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Gutters provide an appealing environment for birds to build nests, and for good reason. Gutters are located high above the ground and have a durable outer enclosure. It also helps that your home provides a bit of warmth and protection to keep these feathered creatures comfortable. Birds’ nests, along with other organic debris like dead leaves and twigs, clog up the gutters and prevent them from performing their main function of directing rainwater away from your home.
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Gutters don’t last forever, even if they were installed impeccably with the finest materials. While replacing them prematurely is a waste of time, money and resources, you don’t want to wait too long and jeopardize your home’s safety and stability.
Still, the more you maintain your gutters, the more you extend their life, similar to your roofing system. Read on as Patriot Roofing discusses the signs you need to replace your gutters right now.
Gutters and downspouts may not always be made of the same material. In this case, they won’t age and corrode at the same rate, even if they were installed at the same time. If you have the budget for it, copper gutters and downspouts are the best at outliving anything your roof is made out of. Failing that, galvanized steel is second best, as its zinc oxide coating can allow it to prolong its life span.
Seamless gutters are, as their name suggests, have no seams or joints, which can allow leaks to happen. In other words, because water has a corrosive effect on anything it touches all the time, gutters that leak more often age far faster. Sectional gutters, meanwhile, are prefabricated, which means they’re not only prone to leaks, they’re also far older than a seamless gutter system. Any roof repair contractor would say that if you want to replace your gutters less frequently, seamless gutters are the way to go.
As mentioned, maintenance is the one magic bullet that can lengthen the life of your gutter system. No matter how great it was installed, anything that’s made of human hands will eventually deteriorate. Schedule regular roofing inspections and maintenance, and make sure your gutters are free of clogging. Moist or rotting organic material can accelerate corrosion, so ensure that only water is flowing through your gutters.
Patriot Roofing isn’t just about gutter installation but we’re experts in roof replacement and repair as well. Contact us today at (405) 289-8807 to learn more about our services. You can also fill out our form to get started. We serve residents of Edmond, OK, and nearby areas.
The bigger the gutters, the greater the volume of the water it can collect. In general, bigger gutters are better for areas that experience a lot of rain, such as Seattle, but it can be an overall good decision even if your area is as dry as a bone. After all, it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
If you want to push forward with this decision, there are several factors you need to account for. In today’s post by Patriot Roofing, your trusted roofing contractor, we introduce three of the most significant when upsizing from a standard five-inch to a bigger six-inch gutter system.
The biggest factor, arguably, is how much rain falls in your area. Standard five-inch gutters can’t accommodate high-rainfall areas. At a standard slope of ½” per 10 feet, a five-inch gutter can only handle 3,540 gallons per hour. A six-inch gutter, meanwhile, can drain up to 5,840 gallons per hour at the same slope.
While this seems excessive, remember that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that for a standard roof that measures 40 by 70 feet, just an inch of rain can produce up to 1,743 gallons of water. Obviously, the steeper the roof the gutters are attached to, the more rain it can accumulate.
Which brings us to the next factor: slope. Roof repair and replacement contractors use a ratio to determine roof pitch, or the slope of the roof. You can do so yourself by using a 2-foot level and tape measure. Level the former against the roof and measure the distance between the roof and the level midway, at 12 inches. The gap between the roof and that midway point is the pitch. A gap of six inches, for example, is 6:12.
The higher the number of the first number, the steeper the slope. And the steeper the slope, the more rain it collects.
In general, downspouts (or drain pipes) are placed every 30-40 feet. If your area is wetter than usual, you can place downspouts every 20 feet, but it would likely mar your house’s facade. Another alternative is to make the downspouts bigger as well.
Patriot Roofing specializes in roof replacement, repair, and gutter installation. Call us today at (405) 289-8807 to learn more about our services. You can also fill out our form to get started. We serve residents of Moore, OK, and nearby areas.
