Good Gutters Are Critical for Portland, OR Homes
In all but the driest of climates, homes are built with gutters and downspouts as an effective way of managing rainfall.
Of course, here in Portland, we rely on those gutters regularly, with more than 150 precipitation days per year adding up to over 36 inches of rain. So, as a homeowner, you want to make sure your gutter system is always up to the challenge of protecting your home from water damage. Let’s take a closer look at the role gutters play for Portland area houses and what homeowners need to know to keep theirs in good condition.
More Than Just Rain
We’ve already mentioned that the Portland area receives plenty of rain each year, and many
rainy days to supply that rain. But it’s not just the volume of water that is of concern when
thinking about the gutters on your Portland home. In addition, you need to think about the
trees that may surround that house. Whether you are in Portland itself, or nearby cities like
Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Tualatin, and others, trees are everywhere you look.
Those trees are what make the Portland area such a beautiful place to live, but they can wreak
havoc on your gutter system.
Over the course of a year, the trees close to your house are sure to drop plenty of debris in the
form of needles, leaves, and more. If those trees hang over your house, virtually all of that
debris will end up on your roof. Even if no trees are overhanging, you’ll still get some
accumulation when fall storms roll in and blow the trees around.
Three Important Keys
So, with the powerful combination of rain and trees putting plenty of stress on your gutters, it’s
important to do what you can to make sure your gutter system is in good condition and up to
the challenge. Toward that end, consider these three keys – Regular cleaning. Those leaves and needles that fall on your roof regularly need to be cleaned out of the gutters before they accumulate to the point of clogging things up.
Working with a contractor to keep your gutters clean addresses this problem without
requiring you to do any risky work high up on a ladder. It’s particularly important to
have your gutters cleaned after the fall season when most of the material on area trees
is going to come down.
Address Gutter Damage
In some climates, homeowners might be able to get away with leaving
their damaged gutters in place for quite a while. That’s not the case in Portland. There
is always another rainy day just around the corner, so keep an eye on your gutters and
have any damage fixed as soon as possible to avoid further problems.
Gutter Guards
You do not have to add gutter guards to your home to keep the system
working properly, but they are worth consideration. Guards are simply screens that are
placed over the top of your gutters to allow water in but keep debris out. These can be
particularly effective for homes that are located near or under trees with lots of small
needles to drop.
No matter what kind of help you need with your gutter system in the Portland area, Stumptown
Gutters is the right partner for the job. Get in touch with our friendly team today to learn more.
Stumptown Gutters Portland Oregon