Damaged Fascia, Soffit, and Roofs

Clogged rain gutters can damage your home’s exterior in a variety of ways. Excess water can seep into the soffit, fascia, or wooden framing and cause it to rot. Water may also flow back up onto the roof and under the shingles, penetrating the layers below and seeping into the home through the ceilings and walls.

Because termites need water to thrive, rain gutters that deposit excess water near the house lure the insects and encourage termite infestation. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water and are therefore attracted to the pools that collect in clogged gutters. In fact, the water in clogged gutters can also invite and sustain a variety of other pests that would like to nest in your attic, including birds, squirrels, and mice.

Excess water flowing into the ground near the house can erode the dirt directly beneath driveways, patios, and walkways. As the dirt is washed away, the structure—whether made of concrete, asphalt, or paver stones—is no longer fully supported and can settle, crack, or even collapse. If you have already experienced this type of damage, be sure to ask us to fix any rain gutter or downspout problems before replacing or repairing the driveway, patio, or walkway.

Clogged rain gutters can dump gallons of water directly onto the ground next to the foundation of a house. The spillage will sometimes leak through the foundation wall and then create water problems in the basement or crawl space. Over time, this type of damage can compromise the structural soundness of the house and cause mold or mildew.

Loose fill dirt underneath a home’s foundation settles over time. When one section settles more quickly than another section, the added stress put on the foundation causes cracks. Excess water dumped next to the foundation by faulty gutters will exacerbate this issue by shifting the position and density of the soil. With the potential for clogged, overflowing rain gutters to create a range of problems—including some, like foundation damage, that can be quite expensive to repair—it only makes sense to see to the health of your gutter system with biannual maintenance.