Gutter cleaning in Portland, Oregon is a big deal. Just ask any homeowner that lives here or elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest and you are sure to hear about their gutter cleaning and maintenance routines. A lot of families that are new homeowners in Portland are often caught off guard by just how much gutter maintenance and cleaning matters. With how unpredictable and inclement the climate is here in Portland, gutter cleaning should be a priority for every homeowner.
At Tom Leach Roofing, gutter cleaning is one of our most highly requested services. For this article, we’ve compiled our top tips and recommendations to help you keep your gutters clear all year long. Keep reading to find out more about gutter maintenance, seasonal cleaning, and how you can ensure small gutter issues don’t worsen and result in costly repairs.
Preventative Maintenance is Best
Preventative gutter maintenance has one primary purpose — to save you money. If you neglect regular maintenance and cleaning, there is a good chance you will pay the price financially in the future. Gutter cleaning can be done by yourself if you feel up to the task, or you can hire a professional roofing service to clean your gutters for you. Regardless of how you get it done, cleaning your gutters thoroughly at least a few times per year will help save you from spending money on costly repairs.
Seasonal Gutter Cleaning
How often you should clean your gutters depends on where you live and the kind of wildlife surrounding your property. For those in Portland, gutter cleaning may be recommended as often as four times a year, or at least once each season. Due to the climate in Portland, it is best to have your gutters cleaned seasonally, as opposed to only once or twice a year.
During the spring, you are most likely to notice branches and twigs in your gutters. Leftover debris from winter will likely accumulate in your gutters and require a thorough cleaning. Spring rainfall can also cause damage to your gutters or other parts of your roof. You will want to thoroughly clean and inspect your gutters for any problems that need repair.
Summertime can bring wind-blown debris into your gutters from summer storms. Take advantage of a sunny day during the summer months to thoroughly clean your gutters. Be sure to check for any mold or mildew that may have built-up in your gutters as a result of spring showers.
Early fall is one of the more crucial times when you will want to inspect and clean your gutters. Taking care of your gutters in early fall before heavy rain or snowfall hits will pay off. Also, don’t forget to check that the downspouts are flushing correctly and are free of clogs.
In the middle of fall, towards the beginning of winter, it will likely be necessary to perform another gutter cleaning. Unpredictable weather in Portland in the fall is typical. Whether the fall is mild or tumultuous, your home will benefit from an extra gutter cleaning before winter finally hits.
Cleaning your gutters each season will prevent the build-up of twigs, branches, leaves, and other debris. If your gutters overflow or become clogged, you risk damage to your property. Water may not flush down the gutters and out the downspouts properly. If this happens, you are likely to see water leak down the side of your home, potentially resulting in damage to its structure. Any gutter clogs should be taken care of immediately, as water that is flowing down the side of your home can cause severe damage in only a matter of weeks. It is much less costly to take the time to clean your gutters and perform regular maintenance, rather than wait for a severe problem to ensue.
Why You Should Avoid Gutter Covers or Guards
You may have heard of gutter covers or gutter guards. These covers are placed over gutters to help keep out small leaves, twigs, and debris from landing inside of them. Some guards will fit inside the gutters themselves or just over the top. Solid guards cover your gutters completely and have a narrow slit that only allows water to come through. Screened guards are less expensive than solid guards but don’t work as well. They do a good job of keeping out most leaves but may still let in pine needles, seeds, and dirt.
If you live in Portland, Oregon, you should actually avoid using gutter guards of any kind. Gutter guards make gutter cleaning difficult since they have to be moved if proper gutter cleaning is to be performed. Generally, they are not effective against the weather in Portland. While gutter guards can take care of some gutter issues, they can exacerbate others. Gutter guards are likely to shift problems rather than alleviate them. You are better off cleaning your gutters regularly, instead of spending your time and money on gutter covers.
Consider Cleaning Your Gutters and Roof at the Same Time
If you are planning on calling in a professional to clean your gutters, consider having your roof cleaned at the same time. There are a couple of benefits to doing this. Tom Leach Roofing, and most other roofing services in Portland, offer both roof cleaning and gutter cleaning services. Requesting both services at the same time is recommended for the following reasons:
- Save Time – If you are requesting gutter cleaning services, it saves time to have your roof cleaned at the same time. You will only have to fit in one service appointment into your schedule. Hiring a roofer to clean your gutters, as well as your roof in the same time frame, just makes sense.
- Save Money – By requesting gutter and roof cleaning services all at once, you will only have to pay one service fee. Paying for the services separately will cost you nearly double in service fees. You can put your budget to best use by knocking out both gutter and roof cleaning at the same time.
Biggest Risks of Gutter Neglect
If you are tempted to skip gutter cleaning altogether to try and beat the odds or save money, you will likely set yourself up for failure. Or, at the very least, you can expect to have some expensive repairs in your near future. Especially if you own a home in Portland, gutter cleaning should never be at the bottom of your to-do list. Here are some of the most significant risks you take if you choose not to maintain your gutters properly:
Risk of Flooding and Water Damage – The main purpose of your gutters is to redirect water off of your roof and away from your home. If leaves, dirt, branches, nests, and other debris accumulates in your gutters, water will pool and overflow out of your gutters and onto the sides of your home. This can lead to flooding within the rooms of your home or near your home’s foundation. Flooding of any kind can be devastating to any homeowner. Potential flooding is the main reason why you should take care of your gutters year-round. Something as simple as gutter maintenance can have a major impact when it comes to protecting your home.
Roof Damage – Flooding resulting from clogged gutters could also damage your roof, along with the walls and foundation of your home. Pooling water in your gutters can damage shingles and other layers of your roof. Any sort of water damage to your roof could result in leaks making their way into your home, expensive repairs, or problems with mold and rot.
Increased Repair Expenses – Gutter neglect or lack of maintenance will inevitably lead to expensive home repairs. Your gutters play an essential role when it comes to regulating rain and snowfall. Be careful not to underestimate their importance. If you want to protect your home, save money, and get the most use out of your gutters as possible, take care of them — and they will take care of you!
Need Professional Gutter Cleaning in Portland?
Gutter cleaning in Portland is a priority for every homeowner in the area. To stay ahead of heavy rainfall, high winds, and unpredictable temperatures, gutter maintenance should be at the top of your chore list every season. The good news is, you don’t have to tackle your gutter cleaning and other roof maintenance tasks alone. If you need any roof cleaning or gutter cleaning services in Portland, give Tom Leach Roofing a call!
Tom Leach Roofing can help with all of your Portland gutter cleaning and roof cleaning needs. We understand the unique challenges that homeowners in the area face when seasonal weather hits hard. Don’t get caught off guard this upcoming rainy season — let Tom Leach Roofing help you prepare well ahead of time.
Give us a call now at 503-238-0303 to schedule your roof cleaning and gutter cleaning services in Portland!