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K-Guard Kansas City Blog

How a Gutter Clog Could Result in Disaster

Wood Damage on White Painted Wood - K-Guard Heartland

Have half-round gutters installed on your home? What about a gutter cover or gutter filter? If you have any of those installed, you’ve most likely experienced clogged gutters or have seen some other damage to your home. Clogged gutters can be disastrous if not dealt with immediately.

At K-Guard, we dismantle old gutter systems before we install our K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System. To say we’ve seen it all is a bit of an understatement, so we’re going to discuss how a gutter clog could result in disaster. From damage we’ve seen like rotted fascia boards to significant roof damage, gutter clogs can result in extensive damage.

 

How Do Gutters Clog?

Before we discuss how gutter clogs can lead to disasters, let’s first explain how they clog.

Half-round gutters, gutter covers, and gutter filters are all prone to clogs. Half-round gutters clog easily from debris like leaves and twigs freely entering the gutters since the top is exposed. Gutter covers keep larger debris like twigs out but they act as a “shelf” allowing debris to collect on top of the cover. Gutter filters have tiny openings that let small seeds, leaves, and roof granules enter the gutter, resulting in clogs over time. Gutter covers and filters can sprout little trees and weeds inside of the gutter which causes clogs and impedes water flow.

 

Damage that Occurs From Clogged Gutters

Roof Damage

One of the biggest investments homeowners make is installing a new roof. The average roof installation project in Kansas City costs around $7,000 according to HomeAdvisor. Of course, prices vary depending on the company you hire, materials used, square footage of your roof, etc. Imagine having to spend $7,000 to replace your roof as a result of faulty gutters that caused extensive damage to your roof shingles. Yikes!

A home’s gutter system acts as a drainage system by collecting water from the roof and draining it away from the home. When there is a clog in the gutter system it isn’t able to function properly, damaging your roof in many ways: shingle damage, leaks, roof algae, moss build-up, etc. Keeping your gutters free from clogs will keep your roof drier and prolong its lifespan, protecting your investment.

 

Foundation Damage

Foundation damage may seem self-explanatory, however, it’s complex. In layman’s terms, foundation damage is damage that occurs to a home’s foundation, but different types of damage can occur depending on the type of foundation, materials, warning signs, and causes.

Foundation damage caused by a home’s gutter system can cause severe damage like mold, cracks, and even structural damage. When the gutters are clogged then water will be forced to flow over the gutters, collecting around the foundation. Water that’s left to build up over time around the foundation will inevitably cause damage, so it’s crucial to have a properly working gutter system to prevent damage.

 

Leaks/Flooding

Leaks and flooding can also occur from clogged gutters. Leaks can happen in many places: the roof, home’s siding, soffit and fascia boards, basement, etc. When a gutter is clogged and water flow is impeded, excess water will spill over the gutters causing basement flooding. That excess water will also trickle over the side of the roof and gutter and can cause damage to the home’s soffit and fascia boards and siding. Basement flooding is a common issue that can occur because of clogged gutters.

 

Damage to the Soffit & Fascia Boards

Nearly every home has fascia boards; they run parallel to the roof and are that part that you see if you look straight up while standing with your back against your home’s siding. Soffit and fascia boards are crucial to a home because they support the weight of the roof and the gutter system if the gutters are mounted to them. Damage to the soffit and fascia boards due to clogged gutters can cause them to rot and wither away over time, resulting in weak and damaged boards that can’t support the weight of the gutter system.

 

Landscaping Damage

A home’s landscaping that’s beautiful and well maintained can attract potential homebuyers and keep neighbors happy. On the contrary, landscaping that is overgrown or overwatered can appear unhealthy and unattractive, deterring potential homebuyers and upsetting neighbors. Clogged gutters will force water over the gutters and around the home, forcing water to collect around garden beds that surround the home. We get some heavy rainfall here in Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, and surrounding cities, so if a gutter system is clogged then a lot of rain will wind up in your garden beds, drowning plants, shrubs, and flowers.

There is significant and costly damage that can occur from gutters being clogged. Damage like roof damage, foundation damage, leaks and flooding, damage to the soffit and fascia boards, and damage to landscaping can all occur because of debris getting trapped in a gutter system. Damage can vary from minimal to extreme depending on how long the gutters go without having a deep clean.

Cleaning gutters is a nuisance; you must spend hours climbing up and down a ladder while carrying a bucket and reaching into dirty, leaf-filled gutters. It’s recommended that you clean them at least two times per year, more if your home is surrounded by trees. Most homes around Kansas City are surrounded by cedars, oaks, and maples, all of which have debris that can easily clog your gutter system.

Eliminate the need to clean your gutters again and protect your home from severe damage caused by clogged gutters by installing the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System! Unlike an open-top gutter system where the gutters themselves are exposed, our product has a curved hood that enables leaves and other debris to simply slide off the gutter system rather than entering the gutter through the narrow opening where only water adheres. Your gutters will never clog, keeping your home’s foundation, siding, soffit and fascia boards, and landscaping protected.

Our gutter system also mounts above the floodplain, not to the soffit and fascia boards. This creates a stronger hold and prevents damage from occurring to the soffit and fascia boards. K-Guard will also never void your roof’s warranty, something many other gutter installation companies in Kansas City can’t guarantee.

Contact our team today or call (913) 380-1616 to schedule your free estimate for installing the K-Guard System. We’ll examine your current gutter system and will offer an assessment as well as our recommendations for installing the K-Guard System in your home. We offer our gutter installation service to homeowners across both Missouri and Kansas including, but not limited to, the following locations:

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