One aspect of home maintenance can be more important than many home owners realise: gutter cleaning. Sydney, and notably for us, Northern Beaches residents, are often unaware of both the internal and external damage that blocked gutters can cause to their properties.
Water Damage Can Be Serious
Water can be one of the worst causes of damage to buildings. It can be the precursor to both interior and exterior problems, and the costs of subsequent repairs can often be high. When the water damage has been the result of poor building upkeep and maintenance, the costs for repair may not be covered by insurance.
Clear flowing gutters are so important as they channel water away from your home.
The Role Gutters Play
Gutters are designed with the objective of capturing rainwater off the roof and directing it safely away – down the drain.
* Good guttering and drainage prevents a build up of water around the footings of your home, and limits the potential for water lapping at your doors, or entering your home.
* Draining rain water away from your home prevents damage to its external surfaces and structure.
* It can also ensure no rainwater damage occurs to the internal walls and ceilings.
* Having clean and unclogged gutters means that you can access your home without getting soaked by rain cascading off the roof.
* Well maintained guttering keeps the outside of your home cleaner – debris and water from your roof can leave a real mess on your outside walls, verandahs, steps and paths.
Damage You Can See
The obvious damage to homes is external, such as:
-The surface of brickwork, paintwork, or render being eroded by water running down the wall of the house
-Footings and foundations pooling water
-Gutter distortion and damage due to the weight of debris and dammed water
-Outright collapse or failure of damaged gutters
The Internal Damage
The far more insidious and damaging result of blocked gutters is internal damage to your home, because it’s rarely seen until it has become quite serious, and expensive to repair.
When gutters aren’t cleared, water can’t flow away from the roof easily. Clogged and overflowing gutters can let water run into the internal roof area, past the fascia boards. This can not only lead to swollen ceilings but also damage to the integrity of your roof structure.
Water overflow into your ceiling can cause direct damage causing your ceiling to show water stains, swelling or even bulge with water. It can also damage insulation, electrical wiring and light fittings.
The pooling of water around footings and foundations does not just impact a home’s exterior, but can also cause rising damp, which can result in structural damage and mould growth. As well, the seepage of water into cavity spaces in your home and onto internal structures can lead to health issues that result from the growth of mould. Mould can cause, or exacerbate, respiratory and allergic conditions.
Dampness in any area of your home where timber is present can damage the timber structure, and lead to insect infestations – and no-one wants a termite colony taking up residence and literally eating you out of house and home.
Keeping Gutters Clear
There is an obvious risk of damage in a downpour or fierce storm if you haven’t kept up to date with your gutter cleaning, and those of us on Sydney’s Northern Beaches are only too familiar with the consequences of freak and unexpected storms.
There are products available that can help keep gutters clear, but it is always best to seek expert advice before selecting and installing a gutter protection product.
With personal safety in mind, most people, particularly those who don’t own suitable ladders and harnesses, those who are busy, elderly, or disabled, require assistance with regular gutter cleaning. And it is for that reason that at JEDI Plumbing we offer a gutter cleaning service, and remind you when the next one is likely to be needed.
Be Prepared
Sydney has always been subject to damaging weather patterns including winds and storms. It is a city where gutter blockages can pose serious risks to your home and business premises – not just for the obvious external damage, but the expensive, and often unseen, internal water seepage problems.
One of the most important regular maintenance jobs to have in your diary is gutter cleaning, Sydney residents, Northern Beaches homeowners and those living in bushland areas in particular.
Call us at JEDI Plumbing to discuss how we can help with your gutter cleaning needs.