Most blog posts on the web talking about gutters are talking about the gutters placed on residential properties.
While gutters on commercial properties are often overlooked, they play a critical role in ensuring that the property is protected against water damage.
Therefore, just like in residential properties, inspecting gutters should be part of the routine maintenance checkup of commercial properties.
In the age of DIY trends, many property owners conduct the property inspection of their commercial properties by themselves. Even if you work with a contractor, it is important for you to know the signs that indicate your gutters need to be replaced.
In this article, we will be listing out the common signs of damaged gutters in commercial properties. If you’re looking for a recommendation on a company, check out Brisbane gutter cleaning.
Let us begin:
Water Marks
Water marks on the walls of your commercial building, especially in the area directly below the gutters is a clear sign of water leakage from the gutters.
In fact, water marks indicate that your gutters have been leaking water for some time now. To prevent your walls from getting damaged by the seeping water, you should act quickly and get your gutters replaced.
The good thing is, gutter installation is a non-invasive process and it won’t disrupt any commercial activities taking place in your commercial property.
Sagging Gutters
The gutters of your building should be fastened to the roof in order to efficiently collect the water flowing down from the roof. If your gutters are sagging, chances are that they are holding more water than they are designed for.
If your gutters are clogged, even a little bit of rain can result in a lot of collected water in your gutters.
If this is the case, the problem may be solved by simply unclogging your gutters.
However, in many cases, older gutters start sagging because of wear and tear. Such gutters may also develop leaks and are overall inefficient at protecting your building from water damage. If this is the case, you may need to consider replacing your gutters.
Cracks
Cracks are one of the more obvious signs of gutter damage. While it is true that relatively smaller cracks don’t mess with the normal functions of a gutter, it is also true that small cracks can grow into bigger splits if not fixed in time.
This is especially applicable to buildings located in cold areas where seeping water can freeze and expand within the cracks, causing them to grow quicker than usual.
Peeling Paint
When most property owners look at peeling paint, they think that it’s the fault of the painter for using poor quality paint.
While it is a logical line of thought, peeling pain is actually a sign of problems in your gutters, especially if the paint is peeled in the area near the gutters.
When your gutters leak, the water can seep into the pain on your walls, causing it to peel. This means, peeling paint is not a sign of use of poor paint, but a sign of water damaging the outer walls of your property.
For this reason, if you notice peeled paint on the walls of your commercial property, it is advisable to get your gutters checked and if needed, replaced as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Functioning gutters are a critical component of your buildings defences against water damage. Without properly functioning gutters, the water damage can grow over time and can potentially compromise the structural integrity of your whole building.
Hence, if you notice any of the above-mentioned signs of gutter damage on your commercial building, make sure you get them replaced before the water starts damaging your building.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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