Blocked Gutter Systems Can Lead to Major Repair Costs for Thornhill Homes
An eavestrough or gutter system is designed to capture/collect water from the roof of a home and carry/redirect it away from the foundation, ideally a distance of five feet from the base of the home. It can be said that these systems are expected to provide on-demand performance; that is, being available and ready to do their job on an immediate basis whenever water from rainfalls or winter thaws needs to be dispersed from the roof.
Eavestroughing principally lies dormant between these working periods, often in relative obscurity, while the roof of the home continues to safeguard or shelter the residents and their personal property/possessions from the forces of nature. During these quiet times however, gutters remain exposed to the elements, to the extent that leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris could collect and compact within; the probability of such accumulation over the past summer was rather high due to the heat/lack of rain in Thornhill and area.
If this foreign matter is not removed on a regular basis, it can have major repercussions for both the structural integrity of a home and the safety of its occupants. Allowing the debris to collect/remain in the gutters can reduce efficiency when they are called upon to perform. Water transport can be impeded by the debris, causing the water to pool in the gutters instead; as more water accumulates, it can and will spill over the edges of the gutters and travel to places where it can cause extensive and expensive damage to any or all of the following areas of the home:
- Foundation
- Attic/insulation
- Soffits and fascia
- Interior walls/ceilings
- Roof deck and shingles
- Masonry or siding/cladding
- Frames of doors and windows
Water damage from clogged/blocked eavestroughing is not restricted to just the physical structure of the home; water penetration can also lead to the growth/formation of mold, which can create potential health concerns for the occupants. Furthermore, gutters that are left unattended/uncleaned after the summer may result in expensive repair services during the winter; these could include:
- Attic insulation replacement
- Gutter replacement/new installations
- Roof damage due to ice dam formation
Such repairs can have a substantial impact on a family’s winter maintenance budget, not to mention the inconvenience during the coldest time of the year. These circumstances, in addition to the potential effects on the home’s structural integrity, further magnify the importance of cleaning and maintaining one’s gutter system prior to winter; this can be achieved by engaging the services of a professional roofing contractor like Avenue Road Roofing in Toronto.
The skilled crews from Avenue Road Roofing have been providing the highest standard of roof and eavestroughing repair services for residents of Thornhill for more than 40 years. These experts will perform a systematic roof inspection, including the gutters, soffit, and fascia, to identify any existing or potential issues that may need repair before the winter.
For more information on the eavestrough cleaning services and roof inspections available from Avenue Road Roofing, please visit:
our Eavestrough Cleaning and Roof Diagnostic pages.
Roofing and Gutter Inspections Can Identify Repair Needs for Soffit and Fascia
Many homeowners may be under the impression that the extent of their eavestroughing system solely consists of the metal or plastic troughs and downspouts. However, gutter systems would be incomplete if the soffit and fascia are excluded from consideration.
These elements and their principal functions are defined as follows:
Soffit – the area/surface below the portion of the roof eave that extends from the top of the vertical wall to the gutter – one of its central roles is to aid with attic ventilation
Fascia – the finishing edge or piece that is installed vertically along the ends of the roof trusses or framework – the eavestroughing is customarily attached to the fascia
Very often, when there are water-related issues with the eavestroughing, the soffit and fascia will be affected as well; this is especially true if the soffit and fascia are made of wood. This possibility of water damage is a critical reason why these areas are included in all roof inspections performed by Avenue Road Roofing; should any issues be isolated, these specialists can promptly and competently complete any necessary repair work or install new soffit and fascia in either wood or aluminum.
For more insight on soffit and fascia repair and installation by Avenue Road Roofing, see our Soffit, Fascia and Siding page.
Thornhill homeowners would be well-advised to have their roofs inspected, eavestrough systems cleaned, and any necessary repair work done before the onset of winter. Call the professionals at Avenue Road Roofing today at 416-785-5129 or Contact us to book your fall gutter cleanup and roof inspection as soon as possible.
