Gutters

Wisconsin’s climate can be tricky to navigate in the winter, where snowfalls and deep thaws happen weekly. And changes in climate can cause unexpected problems, such as when ice dams form on the roof.

Learn what an ice dam is, how it starts, and how to get rid of it to prevent damage to your home.

What Are Ice Dams? How Do They Happen?

Ice dams are masses of ice that form on your roof and in your gutters. An ice dam forms when water from melting snow freezes. It then forms a mass of ice that starts out small but can grow immensely when the temperature fluctuates.

According to research from the University of Minnesota, ice dams form mainly due to heat loss from your house or exhaust systems. And although they’re common, ice dams should never be taken lightly, as they can cause tremendous damage to your gutters and roof.

How Do Ice Dams Affect My Home?

When left untreated, an ice dam can really do a number on your home’s roof and drainage system. For instance:

• According to a blog post from Nationwide Insurance, ice dams can cause your roof shingles to lift up, allowing water to seep into your home.
• They can also affect your home’s drainage system since the mass of ice clogs your gutters, which can lead to flooding in and around your home.

While you can’t control the weather, there are both short- and long-term methods to prevent ice dams from forming.

Solving and Preventing Ice Dams on Your Roof

Sometimes a problem with your roof can catch you off guard. Here are a few short-term solutions to fixing an ice dam:

1. Since heat from your home may be the most likely cause of ice dam formations, you can flip the script by cooling your roof down. According to a post from This Old House, you can slow down the rate that snow melts by blowing cold air through the roof. If there is water coming out of cracks in your roof, you can blow cold air into any crack or opening to freeze leaking water.
2. Applying calcium chloride on your roof will melt snow and ice on your roof without any additional damage.

There are also a few preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of ice dams forming. These include:

1. Regularly removing snow from your roof. Rakes are exceptionally helpful for this.
2. Performing maintenance on your gutter system before winter arrives. Regular maintenance on your gutters can be beneficial in preventing other gutter problems too.
3. Calling on a roofing and gutters expert to perform an inspection. Pros have a lot of experience, so they can often help you spot a problem before it even happens. By having a roofing professional assess your roof and drainage system, they can better advise you on how you can prevent damage from snow and ice.

Get More Information

Here in Wisconsin, ice dams can cause considerable damage to your roof and drainage system. If you are a homeowner and have concerns about your roof’s condition, it may be best to contact a professional.

For expert advise on your roof, call Over the Top Roofing to schedule an appointment. We service the greater Milwaukee area and Menomonee Falls.

Most homeowners don’t spend much time thinking about their gutters. But ignoring blocked gutters can cause serious problems you likely won’t notice until after the damage is done. That’s especially true here in Milwaukee, where rains often cause flooding.

Gutters are such a simple part of home maintenance that they often get overlooked. But rain and wind can cause leaves and branches to clog the gutters so that water cannot properly drain out. This then causes water to build up and over flow.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common problems that result when this happens.

5 Ways Blocked Gutters Can Cause Damage to Your Home

Blocked gutters are more than a nuisance. In fact, they can cause serious damage to your home. Discover what damage they can cause and how to avoid it.

1. Damage to Your Landscaping and Foundations

Both your landscaping and foundation can suffer when excess water leaks from a blocked gutter. You might not think it, but too much water is bad for trees and bushes. It’s like watering them with a fire hose rather than a garden hose.

A clean gutter allows water to flow out the downspout to be properly channeled away from the house. When this doesn’t happen as designed, the excess water can cause your foundation to shift, sink, or crack.

2. Roof Damage

When water doesn’t flow properly through the gutter at the edge of the roof, the roof’s surface and the underlining materials can become damaged. And once enough damage has been done, your roof will likely need to be replaced.

3. Damage to Doors, Windows, and Walls

Water spilling from blocked gutters eventually causes damage to many parts of your home that aren’t designed to have this much contact with water.

Your patio can flood, causing damage to brickwork and furniture. Walls can begin to sag, warp, and weaken. And the doors and windows can begin to leak, allowing water to seep into the interior of your home.

4. Mold and Mildew Damage

A lot of the damage that is caused by the overflow of water from clogged guttering often goes unnoticed because it’s hidden behind walls or around door and window seals.

Moisture trapped in these areas leads to the growth of mold and mildew. This is not only unsightly and smelly, it’s also a health hazard. Worse yet, getting rid of mold can be an expensive undertaking, and not dealing with it quickly can lead to even more extensive material damage and health issues down the road.

5. Pest Infestations

Standing, stagnant water attracts insects like mosquitoes. This is because they love to lay eggs in damp and decaying environments.

The swampy conditions produced by excess water from clogged gutters also lure unwanted critters, such as termites, carpenter ants, and other pests that destroy wood.

Keep in mind that these pests breed quickly and cause significant property damage when not dealt with swiftly.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Gutters in Milwaukee

As we’ve seen, the damage caused by blocked gutters can be both expensive to repair and have a negative impact on your health. Not sure what you can do to keep them clear and free of damage? Click here to see five gutter maintenance tips every Milwaukee homeowner should know.

