Maintenance
Gutters Are Part of the Roof (Treat Them Like It)
Clogged gutters rot fascia, soak decking and undermine foundations. A simple maintenance routine that prevents four-figure repairs.
By Taylor Smith · · 4 min read
Almost every rotted eave we tear out traces back to a gutter that had not been cleaned in years.
How a clog becomes a roof repair
Debris holds water at the eave. Water wicks backward under the starter course, saturates the deck edge and the fascia, and freezes there in January. Two or three seasons later, the first three feet of decking is soft.
The routine
- Clean twice a year — late spring and after leaf drop.
- Flush downspouts with a hose; a full gutter that drains slowly is still clogged.
- Check that outlets discharge at least four feet from the foundation.
- Look for separated seams and loose hangers; a sagging run never drains right.
Guards: worth it or not
Mesh guards genuinely help under trees. Foam inserts collect grit and become the clog. No guard eliminates maintenance — it stretches the interval.
Drip edge
If your roof has no drip edge metal at the eaves, water follows the shingle back onto the fascia every time. It is inexpensive to add during a re-roof and required by current code.
