How to Properly Deal With Loose Gutters

Gutters can come in different sizes and systems, but they’re all designed to safely direct water runoff from the roof down the drain. But just like the rest of your roofing system, they need to be cleaned regularly to stay effective. They also need to be inspected and maintained professionally, which is done routinely by roof repair contractors whenever they check your roofing system. 

During a typical inspection, a roofer will check your gutters thoroughly to identify and address any issues they may find. But even with regular maintenance checks, your gutters will always be susceptible to damage over time. Most are easily noticeable, such as loose gutters, as they’re often caused by water or debris accumulating in one spot. However, this isn’t always the case as different factors and variables can also result in loose gutters. 

If you can see parts of your gutter system coming loose, it’s important to call in a trusted roof repair contractor to fix the issue quickly. Otherwise, the damage can affect other parts of your roof which can lead to more costly repairs. Common causes behind loose gutters include:

Drainage Problems

If the water runoff isn’t being drained properly, it can cause pooling which can pull the gutter loose over time. Your gutters may be clogged if this is the case, so they must be cleaned properly to ensure smooth water flow. But even if your gutters are clog-free, you can still have drainage problems resulting in loose gutters. If you still notice water pooling in parts of your gutters that are coming loose, it could be due to pitch issues. 

Your gutters may look level when seen from a distance, but they’re actually tilted/slanted slightly, just enough for the water runoff to drain in the right direction towards the downspouts. If the water doesn’t seem to flow towards the downspouts as it should, then you have a drainage problem. This can become serious as the water can flow in the wrong direction and cause pooling, which can result in that part of the gutter system coming loose. Even if your gutters look visibly intact, if you think you’re already having drainage problems, have it checked by a trusted roofing contractor as soon as possible.

Too Much Debris Buildup

Debris buildup is one of the most common causes of loose gutters. This happens if the gutters weren’t cleaned or maintained properly or if they were simply neglected, allowing the debris to slowly pile up over time. When this happens, it can cause clogs to the gutter system and become an added burden on your gutters’ hangers. The debris will not only cause water to pool, but it will also slowly pull it from the roof edges. As your gutters slowly get loose, the pooled water can also cause rotting damage on your fascia boards and the base of your roofing system.

Warped Gutters

As your gutters are constantly exposed to the weather elements, they’ll naturally deteriorate and become warped over time. When parts of your gutters become warped, they become ineffective in directing the water runoff towards the downspouts. Instead, the damage will cause water to pool in the warped area which can lead to loose gutters if the load becomes too heavy. 

Depending on how much your gutters are warped, they can still be repaired by a professional contractor. They’ll use certain hardware to re-secure your warped gutters in an attempt to restore them to working condition. However, if you already have several warped sections of your gutter system, it might be better to invest in a full replacement. The constant expansion and contraction of the material have made it weak, which means it can cause leaks and water damage to your roof even if they still look mostly intact. To avoid unnecessary damage and repair costs, make sure to hire a professional roof replacement contractor to install new gutters.

Subpar Workmanship

If you have newly-installed gutters that unexpectedly came loose one day, this can only be due to poor workmanship. Professional gutter installers are aware of how far apart the gutter hangers must be placed to ensure the water flow doesn’t strain under the weight. But if your gutters were installed every three or four feet, the weight can become too much for the hangers especially when water runoff passes through them. This can slowly lead to sagging, which won’t be noticeable at first, but will gradually become more apparent whenever water, snow or ice forms and melts on your gutters. Your gutter hangers must be installed every two feet to ensure proper water flow and prevent damage to your roof replacement.

The Common Signs of Loose Gutters

• Gutter Spikes Coming Off – Also known as gutter nails or gutter screws, gutter spikes are essentially big nails that go through the gutter and mounts into the rafters of the fascia board. They’re relatively visible from the ground, so if you see parts of your gutters sagging, then the gutter spikes must be re-secured by hammering or screwing them back in place. But if the hole becomes worn out, you have to use new hardware to prevent further damage to the rest of the system.

Gutter spikes aren’t always used depending on the type of roofing system you have. You can also use gutter hangers to secure gutters, and they can sometimes even be more reliable! Sagging gutters can still be repaired by adding new hardware such as gutter hangers, and they can be placed between your existing gutter spikes. Sagging gutters let the water pool into that area and cause a burden to the other gutter spikes and pull them loose as well. This will lead to water leaks as well as rotting damage to the fascia boards and the roofing edges.

• Lip/Spouts on Your Gutter System – This can sometimes be visible, so you might need to take a closer look at your gutters. If you notice a lip or spout forming on some parts of the structure, it can indicate water pooling over that area. Some of the more visible lips and spouts in gutters can be caused by water that expanded into ice during winter or by a branch that fell from a nearby tree.

• Leaning Sections on Your Gutter System – Leaning/falling gutters are also visible from ground level and can cause more damage to your roof if they’re not repaired immediately. This type of damage is often caused by fascia boards that were rotted due to water damage. Rotted fascia boards become too weak to support the gutters, which end up with leaning parts in some sections of your gutter system.

Make sure to hire a professional gutter repair and roofing contractor such as Shine Construction Inc. for your roofing services! Call us today at (508) 278-3300 or through our convenient contact form online.