While everything is calm and sunny, those of us living in the lower mainland can (conveniently) forget that early fall can bring rain and lots of it. Combine a rainstorm with some lively winds, weather conditions might cause homeowners some concern for their home’s exterior. How the wind damages your gutters can result in home maintenance issues including missing roofing tiles and gutter repair.
Wind Impact
High wind speeds aren’t good for your gutters, some types of gutters materials more than others. While aluminum gutters are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and cost-effective, they are susceptible to denting. Dents in gutters sections reduce the system’s ability to efficiently expel water, causing gutter problems like overflowing, standing water, and sagging.
Over time, older gutter systems can be vulnerable to varying wind pressures, loosening hangers, brackets, and other types of fasteners, and affecting gutter sections, leading to metal fatigue.
Debris Impact
A wind storm or even a mildly windy day can carry debris an impressive distance, ending the journey against your gutters, roof, or siding, dislodging gutter sections, roofing tiles, or siding panels.
Airborne Debris
Wind can deposit organic debris such as twigs, leaves, small branches, and pine cones on to the roof and into the gutters. Left alone, the debris that doesn’t get washed out through the downspouts can form clogs
Trees
Trees that grow too close to the house can be a liability in a wind storm. When they are over 30 years old and their root systems have been disturbed – climate changes, drainage issues, burrowing animals – active winds can break off limbs and even push trees over. Large branches brushing up against aluminum gutters can compromise the system’s protective finish and dent gutter sections.
Preventing Wind Damage
It might seem that there’s not much you can do about what a windy day will do or not do to your home’s exterior. However there are ways to minimize wind damage to the gutters and downspouts.
- In addition to cleaning the gutters twice a year, home maintenance should include checking for cracks and ensuring brackets and fasteners on gutters and downspouts are not damaged or loose
- Conduct visual gutter inspections after rain storms, very windy days, and each change of the season
- Take action – if after a visual inspection you do find a problem, assess the damage and decide if it requires immediate attention.
- Especially if you clean the gutters yourself, hire a professional contractor to inspect your gutter system at least once every two years – they will give you a comprehensive report on the condition of the gutters including what needs to be repaired or replaced
- Trim trees back away from the roof, siding, and gutters
- Make sure trees are healthy – consult with an arborist if a tree near the house appears sickly or dying
- When planting new trees ensure they are at least 10 feet away from the gutters
- If the gutters are over 15 years old consult with a professional gutter installation company to see if more brackets need to be added for increased support
