope and consistency of the gutters. Look for sections of gutters that may look out of place, too low, too high or out of line with other sections. Although these issues can be remedied with adjusted gutter hangers, it’s important to carefully inspect these elements to determine what damage needs repairing.

Step #2: Clear Debris From Gutters

Next, it’s time to remove debris from the gutters and downspouts. Your gutters may become clogged with branches, leaves and other debris, causing runoff to spill to the side. To clear debris from gutters, you can remove them manually with your hands or use a water hose to dislodge any items housed in these areas. Keep in mind that completely removing debris and leaves from the downspouts can be difficult to do manually, so you should consider using the hose as the first option. For your safety and convenience, however, you’re better off having it handled by a gutter pro.

Step #3: Look for Gutter Damage

After clearing the debris, look for signs of gutter damage. To put gutters to the test, try pouring water into their highest points and inspect the gutters for holes or cracks that water escapes through them. If you notice water seeps out of certain parts, it’s likely something isn’t completely sealed. Additionally, don’t forget to examine the gutters for pools of accumulating water. Water buildup can be a result of alignment issues due to poor installation or wear and tear. It’s worth noting that pools of standing water can disrupt the flow, causing further damage over time.

Step #4: Check Gutter Aprons for Gaps

Finally, the last step of the gutter inspection involves checking for gaps between the gutters and the building. These two things are connected by gutter aprons. Most homeowners can use water hoses and general observation techniques to determine whether the gutter aprons are functioning properly. If there are gaps, you may need to call a gutter contractor for a repair or replacement.

Gutter inspection is fairly easy to do. However, cracked, clogged or sagging gutters can be difficult to correct without the assistance of the experts. For that, you need a reliable contractor like Blackstone Exteriors. In addition to providing top-notch roof replacement services, we also offer high-quality gutter installations and repairs to help you protect your home from moisture damage. Call us today at (515) 720-2158, or fill out our online contact form to set an appointment.