Gutters: Underrated Investments or Hidden Gems?

We’re here to talk about gutters - the forgotten gems of your property’s survivability. 

Your gutters play more of a critical role than you guess, and it’s all in the weight and how that translates to your natural disaster risk. We’ve talked before about how vegetation in your gutters could lead to a more flammable property, but what about hurricane risk?

Your gutters, preferably metal and fastened with hurricane clamps, should be closed and sealed from outside debris. The main reason for this is to reduce excess weight that results from buildup of vegetation and outside influences. That excess weight translates to a weaker overall system that, when in contact with high winds, has more of a likelihood of breaking off or damaging other parts of the structure.

Surrounding structures are ALSO at risk. If a piece of your gutters break off, not only is there nowhere for the water to flow, but there is also a new projectile at play that has been known to fling off and damage areas of the structures surrounding the main property, as well as the siding of your most valuable asset itself. 

Reinforcing your gutters, creating them out of metal and not vinyl or thermal plastic, and removing any vegetation or excess weight could be crucial in creating the most sustainable and survivable property.