Everyone wants a ‘roof over our heads’ and yet we often forget about maintaining our roof and gutters until it is too late. Maintaining the roof, gutters and downpipes on your property should be carried out at least every six months. In some locations, more frequent inspections would be required, especially where trees overhang the home or close to an ocean where salt air can impact the roof structure. It’s a must to check the roof, gutters and downpipes after storms as well as deterioration to roofs and gutters can be accelerated by storms and high winds.
Overflowing gutters indicate blockages which can lead to complete guttering malfunctions and water in your roof space, which is an expensive issue to fix. Gutters blocked by debris will lose a large amount of capacity causing them to overflow; which can mean damaged roof timbers, ceilings, and internal walls as well as the building’s foundations, which can lead to more serious problems like structural damage. Valley lines are also prone to trapping leaves, causing water to divert and overflow onto the ceilings below. When you factor in damage to fixtures, fittings and possessions, having a few stray leaves in your gutters sounds downright terrifying. Of course this is the worst case scenario, and the team at Horizonline Roofing Adelaide are here to help with keeping your roof safe and sound. Read on for some of our tips and tricks to keep your gutters and roof in tip top shape.
INSPECTIONS – If you can, carry out a visual inspection of the roof and where you see leaves or debris, hanging over the edge of the gutters, it’s a good time to get in and clean them out; especially if storm season is on the way. This may be the best way to do it, you can check yourself and call the team at Horizonline to complete a maintenance inspection and clean for you. You will also need to check around the property for any bent or buckled gutters and downpipes and any corrosion of any components.
SAFETY – Safety is important to us at Horizonline and this is why we recommend only the professionals get onto the roof to perform maintenance tasks. If you are going to get up on a ladder to clean out your gutters, make sure you are using a sturdy ladder, tall enough for the job and that you have someone to help you, so you do not have to reach out or across the ladder. Also make sure your ladder is placed on sturdy ground and wear gloves as there might be nasty creepy crawlies in your guttering.
MAINTENANCE – Once you have removed any loose debris, use a stiff, soft bristled brush to sweep the wet or stuck debris, being careful not to damage the metal gutters. Once you have removed all the debris, wash down and remove all sludge and decaying leaf matter. Now you can make sure the guttering is working by checking all water freely drains. Take note of any places where water sits for too long, this may be an indicator of a fault and you will need the professionals in to either replace or repair the damage. Horizonline Roofing can complete this for you and check for other areas you may have missed or not seen at all.
PERMANENT SOLUTION – Cleaning your gutters can be a chore, but it’s something that can prevent a lot of heartache and cost in the future. You could consider a permanent solution like Gutter Guards, and the like, or you could arrange to have regular inspections and cleaning done by your local team at Horizonline Roofing.
If your gutters or downpipes have been cleaned and you still see signs of leaks then it might be time to consider replacing them. Avoid costly mistakes and discover how Horizonline Roofing can help you and your home by getting in touch today. Call to speak to one of our friendly team on (08) 8380 5796, or you can fill in our contact form and we will be in touch shortly.
