Gutter Installation & Replacement
Our roofs aren’t the only thing protecting our houses from heavy rain and moisture. We need well-built gutters too. Gutters may not be necessary in very arid climates or the desert, but here in Pennsylvania we see our fair share of heavy downpours and snow. Our team of experts at John B Anderson Roofing specializes in repairing, replacing and keeping your gutters in great condition so both your roof and your foundation are protected.
Why do I need Gutters?
The primary purpose of your gutters is to divert water away from your foundation. As water runs down your roof and off, it saturates the soil around your foundation and can leave it even wetter than your surrounding yard. These pools of water can wick up into the wood of your house, your siding and weaken your foundation. Gutters take the water that runs off from your roof and diverts it away from your house so your foundation dries faster after a storm, reducing potential damage from mold and wood rot.
Gutters don’t just divert water away from your foundation, they must also funnel water away from your soffit, fascia and overall roof structure to help it dry as fast as possible after heavy weather. When gutters are working properly, they do this job very well. However, if your gutters are clogged so they let water accumulate, they can actually end up doing more damage than good. This is because clogged or poorly designed gutters can cause water to stay in contact with your roofing material longer than it actually should. Over time, this creates a wicking effect as the underside of your roofing material soaks up the excess water that accumulates in pools where the gutters meet your roof, leading to mold, wood rot and damage to your materials.
Gutters also help protect our roofs, foundation and the sides of our homes from runoff as snow melts. The dampness caused by heavy snows can last much longer than the runoff from a rain storm. Worse, this snow melt can keep your foundation damp for much longer than it should be. If your gutters properly divert this runoff at least ten feet away from your foundation and your soil is properly graded to divert runoff, your foundation will last much longer.
Inspecting Your Gutters
It’s easy to forget about checking our gutters during dry weather. We often don’t notice that our gutters are clogged or leaking until a strong rain storm hits. If we discover the problem and fix it right away, there shouldn’t be a problem. But what if there is a strong storm while we are away? If the humidity stays high, the accumulated water in our gutters can cause water to continuously wick into our roofing material for days or even weeks, which greatly increases the chances of wood rot and mold. We can help you keep your gutters clean and clear of debris.
Gutter Installation in Bucks County
Here at John B Anderson Roofing, we have over 30 years of experience keeping Buck County’s roofs, gutters and downspouts in top working order. Whether you are considering a full gutter replacement with your new roof replacement or you simply need to repair a small portion of your gutter, we will be more than happy to help! Give our experts a call today for a free estimate from our experienced team.