6 Signs You Need New Gutters

Your gutters are an essential part of your home. They keep your roof and foundation dry and protect your home from water damage. Gutters and downspouts are always on call to channel damaging stormwater away from the home. Well-maintained and high-quality gutters can last many years, but all gutters eventually have an expiration date and don’t last forever. If you're not sure whether that time has come, if you notice any of the signs below, it might be time for new gutters. 

1. Cracks

Cracked gutters are worthless if water can leak through. When inspecting your gutters, larger cracks are easier to notice and are visible on dry days, whereas smaller cracks may only be revealed during a rainstorm. No matter how big or small, cracks defeat the purpose of a gutter system’s job and require an assessment. It may be possible to repair small individual cracks, but extensive cracking warrants replacement. 

2. Seam Issues

Traditional gutters are separate pieces of material attached and are most susceptible at the seams where two horizontal sections adjoin. Leaks and separations are both common, and these failures eventually can lead to several troublesome outcomes, whether the exterior or interior of the home. Gutter seams can sometimes be mended but instead of repeating this process, many homeowners want to forget this hassle and opt for new seamless gutters.

3. Peeling Paint

Insufficient gutters can ruin a perfectly good exterior paint job on your home. You should check your home’s siding for any bubbled-up or peeled away paint due to excess moisture. If you see any areas of compromised paint, you need to check the condition of the nearest gutter because it very likely has a leak. If peeling paint is beyond a couple of areas, then you should consider gutter replacement instead of repair.

4. Rotting

Gutters can cause more than just cosmetic damage, when they malfunction, they allow rainwater to cascade over your home instead of away from it. This allows excess moisture to rot exterior wood trim elements like windowsills and door jambs. This only continues to cause headaches and repair costs to other parts of the home. So, it's probably ideal to replace them when causing problems.

5. Mold and Mildew

The downspouts recess about six feet away from your home for a good reason. Any accumulation of moisture near the home’s foundation can find its way into your basement, eventually causing unsightly, smelly, and potentially dangerous mold and mildew growth. If you come across any mold or mildew in a formerly dry area below ground, damaged gutters are most likely the culprit. These problems can recur after repair attempts and mold is a serious issue so, gutter replacement is the most logical solution.

6. Maintenance Neglect

If you are tired of cleaning out your gutters every year, you're not alone. Regular gutters must be maintained regularly to function properly, and since many people forget or delay this important maintenance, smaller manageable issues can inevitably develop into bigger and more costly issues. To avoid all this hassle of maintenance, your best bet is to have a professional gutter company replace your gutters with a better gutter system that requires less maintenance. 

​If you're noticing any of the signs mentioned above, it might be time to invest in a new gutter system. Gutters are an important part of your home's weatherproofing and can help protect your property from water damage. Call our expert team at Colorado Seamless Gutters today for a free estimate on installing quality gutters for your home. We also do gutter cleaning, repairs, and custom gutters in Denver and surrounding areas.