Know the Signs and Symptoms of Faulty Eavestroughing for Your Toronto Home
The arrival of spring signifies the resumption of many outdoor activities around a home. Some of these undertakings are done with a sense of anticipation, like gardening and/or landscaping, while others may bring a sense of satisfaction, such as thoroughly cleaning the interior of the car after a long and cold winter.
Yet there are still other tasks that are done begrudgingly, aspects of spring maintenance routines that homeowners should complete but are not looked upon with any joy or fondness; one such chore is cleaning the eavestroughs, a vital aspect of general home maintenance but one that is often deferred or may even be disregarded altogether.
Homeowners in Toronto may wonder why it is important to clean their eavestroughing in the spring – just how much debris could possibly accumulate in gutters over the winter? Quite a lot, actually – granules from the shingles, twigs, late-falling leaves, pine needles, and more can and will find resting places in eavestroughs throughout the winter months.
And with the customary rains of spring and summer just around the corner, the need to efficiently collect and direct water off the roof and away from the home takes on major significance. Without a properly functioning eavestrough system, Toronto homeowners face the possibility of water damage to many parts of their homes, including:
- Roofing material
- Roof deck/trusses
- Soffits and/or fascia
- Siding or masonry walls
- Foundation and basement
- The interior and its contents
There are several signs that eavestroughing is or may be malfunctioning/not performing to standard; some of these indicators are visible from ground level while others may only be detected by a closer inspection while on a ladder or on the rooftop. Such signs would consist of:
- Pinhole leaks or rusting
- Leaks at seams or corners
- Pooled instead of flowing water
- Detached/dislodged downspouts
- Foul odors (from stagnant water)
- Sagging gutters or loose fasteners
- Wet/soft fascia; water-stained soffits
- Rust stains on exterior siding/masonry
- Unusually wet soil along the foundation
Although this inspection can be performed by the homeowner, a professional contractor such as Avenue Road Roofing has the experience and expertise to identify potential or existing issues that might not be readily apparent to the untrained eye.
In turn, these specialists from Avenue Road Roofing can recommend any specific repair work that should be completed to prevent further issues with the eavestroughing system or from subsequent water damage to the home or its contents.
Make Safety a Primary Consideration with Eavestrough Cleaning and Repair
There is good reason to remind homeowners about taking necessary safety precautions when working at heights; even a fall off a step-stool inside the home can have significant consequences, so the risks will certainly be that much greater when cleaning the gutters from a ladder or walking about the roof.
Although do-it-yourself eavestrough cleaning and repair might be the more economical approach, it is difficult to assign value to one’s safety and well-being. Therefore, it may judicious for Toronto homeowners to consider the services of trained professionals from Avenue Road Roofing for all their eavestroughing needs.
There are several benefits to contracting this work to Avenue Road Roofing; their skills and background include:
- Proper equipment – scaffolding, ladders
- Trained to work on pitched/sloped surfaces
- Ability to identify and repair issues on-the-spot
- Covered by workplace and general liability insurance
- Appropriate clean-up and disposal of any and all debris
Further to keeping eavestroughs clean and in good repair from a functional standpoint, homeowners must also make safety a primary concern whenever they work at heights. For these reasons, they would be well-advised to contract such needs to the trained and experienced professionals from Avenue Road Roofing.
See our Eavestrough Repairs page for more information on the eavestrough cleaning and repair services provided by Avenue Road Roofing in Toronto.
Avoid the risks of working from a ladder or on the roof. Have your eavestroughs cleaned and inspected by the experts at Avenue Road Roofing. Call Avenue Road Roofing today at 416-785-5129 or contact us to ensure that your eavestroughs are in good working order and good repair for the coming rainstorms of spring and summer.
