Summertime in and around Kansas City is such a beautiful time of year. Everything is in bloom, the weather albeit hot makes for some pretty fun and exciting adventures and summer backyard BBQs, and the days and nights are longer thanks to the sun setting later. Though summertime is beautiful, the weather is often unpredictable bringing severe storms.
Thunderstorms in the Heartland are a frequent event; we average around 40-60 thunderstorms per year. While not all of these are severe, some are, bringing hail, strong wind gusts, and even tornadoes. Severe storms can wreak havoc on our homes, our gutter systems included. Can your gutters survive this summer’s severe storms? Continue reading to learn if they can or if it’s time to replace them.
What Damage Can Occur to My Gutters?
Severe summer storms in Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, and surrounding cities can be extremely powerful, causing extreme damage. Torrential rain, high wind gusts, quarter-sized hail, and even tornadoes can rip through our area and cause severe damage to our roofs, siding, and even our gutters.
Severe storms can tear the gutters right off a home, bringing the soffit and fascia boards with them depending on how they were mounted. Gutter systems can also dent as a result of hail pelting against them. If gutters aren’t able to withstand heavy rains then they can overflow, sag, and tear away from the home as a result of torrential rain.
Gutters can be damaged easily in a severe summer storm depending on how durable the material is, how they were installed, and if the gutter system is of good quality or has previous damage or wear and tear. Regardless, gutter damage can be a nightmare for homeowners, especially if repairs aren’t covered by home insurance.
Can My Gutters Withstand Severe Storms?
Now that we’ve discussed what damage can occur to your gutters as a result of severe summer storms, let’s see if they can withstand the storms. Ask yourself the following questions: how old is the gutter system, is there damage from a previous storm, is the system seamless or sectional, and whether the gutter system is half-round, has gutter guards, or is a complete system.
Older gutter systems may not be able to withstand severe summer storms. If your home is fifteen, twenty, or even thirty years old and it has the original gutter system, it’s probably best to get it replaced as soon as possible. Older gutter systems may not be able to withstand strong storms due to the state of the gutter system, if there is previous damage throughout the years, and if the material used isn’t that durable.
Is your gutter system a half-round gutter system or an open-top gutter system? If there is no covering over the top of the gutters, leaving the inside of the gutter exposed then the answer is yes. Half-round gutter systems are common, however, they’re not as durable as other gutter systems. Due to their smaller gutters and downspouts, they offer limited protection against heavy rainfall, snowfall, and meltwater.
If your gutter system has natural wear and tear from the elements throughout the years, it may not be able to stand up against this summer’s severe storms. If you have a sectional gutter system (meaning there are seams throughout the system, connecting each section of the gutter system with joints, brackets, nuts, and bolts) then it is at risk of becoming damaged from a severe storm. Sectional gutter systems are often mounted to the home’s soffit and fascia boards, causing damage to all of these components in the event of storm damage. Sectional gutter systems are also prone to leaks and clogs which may become worse following a severe storm.
How Can I Prevent Damage to My Gutters?
If you do have half-round gutters, make sure you are cleaning them often to remove debris that easily finds its way into the gutter system. Clogged gutters are more likely to sag and overflow, two issues that are exacerbated following a severe summer storm. Trapped debris can get heavy, causing the gutters to sag, blocking water from flowing freely throughout the system, and can put pressure on the soffit and fascia boards, causing them to pull away from the home or rot over time.
Another way to can help prevent damage to your gutter system is to ensure that all hardware is tight and secure. Older gutter systems may have downspouts that are dislodged which can result in water pouring over the system and onto the ground surrounding your home. This can cause flooding, foundation damage, and landscaping issues. Tightening bolts and screws on your sectional gutter system can help prevent the system from detaching from components as a result of strong wind gusts, torrential rain, and pelting hail.
These preventative measures are more like a bandaid to cover up previous damage to the gutter system. The easiest solution to prevent damage to your gutter system is to replace them and install the K-Guard System. The K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System is a complete system that offers superior protection against year-round storms including severe summer storms. Our gutter product is so durable that it can handle a minimum of 22 inches of rain per hour, making it strong enough to stand up to torrential downpours. Our curved hood will keep flying debris from severe storms like leaves, twigs, and seeds out of the gutters, only allowing water to flow throughout the system, preventing clogs.
Unlike other gutter installation companies in Kansas City, the K-Guard Gutter System mounts above the floodplain which eliminates the possibility of gutter separation from rotting fascia boards and soffit. Our gutter system will never void your roof’s warranty, something other gutter systems can easily void depending on how it was installed.
Contact our team today or call (913) 380-1616 to schedule your free estimate for installing the K-Guard System. We’ll examine your current gutter system and will offer an assessment as well as our recommendations for installing the K-Guard System in your home. We offer our gutter installation service to homeowners across both Missouri and Kansas including, but not limited to, the following locations:
