How To Clean Gutters To Avoid Roof Damage And Repairs

Ready for an annual rain gutter cleaning? We hope so, because cleaning your rain gutters is a great way to prevent roof damage, especially during the winter months. Rain gutters not only protect your landscaping, but they also protect your home’s foundation. However, if left unattended (which, let’s be honest, many of us do just that), the gutters will start to clog. Say hello to water on your roof, and a very big mess. Here is a step-by-step guide for roof repairs and keeping rain gutters clean and debris-free this Tulsa winter season.

Roof Repairs In Tulsa

1. Make sure you have a sturdy ladder. Avoid playing superhero and trying to balance the ladder on uneven rocks or terrain. You can always use a ladder stabilizer for safety. 
2. Dress for the job. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty in. Rubber gloves will help keep your hands clean and dry also. 
3. Spread a tarp under the gutters. When you begin pulling out debris and leaves from the gutters, your cleanup will be minimized if you spread a tarp underneath your working area first. If you don’t have a tarp, you can rip a trash bag in half and lay several down by the base of the ladder. 
4. Use a plastic scoop to remove gunk from the gutters. Scoops are available at most hardware stores or online. However, if you’d like to go the more relaxed route, feel free to simply use your gloved hands. 
5. Be thorough. Go around the entire perimeter of the house, sliding your finger underneath the gap between the gutters and roof to ensure nothing is crammed in between the two. 
6. Flush the gutters with water. Once you’ve removed the debris from the gutter, use a hose to rinse out any excess material down the spout. This will give the gutters an extra cleanliness boost and also reveal if your gutters have any leaks. 
7. Repair any damaged sections. Gutter repairs aren’t overly challenging, and most materials can be found online or in a hardware store. 

Congratulations! You’re officially a gutter cleaning wizard. Although gutter cleaning doesn’t seem like it has much to do with roof repairs, gutters can actually be huge culprits of roof damage, leading to lots of wasted time and money in roofing costs. Sure, it doesn’t exactly seem like the most fun job in the world, but clean gutters and a pristine roof are worth the few hours it takes to complete this job. 

Although some extra prep work in the form of gutter cleaning will help prevent roofing issues, we understand that sometimes, roofs just malfunction. Decor Construction roof repairs professionals have years of experience tackling the most tricky roof situations, whether they involve rain gutters or not. Give us a call today to walk through roof repairs options and learn more about how to fix all types of roofs.