Are your gutters looking lackluster? Sagging gutters aren’t just an unattractive home feature that diminishes curb appeal—they can also put your home at risk of water damage. The good news is, sagging gutters can be addressed if you act swiftly to make repairs, or even better, invest in a new drainage system that is made to last.
Here’s what you need to know about the causes of sagging gutters, how to eliminate them, and how professional installation by gutter pros can help keep your home in tip-top shape.
5 Common Reasons Your Gutters Are Sagging
The culprits of gutter problems are easy to spot when you know what to look for. Take a walk around your house and look for these red flags.
1. Clogs
One of the most likely reasons for gutters that hang low or out of place is the excess weight created by debris stuck in them. Leaves, tree branches, acorns, and other gunk can get heavy enough to make many of the lower-cost gutter brands sag.
In addition, clogged gutters mean that rain and snow melt aren’t draining properly off your roof. Instead, that moisture can linger on your roof, seeping into crevices where it can cause wood rot, leaks, and other problems.
2. Warping
Gutters are made from a variety of materials, and some of them are more susceptible to becoming damaged over time. Lightweight materials such as aluminum can get dented easily. Vinyl and steel expand and contract as temperatures change, which can cause your gutters to become deformed and start sagging.
3. Imprecise Alignment
Precise installation is important to the proper functioning of your whole drainage system. And that means your installers should take the time to measure everything and line up each gutter feature properly. When the parts of your gutter system are not correctly aligned, gutters may sag or you may end up with waterfalls along your roof line instead of through your downspouts.
4. Lack of Support
Every element of your gutter system must be carefully attached to each other and to your roof for the whole system to create proper drainage. During installation or due to exposure to the elements, supports can get damaged. In addition, gutter hangers must be properly spaced to create sufficient support for the weight of water flow, and screws must be long enough to attach firmly to fascia. If not, sagging will result.
5. Incorrect Gutter Size
It may surprise you to know this, but the size of your gutters matters greatly when it comes to how well they perform for you. Gutters are too small if they can’t handle the amount of heavy rain your area receives or if they aren’t properly sized to accommodate the speed of runoff from your roof slope. When they’re too small, the system will become overwhelmed, and sagging will be a glaring symptom you’ll spot.
Why Sagging Gutters Need to Be Addressed
It’s easy to overlook gutters, but they’re one of the most important tools to keeping your property in shape. When your drainage system isn’t working at its best, you can end up with a host of costly problems:
- Leaky roof
- Moldy attic
- Soaked insulation
- Erosion
- Flooded landscaping
- Rotted fascia
- Basement leaks
- Cracked foundation
No homeowner needs these kinds of problems—especially not when they can be prevented with a top-notch gutter system that keeps your home free of damaging moisture.
Use a Pro Gutter Team for Lasting Results
If you’re seeing damage to gutters, such as sagging, you may be wondering what your options are. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
To DIY or Not to DIY
It may seem tempting to attempt gutter repair or replacement on your own. After all, how hard can it be?
Well, as you’ve read above, it’s actually a process that demands careful precision so you get proper, thorough drainage. Having a knowledgeable gutter company do the work is the surest way to have a system that is properly aligned, attached, and designed to keep your home safe from moisture intrusion.
Should Your Gutters Be Repaired or Replaced?
The best way to decide this is to consult with a professional. But in general, repairs make sense only when the issue is minor and limited to a small area, such as a little dent that can be tapped out. If the damage is more significant, the gutters are aging, or you’re not getting sufficient drainage, gutter replacement likely makes more sense.
How to Choose the Right Gutter Team
Proper drainage is so essential to caring for your home that it’s well worth the investment to have a professional company install a durable, attractive, low-maintenance gutter system. As you research gutter installers, look for someone who has great reviews, years of experience, and a positive rating from the BBB and/or professional home improvement organizations.
LeafCo’s Guide to Common Gutter Problems
Learn more about all the issues you may face with your gutters in our handy guide.
Read the GuideFind the Right Gutter System for Your Home
Your gutters should perform their role of keeping your home free of leaks, without causing you costly and time-consuming upkeep. And that starts with knowing what options you have. Today, there are so many choices that can benefit you, including seamless, stainless steel, copper, and other specialty styles. Gutter guards are also handy at preventing the clogs that cause so many drainage problems.
Replace outdated, subpar gutters, and enjoy a drainage system that protects your home from moisture damage for decades. Get started by learning more! Check out LeafCo’s complete buyer’s guide for gutters and gutter guards.
