Your commercial gutters were an investment in your business. They not only serve the important function of draining stormwater runoff safely away from your building and other businesses, but they can also be aesthetically attractive and add curb appeal. As with any investment, of course, you want to get your money’s worth. Your gutters should last up to 20 years depending on the material used (50-100 years for copper gutters!), but in order for your gutters to endure, they must be properly maintained.
What’s Included in Maintenance
Maintenance of gutters usually consists of inspection and cleaning. Your gutter professional will perform a thorough inspection to check for any holes, leaks, blockages, and corrosion. Gutter hangers and support systems will be checked to ensure the entire gutter system is securely attached. If you have a flat roof, your drainage system will be checked to make sure that it’s working effectively. Downspouts will need to be inspected to make sure they are draining far enough from your building to cause any damage and to ensure that all stormwater runoff regulations are being followed.
Cleaning removes any debris, leaves, sticks, and silt that may have built up since the last time they were cleaned. Blocked gutters can be a breeding ground for insect infestations and they can begin to smell. If there are no large trees hanging over your structure, fewer cleanings are usually necessary, and this is also true if you have gutter guards installed to keep leaves and debris out. If the gutter technician finds any parts that need repair or replacement, he or she will discuss them with you and make arrangements to fix them or if you’d like to have leaf protection installed so you won’t have to have as many cleanings, your gutter technician can do those too.
Why Maintenance is Important
Neglecting your gutters could cause them to clog or break and if that happens, it could cause significant and expensive damage to your property. Cracks in your foundation, puddling on concrete, basement flooding, ice dams, siding damage, infestations, and erosion are just a few of the ways that damaged or clogged gutters can make a big dent in your bottom line. Overflowing water can saturate the ground below and put pressure on the foundation of your building which can actually cause walls to lean or crack, making them structurally unsafe. For flat-roofed buildings, gutters need to be moving water properly or it could cause problems with expensive roof drainage equipment. Damage can be structural, electrical, to your landscaping or walkways, or it could be creating unsanitary conditions.
If you don’t have a maintenance plan in place yet, call the professionals at Gutter Pros. Our experienced technicians will help you come up with a plan for gutter maintenance that will protect your investment and keep your gutters last for years and years. Call GutterPros today at (314) 656-7195 for a consultation. We’re the leaders in commercial gutters, copper gutters, and leaf protection in the St. Louis area.