Although it may not always be top of mind for homeowners, the condition of your gutters affects almost every aspect of your home, especially the foundation. There are many ways your home’s foundation can become damaged, but one of the biggest culprits is often preventable: clogged gutters.
Poorly functioning gutters pose a threat to the overall integrity and safety of your home. Not to mention, foundation damage significantly lowers the property value and can be very expensive to fix.
The Purpose of Gutter Systems
You’ve probably paid attention to the gutters attached to your home, but may be unfamiliar with just how important of a role they play. Simply put, your gutter system guides rainwater or water from snowmelt off of your home’s roof. The gutters slope toward a downspout, which either directs water away from the house or connects to an underground drainage system. Water typically travels a minimum of 10 feet away from the foundation of your home.
During heavy storms or runoff, your gutters are hard at work protecting your home’s foundation from devastating water damage.
Clogged Gutters Cause Foundation Damage
Clogged gutters are typically caused by debris, such as leaves or branches that build up over time. Failing to properly drain or channel excess rainwater due to debris buildup is typically a homeowner’s biggest issue when it comes to their gutters. When water leaks or gets clogged in a gutter, it is unable to travel far enough away from the home and can seep into the foundation. Erosion and constant pooling water around your foundation will weaken it, eventually causing foundation damage cracks, or a shift in the foundation.
There are many causes of foundation damage, including soil conditions, slab foundation issues, and improper drainage. Water can also seep into your basement through cracks or leak through joints, masonry, and concrete. Excess water damage is also known to cause wood rot and weakness in joists, basement columns, and other structures. Your gutters can only do their job if they’re clog-free!
Preventing Clogged Gutters and Foundation Damage
There are several ways you can prevent clogged gutters. Regularly inspecting and cleaning your gutters is one of the most straightforward solutions, but it can be extremely exhausting and taxing. Another solution is to install a drainage system around the foundation, but this can result in complications and may not always be effective.
The best solution to ensure a stress-free gutter experience is to install gutter guards. Gutter guards, also known as gutter screens, covers, or helmets, can help cut down on the amount of debris that can get into the gutters themselves, helping to prevent major clogging. Our clog-free guarantee is the best strategy for you to make sure your foundation stays safe.
The Carefree Difference
Carefree gutters are designed to repel debris, not collect it. Better yet, Carefree Gutter Guards still catch every drop of water that runs off the gables. With a sloping and smooth-topped design and excellently heavy-duty installation, our gutter screens can eliminate foundation damage and save you money.
Carefree’s 20 plus years of experience in the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions speak to our high ratings with over 20,000 homes serviced (that’s more than 1,000,000 feet of gutters installed)! Our lifetime installation warranty and trustworthy crew gives each customer peace of mind.
Do away with potential foundation damage! It’s time you experience leaf-free, clog-free, worry-free gutters from Carefree Gutter Guard. Contact us today.