When you think of rain gutters, do you think of commercial buildings? It is typical for most people to think of residential homes when they think of gutters. However, commercial buildings need them too. In fact, rain and water damage can affect a commercial building just as much as they can a home. Therefore, commercial gutter services are necessary when the gutters are not doing their job properly. The following are five warning signs that your commercial rain gutters are on their last legs.
How Do I Know?
If you notice your gutters fall under any of these following signs, call a professional to have them inspected before it’s too late.
Paint Peeling
Peeling paint is not only an eye sore, but it is also a clue that there is probably a leak in your gutters. Gutter paint is designed to endure the typical wear and tear that gutters encounter, so unless your gutters are old, something is not right. Moisture can cause paint to peel; therefore, you probably have a leak somewhere.
Cracks or Splits
Having a crack in your gutters is like trying to keep water in a bucket with a hole in it. It doesn’t work. If you see any cracks, even small ones, they need to be repaired. Small cracks can turn into big ones, especially in regions that experience freezing temperatures. If the cracks appear to be unfixable, then it is time to call a professional and have your gutters replaced.
Mold or mildew
Gutters are designed to keep water away from the foundation of your commercial building. This means there should not be any mold and mildew due to moisture around your foundation. If you notice pools of water or mold and mildew around the foundation, then your gutters are not draining properly, and something is wrong.
Sagging
Your gutters should be securely fastened to your building. If they seem to be pulling away and sagging, they are probably full of water and very heavy. About 600 gallons of water can be collected on the average roof with just one inch of rain. This means that one-eighth of an inch of rain is enough to fill a 54-gallon rain barrel. Even if you only get a little bit of rain, your gutters could be holding a lot of water. Sagging indicates that there is a clog and water cannot get out, or the gutters are damaged in some other way.
Water marks
Finally, if you notice water marks on your commercial building directly underneath the gutters, then they are most likely leaking and not functioning the way they should be.
If you see any of these warning signs on your commercial property, then there’s a potential for serious damage that will cost you a lot of money. Make sure you take advantage of commercial gutter services to ensure that your roof gutters are always in tip-top shape. Not only will they function better, but they will also look better to the customers who see them, too.