How Can High Winds Cause Damage to Your Gutters?

Your gutters are vulnerable to the same forces that can cause damage to your roof, one of these being high winds. Here’s how.

Metal Fatigue

When high winds hit an exterior wall, the opposing force exerted by the building creates pressure that forces the wind to change to an upwards direction. When this happens, the roof’s edge is hit by wind coming from two fronts. The vibration caused by the differences in wind pressure can cause metal fatigue on the joints, hangers and fasteners, which may result in rips in the metal and loose fasteners.

Gutters made from thin sheet metal are more vulnerable to metal fatigue caused by wind. If your gutters are up for replacement, choose ones made from high-gauge metal sheets. Also, consider seamless gutters – the fewer the seams and joints, the less vulnerable your gutters will be to wind and storm damage.

Airborne Debris

High winds have been known to be strong enough to lift moderately large pieces of debris, and these items can hit roofs and gutters on their way back down. It’s difficult to prevent impact damage caused by airborne debris, but you can reduce potential damage by choosing heavy-gauge gutters and a strong fastener system.

Tree Limbs

If you have trees in your property, you will want to make sure that none of their limbs are touching the gutters and rooftop. Sharp branches rocked by wind can scrape the caulk and protective coating off the gutters and expose the bare metal to corrosion. The weight of large branches resting on gutters may also cause dents. Keeping the tree limbs trimmed can help prevent such problems. A 10-foot clearance should give you a few years before they need to be trimmed again. If you are getting new gutters, consider options made of corrosion-resistant metals like copper or aluminum.

The Badger Company is your leading provider of residential and commercial siding and gutter services. Give us a call at (608) 413-3627. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.