Strong Winds Are Not Gutters Friends

We are fresh from a job repairing wind damage to eaves troughs which included metals hangars being torn away in a gust. The best counter for this is sufficient hangars firmly attached, because strong winds are not gutters friends.

Severe Winds Can Cause Pressure Over Eaves Troughs

Powerful winds blowing across open eaves troughs can pull them upward and outward, and literally tear them away as we show in our image. Fortunately for the owner, we were able to recover most of the material and reinstate it.

Clients sometimes ask us why their aluminum k-style gutters survive many storms before they finally came away. Metal fatigue is a gradual process, although it does eventually weaken the screws, hangers, clips and nails holding eaves trough lengths in position.

calgary,gutters,down pipes,eaves troughs,installation,storm damage,inspection, repairs — A General Overview of a Roof Drainage System (Pearson Scott Foresman BY Public Domain)

Attaching Eaves Trough Gutters Requires Special Knowledge

Eaves troughs need to slope optimally in the direction of their down pipes. If the slope is too shallow, rainwater and debris can eventually block them. However, if they are too steep the water can cascade over corners. Not all roofers and gutter installers know how to implement this principle properly.

The difficulty for home owners is they can’t easily climb up and inspect their new eaves trough installations. Let alone, climb up there to unblock debris. We welcome it when clients interrogate how we go about our work, because we want them to know we will do it properly.

How You Could Benefit from an Annual Inspection

A clip or hangar can deteriorate gradually, but still be able to do its job with support from adjacent ones, until airborne debris strikes it a hard knock. An annual inspection may be able to detect corrosion, and replace the weakened component for a fraction of replacing the entire eaves trough line.

Valiant Exteriors is always careful to add additional fastenings, as a belts-and braces counter to the force of the elements. If we are unwilling to compete with a cheaper quote, the reason may be strong winds are not gutters friends.

Speak to Valiant Exteriors if You Are Planning a New System

It pays to choose a reliable roof and eaves trough contractor able to provide credible assurances and site inspections. Our clients tell us Valiant Exteriors fits the bill. Would you like to call us on Calgary (403)829-1661 and discover why. We don’t charge for site visits and quotes!