Is your roof talking to you? If your gutters are overflowing, leaves and other debris could be the least of your problems. An overflowing gutter can be a sign of a decaying roof. Pay attention to what’s clogging up your gutter systems, and you can keep track of the integrity of your roofing.

What Are Some Sure Signs of Trouble?

When you clean your gutters, you notice the usual debris. There are leaves and some sticks from a storm. If it’s spring, there are blossoms as well. However, at the bottom of the gutters, you notice that there’s a layer of grainy dirt. That dirt may not be entirely organic. It could be granules from your asphalt shingle roof or mineral-granule-coated roll roofing. These granules were added to roofs to make the shingles more resistant to fire and sunshine. The granules help your roof resist the weather.

If you see some granules in your gutters, this is normal. Your roof might be new, or you could have a roof that was slightly damaged by a winter storm. However, if you see a lot more granules than normal or you notice that your roof is looking like it has bald patches, you could need a roof repair or replacement. If you see many pieces of shingle, tile, or wood in your gutters, this is a sign of damage and decay. In any case, changes in your roof warrant a good look to make sure that your home won’t suffer the consequences.

What Happens When Your Roof is Decaying?

Your roof protects the interior of your home from the elements. When your roof is decaying, this means that you could experience leaks. However, there are other potential problems that come from a decaying roof. Your old and damaged roof is also more vulnerable to the impact of a storm, which could cause you to lose more shingles. An old roof can send material to your gutters, clogging them. In the winter, this water backs up under your shingles, further degrading them. During a rain, clogged gutters can overflow, leading to water that hits the base of your home, damaging your landscaping and your foundation.

How to Prevent Roof and Gutter Problems

To prevent roof and gutter problems, you need to make sure that all of your home drainage systems are in good shape. Inspect your roof regularly for loose shingles, and note any bald patches, areas where the roof sags, or granules in the gutters. When you clean your gutters, examine them to see if they are warped or sagging, as this can lead to clogged or overflowing gutters. Invest in gutter covers to avoid clogging and water back-ups from the gutter. Your roof and your gutter systems should act as a single unified drainage system, and both parts need to work well for this to happen.

When you’re looking for a new roof or new gutter systems, Lednor Home Solutions is here to help. Schedule an appointment to learn more about our roofing and gutter systems today.

Written by Del Thebaud