Why Gutters are Important
If gutters are doing their job properly, they fade into the background and work every single day, year-round to protect your home, including the foundation, roof, exterior siding, and even the landscaping from water damage. Water damage can cause big problems for homeowners, so it’s crucial to keep your gutters well-maintained and replace them when they’re past their prime.
How Do Gutters Work?
Gutters work by collecting rainwater and snow melt away from your roof. Once in the horizontal gutter, water flows to vertical downspouts, diverting it away from your home’s foundation. Note: to properly protect your home’s basement and foundation, downspouts should end at least 10 feet from your home. For more, check out our FAQ on gutters.
What if Gutters Fail?
Gutters are designed to last 20 or more years with proper maintenance and regular cleaning to remove built-up debris (leaves, needles, mud, etc…) If the system ever fails, overflow can lead to moisture buildup, causing damage to your home’s siding, exterior and roof as well as mould and mildew growth in the foundation or basement. Keep in mind that if your home is situated close to your neighbours, your gutters are likely protecting their foundation from water damage too.
Issues Caused by Clogged and Leaking Gutters
- Structural Damage– When left unchecked, water flowing to your home’s foundation can cause cracking and structural damage.
- Roof Damage– Repeated overflow and spillage on the edges of your roof can damage your roof and gutter brackets, causing warping and sagging which puts even more strain on an aging or improperly installed system.
- Ice and Snow buildup– During those rare West Coast winters where we experience colder than usual temperatures, a clogged gutter means trouble. Clogged gutters cannot drain and ice buildup will weigh down the gutter and brackets. Freezing and refreezing can also drive moisture under the edges of the roof/shingles, causing water damage.
- Siding damage– A leaking gutter will continuously drip down siding, causing discoloration, mildew, and weakening of the siding panels. Water can even get in behind the siding and start to cause internal damage.
Do Your Gutters Need to Be Replaced?
Take a walk around your home and look carefully at the gutters, joints and downspouts.
Take note of any potential problem areas from the list below:
- Gutters are cracking
- Gutters are rusting
- There is bowing or separation at the seams
- Gutters are drooping/sagging away from the house
- Moisture is gathering near the foundation
- Paint on the siding or exterior wood trim is peeling/rotting
- There is mildew in the basement
- There are broken or missing parts
- You’d like to upgrade to Leaf Guard gutters to put an end to the annual gutter clean-out
If you noticed any of the above issues and you know your gutters are getting on in years, it may be time for an upgrade.
Modern Offers Top Quality Gutters
When it’s time to replace your gutters, Modern Windows can help. Our professional team offers high-quality gutters available in 17 coordinating colours to match your home perfectly. We also offer Leaf Guard caps, funnels and clean-outs to prevent any more issues caused by clogs.
Types of Gutters
K Style
K style gutters have flat backs and bottoms. When seen from the side, these gutters resemble the letter K, curving out on the top and bottom. K style gutters mimic the look of crown molding and tend to add a more decorative look.
Features
- 4″ deep
- multitude of colours to choose
- Funnels, clean-outs and Leaf Guard accessories available
Fascia Style
Fascia style gutters are larger than K style and have a higher capacity. They’re great for our West Coast climate which sees heavier rain, requiring higher levels of drainage. Fascia gutters are installed right onto the home’s framing. The smooth side of the gutter hides the edge of the roof’s rafter tails for a seamless look.
Features
- 5″ deep
- multitude of colours to choose
- Funnels, clean-outs and Leaf Guard accessories available
Leaf Guard
No one likes cleaning out their gutters and with Leaf Guard, you’ll never have to again. Leaf Guard can be added to existing gutter systems and works by screening out debris (leaves, needles and other waste) and preventing clog-causing buildup that can lead to overflow and drainage issues. A favourite among homeowners, Leaf Guard is available for both K style and Fascia style gutters, with your choice of funnels and leaf catchers.
Features
- Leaf Guard
- Funnel and Leaf Catchers
- Installation of fascia flashing and custom flashing
- Warranty: 20 year on Materials and 1 Year on Corners
Options for Gutter Installation
You can leave your ladder where it is. We know you have much better things to do with your day, so Modern Windows offers seamless gutter installation, making complicated measuring, hanging of gutters and wasted material a thing of the past.
Made to measure on site, our seamless installation eliminates any extra seams and joins, which reduces the chances of separation or leaks. Having your gutters professionally installed means all you need to do is choose the style, colour and any add-ons from the Leaf Guard line of products and we’ll do the rest. We also offer repairs, section replacement and re-sloping for gutters that need TLC, rather than complete replacement.
If your gutters are causing you grief and you need to have them repaired, replaced, or you just want to add Leaf Guard to your current system, contact our friendly team at Modern Windows today. We will be happy to offer advice and provide a quote for the ideal gutter system for your home on Vancouver Island, Greater Vancouver, Powell River, or the Sunshine Coast.
