How Strong Winds Can Damage Your Gutters

Your gutters serve to prevent rain from leaking into your roof by diverting the water runoff through its downspouts and safely into the drain below. While they do require proper cleaning and maintenance, some unexpected threats can cause damage and compromise their effectiveness. Wind damage is one of the most common, but this won’t be as severe if you know how to manage it. Our experts in roofing repair discuss how you can keep your gutters intact:

How Your Gutters Are Affected

Sometimes, severe weather can produce strong winds that can be too much for gutter systems to withstand. This can cause more significant damage to gutters that are old or improperly installed. This is because the shape of gutters (and vertically-aligned gutter components) can effectively catch the wind at certain angles and can cause them to rip off almost entirely. 

Well-built gutters that are properly maintained by a roofing contractor can withstand strong winds and severe storms. However, wind can also turn small debris such as branches into strong projectiles and hurl at your gutters with a tremendous amount of force. While smaller objects can dent and ding your gutters at best, heavy objects are more capable of dislodging your gutters completely. 

Protecting Your Gutters

Aside from ensuring that your gutters are properly cared for and maintained regularly, you should also prevent plants from growing too close to your home. If you have any brush, trees or yard bushes in your landscape, make sure that they’re at least two feet away from your home’s exterior. And if you have any overhanging branches over your roof, they should be trimmed to prevent the fallen leaves and twigs from clogging your gutters. These branches can also snap and cause damage to your roof and gutters during strong winds!

Whether you need a residential or commercial roof replacement, Pawcatuck Roofing Co. is the best contractor for the job! Call us today at (860) 940-2343 or reach us online through our convenient contact form. We serve Westerly and neighboring RI areas.