More than Ground Drainage
Many homeowners view gutters solely as a way to keep rainwater from muddying the landscaping or flooding the basement. In reality, your gutter system is a critical component of roof preservation.
When gutters clog with leaves, pine needles, or loose granules, water cannot drain properly. This standing water backs up, seeping into the roof’s edges and rotting the underlying sheathing.
The Backflow Water Paths
Clogged gutters pose several direct threats to your roof:
- Fascia Board Decay: Backed-up water spills over the back of the gutter, rotting the wooden fascia boards and eave framing.
- Underlayment Saturation: Standing water can soak through the eave edge, bypassing the metal drip edge and wetting the underlayment.
- Ice Accumulation: In winter, clogged gutters hold water that quickly freezes, forming ice dams that can pry shingle seams apart.
Best Practices for Roof Protection
To protect your shingles, clean your gutters biannually and ensure they are sloped correctly toward the downspouts. If your roof has suffered water damage along the eaves, a bio-based rejuvenation treatment can restore flexibility to dried-out asphalt shingles. To check local gutter and roofing costs, use our interactive roof calculator.
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