A home’s gutters help ensure your foundation remains safe from water damage. This is done because the gutter system deposits water away from your home.
On top of that, this system also prevents your roof from accumulating too much water. For these reasons and more, you want to keep this system unclogged. Sadly, clogs happen, and they may happen because of the roof.
What is to Blame?
The truth is that your roof isn’t always to blame. There are several reasons why the gutter system might clog up. It is important to find out what’s happening before you decide on how to approach the issue. Of course, you can have the system checked by a professional. This person can tell you what’s happening and what needs to be done to stop it.
The problem could be that you have too many trees near the roof of your house. All those leaves can accumulate and clog your system. You may want to trim a few branches. If it’s your neighbor’s tree, you can usually trim the branches that come onto your property. Some nice neighbors may even split the cost with you.
It could also be that you aren’t cleaning the system enough. All you need is a good gutter cleaner and a bit of patience to make sure the system isn’t clogged. There could also be damage you might not have noticed. Damage to some part of the gutter system could lead to clogs given enough time.
One reason it’s suggested to have the gutter system inspected regularly is to make sure these types of issues don’t happen. Most folks who notice an issue with their gutters don’t think it has anything to do with their roof. The truth is that it isn’t your roof’s fault this is happening but rather some of the tiles on your roof.
Why Would it Be Your Roof Tiles?
If you’re wondering how this could happen, that’s okay. Many folks don’t know that their roof could cause backed-up gutters.
The reason this is possible deals with the construction of the tiles. Roofing material is supposed to resist all sorts of stuff, like UV rays fire, and water.
One effective material that helps it resists things is mineral granules. The granules help preserve the life of your roof, but they can come apart at some point. When this happens, you might end up dealing with a clogged-up gutter system.
Why Do Roof Granules Fall Apart?
There are many reasons why this might happen. For example, maybe a storm hit your neighborhood that was so strong it caused some damage to your roof.
The granules are there to resist damage, but they aren’t indestructible. One thing you can do to try to prevent a clogged system is to clean your roof after a big storm. If you aren’t comfortable cleaning your roof or don’t know how to do this, then don’t do it. You need to keep yourself safe. Roof cleaning may seem like a simple job, but it’s a dangerous task that’s best left to professionals.
Granules can also come apart if there’s a direct hit to them. This could happen during a storm, but it could also happen if a tree or branch strikes your roof.
Even a neighborhood kid could hit your granules with a baseball and cause damage. If you know your roof has been struck, then it’s important to have it inspected. Both of these can cause some clogging but aren’t the worst offenders. The worst thing that could happen is roof tile rot.
Roof tile rot happens with age. Some people just repair the affected tiles, but that’s not the smartest move.
It may be the cheapest, but it isn’t a long-lasting solution. If there’s roof rot, then more tiles will be affected soon after.
Also read: Family Homes: How to Choose the Best One for You
Your Roof is Telling You That It’s Time To Replace It.
Homeowners hate hearing that they have to replace their roofs, but they aren’t meant to last forever. A roof can last 25 or maybe up to 50 years. If you aren’t the first owner of the home, you should have the roof inspected to be sure of its condition.
Signs That Its Roof Tiles
Okay, now you know what you have to do to stop this clogging problem if it has to do with your roof.
Still, you’re probably wondering if there are any signs to watch out for. Calling a roofer is usually something homeowners avoid doing until they’ve got no choice, and that’s okay.
A big sign that this could be your problem can be seen when you clean your gutter system. If you notice dirt-like material in the system, then it may be roof rot. What’s even more telling is that you see this dirt material consistently.
When decay is taking place, you’ll also see other types of unusual debris in the gutter system. You will see wood, tile, or shingle pieces depending on the type of roof you have. You’ll see these pieces consistently, too.
There will be signs on the roof as well. Try to pay attention to your roof and look for bald spots. You’ll notice these, especially if this problem has been going on for a while now.
Consider calling trustworthy professionals if you see these spots. Given enough time, this roof rot will continue to give you problems. Your roof may develop leaks if it hasn’t already.
Keep in mind that some leaks are hard to detect. Sure, some are obvious. Maybe you’ll see water spots on your home’s ceiling, but you might not see this. At times, you can smell water damage, but this may not be the case.
The leak may be going between your walls, and that could lead to all sorts of structural issues. It could also mess with your electrical system and put you in danger. Water can even attract pests to your home, and that’s another expensive problem to deal with.
Leaks could cause mold growth that can put your family’s health in danger, especially those with respiratory issues. It can take years to recover from excessive mold exposure.
The gutter system clogging up may be annoying but could be seen as an alarm sounding off. It’s an alarm warning of costly issues that could come your way if you don’t act fast.
Hopefully, this information helps you figure out what’s causing the clogs in your system and also helps you stop them from happening. Talk to your roofer or visit supremeexterior.com if you have additional questions or you want additional tips.
