It's been a rainier-than-usual summer in Kansas and Missouri.
There are floods in Western Kansas, and flash flood warnings all over the
Kansas City Metro Area. A bridge just down the street from me was damaged by
floodwater earlier in the year, and the road is still closed! It's enough to
make you forget that the Midwest is still in a record drought, and we haven't
even hit the beginning of the rain and snow season yet!
That's why it's a perfect time to remind everyone about the
importance of proper gutter maintenance.
Even in a normal year, we here in the Greater Kansas City Area
receive an average of around 40 inches of precipitation (that's rain and snow),
much of it in the second half of the year. So far we've already received ten
inches or more in some areas, and the wet season hasn't even kicked in yet. And
rain and snow does more than water the plants and swell the rivers. Every inch
of rain that falls puts literally thousands of pounds of water on your roof!
Roofs are tough and are built to withstand a lot—especially here in the
Midwest—but they need a properly maintained guttering system to help move all
that water away from them and the house in order to function properly.
Water can do extreme damage to your roof.
As a member of the Board of Directors for my Homes
Association here in Olathe, I've seen first-hand what happens when people don't
properly maintain their gutters. Water that stands too long on a roof can cause
the roof to warp or buckle, and can cause wood rot in fascia board, trim, and
molding. Not only that, but water that sits too long in the gutters themselves
can cause metal gutters and gutter hangers to rust. I've seen gutters that were
loaded down with leaves, dirt, and sticks rust through and snap right off the
sides of houses, and believe me, that's the last thing you want, especially in
the middle of a rainstorm!
Proper gutter maintenance includes regular gutter cleaning.
Gutter cleaning helps protect your roof, and the rest of your
home. It allows the gutter system to do its job properly, directing water to
flow naturally away from the house, preventing wood rot and rust, and
protecting your basement from groundwater. A regular gutter cleaning from a
qualified service provider also means that an expert regularly inspects your
gutters and can warn you if there are problem areas long before they do
permanent damage to your home.
Sometimes you must bring in the professionals.
When our Homes Association needed to contract gutter cleaning
services, we turned to Augustine Services, the leaders not only in gutter
cleaning but also in pest control, carpet cleaning, and air duct cleaning since
1966. They've kept our gutters free from debris and protected our homes from the
damages caused by rain and snow ever since.
This
article was written by a KC homeowner, writer, and blogger who recommends
Augustine Services as a provider of gutter cleaning services in the Greater Kansas City Area. Augustine Services is also a provider of carpet cleaning and air
duct cleaning services. You can contact Augustine Services by calling
913-362-4399 or 816-399-5872.
