What actually happens when gutters clog
A working gutter catches roof runoff and moves it away from the house. A clogged one turns into a long, narrow planter box full of wet debris, and the water that should be leaving starts looking for other exits.
- Overflow runs down your siding and pools at the foundation.
- Water wicks backward into the fascia boards and rafter tails, which is how wood rot starts at the roof edge.
- The lowest courses of shingles sit over a wet, swampy edge instead of drying out between storms.
- All that lingering moisture is a standing invitation for moss along the eaves.
The roof edge takes the beating
The bottom edge of your roof is where gutter problems become roof problems. Constant edge moisture degrades the starter shingles and drip edge, and once the fascia behind the gutter softens, the gutter itself starts pulling loose. We've replaced plenty of roof edges where the original sin was just a few seasons of full gutters.
Moss compounds it. Mossy eaves hold the moisture longer, which feeds more moss. (The full moss story is in the Moss Handbook.)
How often do Oregon gutters need cleaning?
Twice a year for most homes in our area: once after the fall drop, once in spring. Homes under heavy tree cover may need a mid-winter check too, because one atmospheric river through a Doug fir can refill a gutter in a weekend.
Gutter clearing is built into every one of our roof cleanings and both visits of our maintenance program, because cleaning a roof and leaving the gutters full is half a job.
Signs your gutters are already causing damage
Worth a look this week, not this year:
- Plants growing out of the gutter (the classic)
- Water sheeting over the gutter edge during rain
- Peeling paint or soft spots on fascia boards
- Sagging gutter sections pulling away from the house
- Moss concentrated along the bottom edge of the roof