Can Your Home's Guttering System Cope with That Next Storm?
Posted on: 18 January 2022
During the heat of summer in Australia, daily thunderstorms can often pop up without warning. And when they do, the results can often be spectacular, especially if your house is directly beneath the cell in question. As it is important to give your home the best defence against these weather events, you will need to ensure that your guttering system is up to the task. How do you know if it has seen its better days and may need to be replaced?
Water, Water, Everywhere
Certainly, these thunderstorms are not to be trifled with, as they'll dump a great deal of water in a short space of time onto the average detached home. All of this H2O needs to go somewhere, and it's little wonder that your guttering system has a lot to cope with. However, it is not always up to the job.
Complex Systems
When architects and builders constructed your home, they would have specified the type of guttering system given the configuration of your rooftop and the size of the project. Many houses have several interconnected roof surfaces to consider, and these will combine to channel that stormwater when the heavens open.
Major Problems Ahead
If your guttering system is no longer able to perform as it should, problems may begin to arise. For example, some of the water may not find its way into the gutter and corresponding downpipe and may, instead, simply flow down the exterior wall. When this happens, it can erode the soil or landscaping around your property and get into the foundations. This is a problem to be avoided at all costs as it could lead to shifting and instability over the course of time.
This activity can also lead to peeling paint and issues with cladding or other wall treatments. Flowing water can be very abrasive, and you may certainly be able to notice the result at the end of the rainy season.
What Can Go Wrong
Problems with a guttering system can manifest in many different ways. Your system may simply be too old or may not have been installed correctly in the first place. It may be sagging or pitching so that the water cannot flow as intended. Alternatively, tiny cracks or fractures may have developed, and parts of the guttering system may have separated from each other. Of course, you may not be able to see this from ground level and may be unaware of the issue.
Taking Action
Bring in an experienced guttering expert as soon as possible. If your installation is indeed in poor condition, they can install a new one for you. Once they finish the work, you'll be ready for that next major storm to appear. Contact a residential gutter installation service near you to learn more.
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