Home guttering systems are sturdier than they might appear at first glance. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, gutters made of galvanized steel or aluminum usually last for about two decades, and copper gutters tend to hold their own for about half a century.
But these time periods may not account for problems like fallen tree limbs or damage for ladders. So if you don’t know when your gutters were installed, how can you tell whether or not it’s time to replace them? You certainly don’t want to rely on a guttering system that’s dysfunctional. Hence if you feel like you should call a reputable gutter replacement in Melbourne, then you must go for it.
But you don’t also want to rip down a perfectly-good set of gutters just because you may see a blemish or two (which some unscrupulous roofing companies may recommend that you do while they fix your roof so they can charge you more money). So here are ten signs to look for:
- A large number of cracks, holes, or rust spots. A few of these can be fixed using some sealant and maybe a little flashing. But if you see more than half a dozen sections where this is apparent, then you may want to opt for all new gutters.
- Several broken fasteners. These are the pieces of metal that hold your gutter to your roof and keep it level. If you can repair a few fasteners, great: but if these problems persist, the gutters themselves may be the issue.
- Nails or screws on the ground. Sometimes, the nails or screws that fasten the gutter to the fascia can work themselves loose. Replacing them isn’t difficult; but again, repeated instances of this may indicate gutter wear.
- Separated gutters. Guttering systems only function if they are fastened together in a continuous channel. If they begin separating from one another frequently, it may be time for a gutter replacement.
- Gutters pulling away from the roof. You can hammer in the fasteners time and again, but if spaces continue to appear between your roofline and your gutters, the fascia boards may be rotting. A gutter replacement will fix the fascia problems along with giving you new gutters.
One final tip: if you do have to replace your gutters, think about installing a gutter protection system as well.