Keeping gutters clear of debris is crucial for homes in the Greater Vancouver area due to the significant rainfall we receive throughout the year, particularly in the fall and winter months.
There are a number of reasons for this.
- Blocked gutters can cause water to back up onto your roof, potentially leading to leaks, rot, and structural damage as the water goes under the shingles rather than running off the roof. This shortens the life of your roof and asphalt and cedar shingles. It will cause future emergency repairs from the leaks created. If a blocked gutter is found to be the cause of asphalt shingle damage, your shingle manufacturer’s warranty will be voided.
- When your gutters overflow, water cascades down the sides of your home and pools near your foundation rather than being properly channelled away from the house. This channelling prevents cracks, shifting, or settling of the foundation, which is costly to repair. This pooled water can seep into foundation walls or your basement, creating damp conditions that encourage mould and mildew growth or, worse, flooding, which no one wants.
- Overflowing, clogged gutters can lead to streaks and stains on your siding and exterior walls, negatively affecting the appearance of your home.
- Clogged gutters also create ideal environments for pests like squirrels, which can nest in the debris and potentially cause further damage to your home.
- If gutters are not cleaned for a long time, the weight of the excess debris can cause the gutters to pull away from the house or even collapse. Regular cleaning ensures gutters function properly and last longer.
Safety first
That said, it is not necessarily safe for homeowners to climb a ladder and clean their gutters. Ladders can be unstable and slippery. It is also very easy to stretch too far to reach debris and destabilize the ladder, increasing the risk of tipping over. Serious injuries do happen. If one is going to do this, stabilizing ladder attachments and a safety harness, at the very least, should be used. Unfortunately, homeowners often rely on standard ladders and makeshift tools.
Even roofing technicians dislike this method. It’s archaic.
Modern solution to gutter cleaning
That is why Absolute Roof Solutions has the modern, safe, and cost-effective solution for gutter cleaning.
Our gutter cleaning specialists work safely from the ground using a high-powered vacuum system with carbon fibre poles that can reach gutters up to 30′ off the ground. The cleaning process is continuously monitored by our technician by a WIFI camera near the suction head. The camera also allows us to provide our clients with photo evidence of their now-clean gutters.
It is a much faster, safer, and better gutter cleaning system for technicians and homeowners.
Let us take the risk and hassle out of gutter maintenance with our state-of-the-art system.
If your gutters are full, call us for a free gutter cleaning quote!