But learning how to unclog gutters isn’t your only option. Hire a professional to do it for you and you’ll save yourself time and energy. It might seem expensive, but it is actually money well spent. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

When most Milwaukee homeowners think of home maintenance, they think of re-roofing a home or perhaps giving their house a beautiful new coat of paint. Yet so many of us neglect one of the most important aspects of our home—the gutters. Failure to keep up with regular gutter maintenance can result in a whole mess of problems that can add up quite fast.

Don’t wait for clogged gutters to ruin your day. Instead, make sure you keep your gutters working well by following these five tips for gutter maintenance.

1. Keep Your Ladder Steady at All Times

When it comes to gutter maintenance tips, this is easily the most important piece of advice we can offer: Always make sure your ladder is secure.

Before you begin your ascent, ensure that the base of the ladder is steady. This keeps the ladder from swaying, so you can climb safely.

Most ladders have hooks on the top rung which connect straight to your gutters. If your ladder doesn’t have hooks, bungee cords work just as well.

2. Correct Your Gutter’s Slope

Ideally, your gutters should have a slight decline every 1/4 inch or so leading directly to the pipe. Should you see any standing water in your gutters, there’s a high likelihood that the slope needs adjusting.

To do so, measure the span of your gutters and multiply by 1/16. The resulting number is your ideal drop. Now, remove any fasteners or rivets, and then adjust as necessary until any standing water flows freely.

3. Use a Garden Hose to Check for Leaks

Once you’re finished with your initial debris removal, you’ll want to take a garden hose and let water trickle through your gutters. This will help you see if you missed any spots. It can also help you determine if any hidden debris is damming up the water.

4. Sealing Leaks Is Easier Than You May Think

Should you discover any unfortunate leaks in your gutters, don’t worry—they’re quite easy to seal up.

All you need is a bit of caulk, which can be found at any local hardware store. Simply place the caulk over the hole and allow it to dry. Some caulks can take up to a full 24 hours to dry, so make sure there isn’t any rain in the forecast.

5. Don’t Forget to Check the Drainpipes

Your gutter’s drainpipes are an essential (yet often neglected) part of the gutter system. Obstructions in the drainpipes can cause your entire system to back up and overflow.

A plumber’s auger is all you need to clear any debris clogging your drainpipe. Snake the auger up to the pipe until you can easily pull any debris out of it. You’ll know you’ve cleared the blockage when water can easily flow away from your home.

Use These Gutter Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Gutters Clean and Functioning

If you’re still unsure about how to properly maintain your gutters, or you just want a clean, superior job, be sure to get in touch today for a free estimate.

Our courteous and professional staff will help ensure that your gutters remain leak-free and clean, so you can better enjoy your home. Services available throughout Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls.

Rain gutters are often an unappreciated feature of modern houses. You probably only take notice of them when it’s time to clean them in preparation for the rainy season. But they perform a vital function in protecting your home from water damage.

Do you want to wake up one day to discover that your basement has been flooded? Or worse, your house shows signs of foundation damage because water has eroded into the soil?

You have two choices when it comes to rain gutters: seamless gutters and sectional. Read on to find out why seamless is the obvious choice for your home instead of outdated sectional gutters.

A Tight Seal

Seams are created when gutter sections are put together. These seams are weak points in the defense against water leaks.

In contrast, seamless gutters are a continuous solid length of gutter along any stretch of the roof. These aren’t entirely seamless (because gutters that continue around corners will need seams), but, for the most part, you’ll minimize the weak areas for possible leaks.

You might wonder what’s the big deal with small leaks here and there. What you need to understand is that the damage leaks can do is cumulative. And while you can easily take care of water stains on walls, you risk permanent damage to the siding. Siding replacement on average costs $7,222 for 1,500 square feet for standard vinyl siding.

For total protection versus water leaks, the only solution is to go with seamless.

Less Maintenance

Another disadvantage of the joints in the sectional gutter system is that they tend to trap debris. Leaves, twigs, and even small pests and birds can get caught in the seams.

When this debris accumulates, clogging is inevitable. Then, when water settles in your gutters because of the clogging, it can overflow or freeze during winter. The extra weight from the built-up debris can also cause a strain on the gutters, causing whole sections to fall off. Branches and other sharp objects can cause dents and punctures too.

Long story short: You’re going to deal with more frequent problems when you have sectional gutters. Expect to spend more time and money for gutter repairs.

To avoid all this hassle, choose seamless gutters.

More Aesthetically Pleasing

A house isn’t just a place to live in, it’s also an investment. And one of the ways to improve its curb appeal is to install a seamless gutter system.

Sectional gutters have an uneven look because of all the joints and fasteners. Without seams on the gutters, your house will look more sleek, uniform, and tidy.

You can also choose from a wide variety of materials and colors for seamless. For the material, the options are aluminum, steel, copper, and hybrid alloys of these metals. You can have these painted to match the exterior of your house or you can install gutters with a baked-on enamel finish that doesn’t require painting.

Because seamless requires installation by a professional, you can be assured that the dimensions and measurements will be a perfect fit.

Choosing Seamless Gutters Makes Perfect Sense

Seamless gutters may cost a bit more initially, but they will save you money in the long run. They can last for years, require little maintenance, and can improve the curb appeal of your house.

Contact us for a free estimate.