The biannual cleaning and maintenance of your home’s guttering system is an essential part of keeping your Bay Area roof and foundation in ideal working condition. Always remember, it is recommended by expert Bay Area Roofing companies like Yorkshire Roofing, to perform a thorough gutter cleanse during the spring and fall of each year because the longer the debris has to build up in the gutters, the greater the potential there is for Bay Area Roofing problems like leaks and water damage to arise. Clogged gutters become especially problematic during rainy seasons because when the rain cannot flow through the gutters, it runs along exposed roof surfaces, causing damage to the roof. When cleaning the guttering system, there are several simple steps you can implement to make the job quicker and more efficient.
Cleaning and Unclogging Your Roofing’s Gutters
First, Bay Area Roofing Company – Yorkshire Roofing believes it is ideal to perform your gutter maintenance during a week of dry weather conditions, as the debris is much easier to deal with if it is not wet.
Next, using a ladder to access the inside of the gutter, with gloved hands and a trowel, scoop the twigs, dirt, and leaves into a bucket safely fastened to the side of the ladder. The bottom layer of debris is likely to bet wet and sludgy so it is recommended to wear latex gloves underneath your work gloves to protect your skin.
Make sure to also remove and clean any downspout strainers found within the gutters. After the large materials are removed and shoveled out, use a garden hose with your preference of attachment to pump water through and flush out the remaining mess.
There are special gutter-cleaning hose devices available for purchase that can make the job even easier. One product many homeowners find helpful for example is the Gutter Sense. This is a two-pronged device, which attaches to any ordinary extension pole, designed to allow the user to grasp the debris from the ground.
When flushing out the gutters with a garden hose, be sure to start at the end opposite to the downspout drain. Take notice of the water pouring from the downspout; if water is not draining from the downspout, there is probably another clog within the length of the downspout drain in need of more intense water pressure. You must therefore, remove the bottom portion of the downspout drain nearest to the ground in order to funnel the hose up through the downspout directly. Once you unclog this portion of the downspout and reattach, be sure to re-flush the entire guttering system once more to make sure there are no remaining problems. Leaks, for example, must be sealed using gutter sealant material, once the gutters are completely dry.
One final maintenance check to perform while you finish cleaning the gutters that we recommend all of our Bay Area Roofing clients is to look for any indication of standing water, as water that is standing and not draining properly is an indication that the guttering system is not slopped properly. If the length of your system does not accurately measure a 1/4 in. decline for every 10 ft. toward the downspout, then you must reattach the gutter hangars, every two feet, in accordance with these measurements.
Finally, your Bay Area Roofing Company, Yorkshire Roofing recommends that homeowners invest in gutter screens to help prevent the accumulation of large, gutter-clogging debris. If you have any other questions about cleaning your gutters and how this can affect your Bay Area Roofing, give us a call today!