The roof’s position in an establishment has placed it in numerous disadvantages. One of which is seen during maintenance season. It doesn’t help that you can’t get a good view of its state unless you’re outside or on top of it. Moreover, in comparison to the other structures that compose the house, the top part doesn’t get that much attention. Unless there’s a drastic change in the design, it can’t compete with the walls and flooring in terms of recognition.
However, roofs don’t fall behind these two when it comes to the level of importance. A house won’t be a house without a roof. It protects the inside from the external elements like heavy rainfall or snow, scorching heat, random debris, and extremes of temperature. It takes quite a beating considering that it sustains the direct hits from outside and with the abnormal weather we’ve been having. This makes regular maintenance all the more important.
According to one source, low maintenance can cut the expected life span of the structure in half (https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/1735/title/the-top-10-most-common-roof-problems). As a homeowner, this is very alarming news, since housetops don’t exactly fall in the affordable category. They’re extremely expensive to the point that it makes people do consistent checkups to avoid any problems to develop.
Homeowners that have been given light to how much a full-on roof replacement cost are trying different strategies that can stretch out their current one’s service life. However, the roof, in general, isn’t the only one you should keep an eye on.
To preserve its state and the rest of the house along with it, you should pay close attention to the gutters’ condition as well.
What Are Gutters?
An eavestrough or a water gutter is a shallow channel that’s attached right underneath the rim of the roof. They’re an integral part of the system for discharging water from establishments and can be created from various types of material. The original form of gutters was composed of a stone trough or lined wood. In recent times however they’re more commonly made from vinyl, stainless steel, copper, and aluminium. Without them acting as a conduit, draining the water off the roof, and redirecting its flow, a lot of problems can develop.
Despite being one of the most underrated parts, gutters have been protecting homes in the background from multiple crises. By doing their job effectively, numerous homeowners were saved from writing a big fat check for repairs. Installation of eavestrough isn’t necessarily required by the law which gives you the freedom to skip this part out.
The majority of Australian houses being built today exclude them even if the situation finds them beneficial. Gutters are there for a reason, and they’re not just some overly advised structure by contractors that has no purpose.
Eliminating them thinking it won’t make much of a difference can put you at a disadvantage in the future (read more). Gutters provide you with a lot of benefits which are among the following:
· Counteracts water flow, protecting the foundation
· Prevents erosion which compromises soil stabilization, overall preserving the landscape
· Avoidance of basement flooding
· Prevents decay and mold growth, maintaining the beauty of your home
· Damage aversion on your roof and siding due to excess water
· Elimination of scenarios wherein the quality of your walls are at risk
· Prevents breeding of insects that can endanger your health and the state of your home
These are among the advantages you’d gain when your house is fixed with an eavestrough that can change the flow of things. Quite a lot if you ask me, it’s enough to make up for the only massive con it has, which is regular cleaning.
Why The Need For Gutter Cleaning?
For a house part that needs to be cleaned now and then, eavestroughs are placed in a very disadvantageous position. They’re an “out of sight, out of mind” case which makes it all the more difficult to keep up with their maintenance. Not to mention, clearing out your gutter is like doing that what’s in the box challenge. The only difference is instead of a box, you’re inserting your hand into a ditch that’s filled with strange and of course nasty things. Who would want to go through this ordeal continually?
If we were to follow a professional’s advice, gutters are recommended to be cleaned only twice a year. The first should be during the springtime and the second one is during fall where leaves are most abundant. However, in the question of how often you should clean it; the answer solely depends on your situation.
The frequency varies from location to location. Since factors like the number of surrounding trees and climate can directly affect how much debris gets accumulated at a time. If you can’t see yourself climbing up the ladder every once in a while to check on your gutters, you can delegate the task.
Certain folks who have heard their fellow men’s cry have curated services that cater to their dilemma. Now, with the massive demand, multiple people in business have entered this line of business in which their primary services revolve around gutter maintenance.
Individuals that don’t have the time or talent can go to the gutter cleaning page and browse through their deals. By choosing to outsource this task, you get to eliminate the inconvenience of having to fit a cleanup into your tight schedule. That’s one annoying chore out of the way. Not only that but choosing to do the bare minimum also has its advantages, especially in this area.
• Safety
Balancing your weight up on a ladder while you’re preoccupied with doing something else is one of the combinations that should’ve never been created. According to recent data, approximately 40,000 people have acquired serious injuries from incidents which include falling off a ladder. Rather than doing the stunts yourself, why don’t you hire a double instead? Not only is a professional cleaner more experienced than you in this field, but they’re also equipped with all the necessary safety gear.
• Cost-Effective Contrary to popular belief wherein you’ll save more money when you choose to do the cleaning, hiring a pro in person is more cost-effective. Of course, it’s a given that a DIY project is cheaper upfront than paying for an expert’s fee. However, when it comes to gutters, long term thinking is the key to saving money. You see when you hire someone skilled and experienced they have a better understanding of what’s normal and what isn’t. It would make sense to hire someone that not only gets the tedious chore done but also keeps an eye out for possible damages.
