Roof Debris Removal and Gutter Cleaning

During Monsoon season in the southwest, it is critical to remove debris from roof tops and clear gutters as quickly as possible. Blockages, both in valleys and gutters, can cause immediate leaks in your home or business. In addition, water will pool and sit behind these blockages and will eat away at the upper layers of the roofing material and weaken the substructure, causing more complicated problems later on. Particularly in commercial and industrial properties with low-slope roofs, a weakened roof can cave in under the next big rain or windstorm.

Debris (leaves, pine needles, branches, even grass and trash) can block water from properly flowing into the gutters, or clog the gutters themselves. Since gutters are designed to channel water from your roof, down and away from the foundation of your property, debris and improperly working gutters are big trouble.

Missing or blocked gutters, as well as gutters that drain too close to your home or business, will saturate the soil near the foundation. Wet ground provides a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Moisture will eat away at foundations and basement walls. Leaks and cracks will develop and will worsen quickly in the winter months when the ground freezes and expands. This type of damage can cause interior and exterior walls and floors to warp and bow, or become wet or moldy.

If you have a pitched roof, after each storm, take a pair of binoculars and scan the roof and look for debris or blocked gutters. If you have a flat roof, as many commercial and industrial buildings do, we recommend sending someone up to check for debris and unblock gutters that might have been compromised by the storm. Properly traversing a roof without putting too much weight on particular areas and materials can be complicated, and many roofing companies provide affordable roof maintenance packages.

Things to look for in proper gutters:

Shed Debris
If your home, commercial or industrial property sits amongst trees, where needles, branches or leaves are likely to fall into your gutters, you should probably consider gutter guards, which are designed to shed debris and still allow water to flow properly.

Resistant and Durable
The gutters you select for your home or business should be fire resistant and water proof. Gutters should also be strong, durable and able to handle harsh elements like snow, sleet, hail, intense heat, and must be able to channel heavy rains, especially under the harsh onslaught of a monsoon storm.

Shape and Style
The shape of the gutters is often dictated by the slope of your roof, the fascia and your roofing materials. The style is a little more open ended and more often than not, you can choose from copper, aluminum, galvanized, vinyl, synthetic, welded, seamless, etc.

Proper Installation
You can select the highest quality gutter materials in the world, but if it is improperly installed, your gutters won't work. That’s why it is so important to have a professional roofer handle the installation of your gutter system.