The Importance of Gutter Maintenance for Your Roof in New Jersey
Clogged gutters back water up under shingles and into fascia boards. Seasonal gutter maintenance is one of the most affordable ways to extend the life of your roof.
Gutters do a simple but important job: they move water away from your roof and foundation. When they're clogged or damaged, that water ends up somewhere it shouldn't.
New Jersey's mix of falling leaves and cold winters makes gutter maintenance especially important here, more so than in a milder or drier climate.
A few times a year of attention keeps gutters doing the job they were installed to do.
Fall Leaves and Clogged Gutters
Leaves and debris build up fast in autumn, and a clogged gutter can't do its job. Water backs up, spills over the edge, and can seep under roofing material or run down the siding.
Overflowing water near the roofline can also find its way under shingles at the edge, which is one of the more common places a small leak gets started.
Regular cleaning, especially in fall after most of the leaves have come down, keeps water moving where it is supposed to go.
Ice Dams in New Jersey Winters
When snow melts on a warm roof and refreezes at the cold edge, it can form an ice dam that traps water behind it. That trapped water can work its way under shingles and into the house.
Clear gutters drain better and give melting snow somewhere to go, which helps reduce the conditions that lead to ice dams.
A gutter already full of leaves and debris going into winter has less room to handle the melt, which makes ice dams more likely.
Downspouts and Fascia Protection
A downspout that is clogged or pointed the wrong way can send water straight toward your foundation instead of away from it. Over time, that leads to problems well beyond the roof, including basement moisture and settling.
Standing water in a clogged gutter can also rot the fascia board it is attached to, which is a more expensive repair than a simple cleaning would have been.
Checking that downspouts extend away from the house, and that they are clear all the way through, is worth doing alongside a gutter cleaning.
Keep It Simple With Regular Cleaning
Gutter cleaning, starting at $99, is one of the least expensive ways to protect your roof and foundation from water damage.
Phoenix Roofing & Chimney offers gutter cleaning, repair, and free inspections across Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties. Call (201) 249-2388 to get on the schedule.
