One of the several advantages of hidden gutters is the fact they are out of sight; since they can’t be seen from the ground, built-in gutters improve the esthetic appearance of a home’s exterior. But when out of sight means out of mind, hidden gutters can become very problematic. When not detected early enough, leaks can cause expensive damage to the roof or walls, both exterior and interior.
If you didn’t have the built-in gutters installed yourself when the home was being constructed, you might want to hire a professional gutter or roofing company to inspect the gutter system for any potential problems. When hidden gutters have not been installed properly, an expert can alert you to:
- improperly sloped gutter sections
- water getting in behind the cladding
- sustained damage to the built-in gutter’s membrane
- drains that are too small to handle the volume of rainwater
- drains/downspout outlets that have become clogged or blocked
Regular maintenance of hidden gutters will help prevent major problems from occurring. To maintain a built-in gutter system:
- look for peeling paint on exterior walls and rotting soffit panels
- stains that might be an indication of mold or mildew
- check the attic or crawl space for visible signs of leaks
- inspect the roof/gutters occasionally for damage caused by falling branches, wind, etc.
- clear away accumulated debris and remove leaves, twigs, etc. from the gutter channel
