Installing your gutter system isn’t a DIY project, no matter how comfortable you are with the average home improvement. Neglecting to hire an insured professional team can land you with costly mistakes and even pose a risk to your safety. There are a few things to consider before jumping in: 

Roof Damage

The roof is one of the most expensive components of the home. It spans the most square feet, and materials and labor can be pricey when it comes to installing a new one. Ideally, an installation team would be properly trained on how to install a gutter system without damaging the roof.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to damage a roof when installing gutters. Thus, it’s crucial to leave a gutter installation project to the professionals rather than attempt a DIY. You could ruin the roof by attaching the gutter too close or hanging components of the gutter system on it, causing damage if the gutters are torn away or affected by severe weather. 

Not only could you damage the roof, but if any part of the gutter touches or affects the roof in any way, your roof’s warranty is most likely voided. This is bad news if you experience storm damage to your roof that you’re hoping to get replaced or repaired. It most likely won’t be covered if the gutter system is installed incorrectly.

Damaged/Ruined Soffit & Fascia Board

The fascia board is the trim/roofline, spanning the entire perimeter of where the roof meets the walls of the home to support it. If you stand directly under your home’s roofline and look up, you’ll see the soffit, a ventilated material under the fascia. 

Gutter systems must be mounted to a fascia board to collect and carry water away from the roof. When you DIY a gutter installation project, you could unknowingly ruin the fascia and potentially the rest of your roof. You could also install the gutters incorrectly in a way that leads to overflowing and leaking gutters that send water into the fascia, causing it and the rafters to rot.

Cracked Foundation

Foundation damage is one of the worst damages that can occur to your home, costing thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars to repair, depending on the severity of the damage. Faulty gutter systems are often to blame for foundation damage, most often due to leaking, clogged, or overflowing gutters.

Any half-round gutter system can leak, clog, or overflow if not properly maintained. However, if the gutter system was initially installed incorrectly, you’ve got a massive problem on your hands. Any water that trickles down the gutters and siding will collect over time and form a trough around the foundation. This standing water will seep through the basement walls and eat away at the foundation, causing cracks, mold, and even structural damage.

Leaks & Water Damage

Leaks and water damage can occur from many things, but a faulty gutter system is often to blame.  Water may not be able to flow into the gutters due to a mounting error. This could force the water from the roof to trickle down the home’s siding and cause leaks. 

Water damage can also occur if the faulty gutter system can’t drain the water it collects to the downspouts, forcing the water inside of the gutter to seep into the soffit and fascia and keep the roof wetter, leading to all sorts of potential water damage.

 

All things considered, your DIY gutter installation isn’t worth the risk. Hiring a reputable company like Home Evolutions VA will prevent all the forementioned risks. 

Our high-quality seamless gutters offer superior performance and durability. Our K-Guard Gutters are made from heavy-duty aluminum that will never corrode, get paint chips, or cause damage to other components of your home. We also install gutters in a way that never voids a roof’s warranty! Whichever gutter system you install, Home Evolutions VA offers premier gutter systems that others can’t.

Home Evolutions VA can help with all your home improvement needs, whether you need help with an insurance claim or a quote for installing a new roof or gutter system. We’re here to help every step of the way. Contact us today for a free consultation!