Why is it bad for your roof if you dont clean your gutters?

Question

My gutters are way too high for me to reach so i havnt had them cleaned in over 3 years...i think next spring i will have them cleaned and have those sponge like inserts put in that you can get, i wonder how much that will cost for a 1100 sq ft house. Anyone have any advise about all of this?

Answer 1

If you don't clean your gutters they tend to fill with all kinds of debris, which then impedes the gutter's ability to drain water away from your roof. In severe cases, the water simply collects in the gutters and eventually rots your facia and/or soffit boards. Gutters really do have to be clear to do their job.

Answer 2

One of the main problems is water rot when the lumber stays wet or moist nearly all of the time because of leaves and debris in the gutters. They make a cheap fix using water pressure to knock out the leaves and stuff with a normal hose. It's a curved spout that you can reach up and wash out the gutter. On some houses the gutter is too high to reach with that and you can usually call out a handy man that can get up on the roof to clean them for you. You don't have to call out an expensive professional to do a simple job like this. If you don't clean them once in a while, it can cost you thousands in replacement lumber and paint.

Answer 3

One of the problems up in the North Country is the snow building up, pushing it's way up under the shingles from the gutters, then the snow somewhat melts and the ice starts to build up and push under the gutter where the snow made the way for it. Now you have a mess, maybe broken shingles. You can put electric warming cables in the gutters to keep the ice out, how these work, you'd have to ask someone.

I prefer a hands on that I know works. I can see it and it's clear. Sponges. I don't know, what if freezing?

Answer 4

This will cause roof and water damage in your house. Cleaning the gutters takes a small amount of your time...Or, hire someone to do it!!

Answer 5

2 remedies: (for the sugar ants) a million- spray them, they're coming in window, round window if no longer sealed right or floor plate it really is loose or chewed through through their more beneficial cousins the termites. wish you do not have termites also. also spray on the outdoors of the abode, with a commercial blend & sprayer (like the malicious program human beings do) and do the floor, the starting up and round openings like water hose bibs & window edges. this will also help different insects from bothering your position to boot. It desires to be finished each 12 months besides to guard your position. second remedy - keep them up till you get a huge pile so that you'll be able to make chocolate coated sugar ant cookies.... :)

Answer 6

If you don't clean your gutters, water backs up and runs
under the edge of your roof...
Just buy a ladder and clean them yourself...

Answer 7

do you want me to send you a picture of my next door neighbor's house? All of his soffits and most of his roof joist are rotted beyond repair. The roof joist can be scabbed and therefore fixed, the soffits and fascia boards have to be ripped off and replaced, and evidently he does not know how to replace them because they have been ripped off over 9 months ago and never replaced.

Answer 8

you should keep your gutters clear -
a) to stop your downpipes getting choked with junk and not being able to get the water away and
b) to stop the gutters rusting from damp gunk trapping water
c) can be a fire hazard

Answer 9

NOT NECESSARILY YOUR ROOF, BUT THE FASCIA BOARD & GUTTERS ( IF GALVANIZED STEEL ), ARE SUBJECT TO ROT.
IF BACKED UP BADLY, DEPENDING ON THE OVER HANG OF YOUR SOFFIT, YOU COULD ALSO HAVE SOFFIT & ROOF DAMAGE!

Answer 10

water backs up and drains out onto other parts of your house...also causes wood rot and mould