Preparing for summer rains
Preparing for summer rain
As we move into our traditionally rainy season it is advisable for homeowners to sort out domestic drains and guttering to accommodate the increased volume of summer rain expected.
Overlooking this essential part of home maintenance can make a huge difference to the cost of future home maintenance as the gutters are the unsung heroes of any house’s roofing system.
Water entering your home via gutters and downspouts that have become clogged or broken due to the weight of accumulated debris can be a major cause of destruction, turning your home into more of a money pit than a major investment.
Guttering and downspouts control how water flows off the physical structure of your home, directing it to places where it might be needed to collect for use in gardens or into your summer “fire pit” or swimming pool, grey water collection tanks, or into the storm water drain system.
Benefits of controlling water run off
It prevents damage to the sidings of walls. It means brickwork won’t be stained by water marks.
Overhead garage doors and exterior doors are protected from the damage accumulated water would create.
Soil and the home’s foundation is kept stable, and the basements and crawl spaces will not flood.
It prevents damage to the sidings of walls. It means brickwork won’t be stained by water marks.
Overhead garage doors and exterior doors are protected from the damage accumulated water would create.
Soil and the home’s foundation is kept stable, and the basements and crawl spaces will not flood.
Basic maintenance
Make sure you keep your gutters free of the debris built up over the dry months of winter including the leaves from last autumn which might have blown into the gutters and spouts.
If you haven't done this already, you might even have weeds growing in your gutters. If you have neglected keeping your gutters clean you might need more than just a simple clean-out.
If you need to, consult a professional to clear your gutters and check everything is still working as it should.
If you are thinking about buying or renting a home, consider adding a roof check, including the gutters to your due diligence.
Check the gutters are correctly sloped to ensure the water runs off correctly.
Water should only flow towards the downspout, and not towards any other areas of the gutter where it might collect.
