Is Your Roof Growing Trees?

Have you ever seen a roof growing trees? As absurd as this may sound, it can – and does – happen! Many people neglect regular gutter maintenance. As a result, their gutters clog up with leaves, plants, organic materials, and other debris. Over time, seeds can take root and grow in the organic compost that forms.

Plants and trees growing in your gutters can be unsightly, and cause people to make embarrassing comments about the way you keep up your property, but they don’t really do any harm to your house, right? Wrong!

Gutters do much more than just keep the rain from running off the roof and onto your porch, or showering you when you walk out the door. Proper gutter maintenance can keep you from making all kinds of repairs because of water damage.

For example, if the gutters of your house become clogged, the water from the roof runs down the side of the house. Over a period of time, this can cause wooden siding to warp, or cause mold to grow on vinyl siding. It can also rot the boards just underneath the shingles on your roof, causing damage to the shingles and causing the roof to leak.

Furthermore, if the gutters aren’t cleaned regularly, the water from the roof will pool alongside the foundation of your house. The water will seep through the foundation and cause moisture to enter your basement. This moisture can cause mold to form, which will limit or eliminate any basement decorating options you may have.

Mold is more than just an annoyance. Severe cases of mold can cause breathing problems and increase allergies in sensitive people. Occasionally, mold growth becomes so uncontrollable that houses have to be condemned and torn down because it cannot be effectively treated!

One thing that you can do to help prevent your gutters from becoming filled with leaves and other organic materials is to limit the number of tree branches that overhang your roof. Even if you do this though, you’re going to have to clean the gutters a couple of times each year in order to prevent them from becoming clogged.

If your health problems prevent you from easily climbing a ladder, consider hiring a handyman to do this messy work for you. Don’t risk your health attacking the problem on your own. Sometimes, spending a little money to get things done can help you avoid paying big doctor bills for a nasty fall!

If you’re set on doing the chore yourself, or don’t have the money to hire someone to do it, there are inexpensive pole attachments you can purchase to help you with this bothersome task.

If you decide to climb the ladder and do it by hand, wear gloves so you don’t get cut by sharp metal. Clean out the worst of the muck, and use a hose to spray the gutter clean. If you notice a section of gutter with loose metal or a hole, replace it as soon as possible. This small investment of time and money can help you keep your investment in your house healthy!