With Spring here and nicer weather approaching in Des Moines, it’s time to start thinking about doing yard cleanup outside and around your home. Start thinking about aerating the lawn, mulch dead grass, cleaning out the garden boxes, and bringing out patio furniture. It’s time to clean up the last bit of leaves left in the yard, window wells, and gutters.
It is very important to start at the gutters of your home and work down and out. Leaves, dirt, and debris Build up in the gutters and can cause rainwater not to drain properly. Water not draining properly can cause water damage to both the interior and exterior of your home. Not cleaning your home’s Gutters can lead to more problems to your home than you may think.
Roof Damage
Buildup of water in gutters comes in contact with shingles and starts deteriorating sooner than the rest of the roof. The roof deck becomes damaged, insulation gets wet, and water eventually gets into the home. Causing damage to ceilings and walls.
Damage Soffits and Fascia
The weight of water and debris in the gutters can cause damage to soffits and fascia causing cracking. Cracks allow water into your home, causing more water damage to your home.
Water damage/Flooded basements
The water runs out of gutters and down sides of the home, it eventually will find its way into your home.
Foundation issues
Overflowing gutters may also cause damage to your home’s foundation. If soil around the foundation gets too wet your foundation may shift, causing cracks and buckling.
Driveway destruction
Gutters being clogged causes water to overflow and go to other places. Water can get under the driveway and cause the same issues as it will to your home’s foundation. Cracks, holes, and shifting may occur, which can create tripping hazards also.
Destroyed landscaping
During heavy rain falls, the water overflowing out of the gutter also runs over your landscaping. Washing away mulch, shrubs, trees, and flowers.
Pests
Standing water is a breeding ground for pests such as mosquitos. This causes more mosquitos around your property during the summer. Makes it hard to control.
Easiest way to clean out your gutters is using a leaf blower to get the loose debris out. If finding sludge or heavier debris you will need to get a ladder, bucket, gloves. Scoop out debris into buckets. After this is done flush the gutters and downspouts with water from the garden hose to ensure draining properly.
Make sure to also check all window wells, under decks, porches, and the perimeter of home for leaves. Get out the blower and start blowing all leaves together for easier clean up. If not able to clean out gutters look for a reputable company to come out, do it for you.
If finding yourself in a situation where water is coming into your home or causing damage to foundation or driveway, give BAM Basements and Masons of Des Moines a call for all your waterproofing and poly lifting needs. We are the Premier waterproofing and Egress window company serving the Des Moines, Iowa area. If you’re located in Des Moines, Ankeny, Bondurant, Altoona Pleasant hill, Ames, Adel, Waukee, Indianola, Grimes, Urbandale, Johnston, West Des Moines, or the surrounding areas, we’re the place to call.