Evidently, we all know the purpose of gutters is to prevent houses from water damages like flooding, by carrying the rainwater away from roofs and buildings. Such transportation is necessary during any rainy season; however, its importance is particularly more emphasized when Australia is going through the storm season; massive downpours overwhelm downpipes and gutters that lose their capabilities and hence, clog up. Although normally functioning gutters effectively safeguard your home, ones that are overflowing cause water to travel inside amid a rainstorm, and as a result, your walls, floors, and ceilings may get completely damaged – exhausting you financially as well as physically. Along with having to pay heavy repair bills, you may also have to take time off work to clean up.
Why Gutters Overflow
Gutters overflow because they may be of poor quality or there are errors in its installation method. While these issues remain significant, it can be said that in the majority of cases, clogged gutters are the main cause. Debris such as leaves, gum nuts, feathers, and even sticks can cause your gutter to clog up, preventing water from flowing smoothly. Thus, when the rainwater is unable to travel through downpipes and gutters, it escapes to other places – leaking through your roof and overflowing your basement, causing intense flood damage.
Ways To Prevent Flooding
Since clogged gutters are the main reason why overflowing occurs, preventing them from clogging up is the most suitable solution to the problem. In order to impede clogging, be sure to keep debris such as leaves and sticks away from your gutters. A common assumption is that regularly getting your gutters cleaned can prevent clogging. However, while this may appear to be the most effective method, its daily financial cost adds up, while that of DIY cleaning remains hidden – which can be even more serious. Hence, it is better that you install appropriately fitting gutter mesh on your gutters.
Gutter Cleaning – An Alternative
A gutter mesh over your gutters is specifically designed to decrease flooding risks caused by clogged gutters. This is done by creating a ski-slope effect on top, which then allows rainwater to travel in while keeping debris out. Since installing gutter mesh is a long-term solution with little maintenance, it acts as an effective alternative to the traditional gutter cleaning system. Adopting this method will protect you from the dangers of DIY gutter cleaning and also save you a hefty bill.
Selection Is Key
It is imperative that you select the most appropriate gutter mesh as there is a wide variety available to choose from – there is no ‘fixed size’ option. Having said that, leaf size is important to keep in mind when selecting a gutter mesh for your house. A mesh that has an aperture of 3.5mm is most appropriate, for example, to prevent large leaves such as magnolia or brush box from entering your gutters. In conclusion, the right selection today will save you from the damaging threats of flooding in the future!