gutters: Blaine Home Inspector (King of the House) Gutters
- 04/07/11 05:51 PM
When gutters are allowed to fill up with organic debris, they are prone to leakage. That might be a leak over the top of the gutter, or it might be more subtle. The high quality aluminum seamless gutters have ends and some have corners. These ends and corners are attached to the gutter and then mastic is applied to seal them.
In the photo above, we have a leak at the end of a gutter at a relatively new home. This is cement-based siding, not prone to rot like wood but, just the same, this is a conducive condition. This … (6 comments)
gutters: Ferndale Home Inspector (King of the House) Gutter Corners
- 03/26/11 03:52 AM
As a home inspector, at least here in the wet northwest, one learns to pay particular attention to the wood, rafters and fascia at ends and corners of gutters. Gutters are more prone to leaking at those locations and, when they do, the leaking water will often lead to rot of the wood below. This photo is a good example of the weather-related stress that has been inflicted on this wood.
A homeowner really needs to keep gutters clean because, when they are clogged with debris, then corners and ends leak -- the water has to go somewhere. And, even … (3 comments)
gutters: Ferndale Home Inspection -- Gutter Cleaning
- 03/23/11 02:19 PM
Manufacturers are, constantly, trying to come up with gutter guards that will make it possible for a homeowner to ignore the state of the gutters. My experience, as a home inspector, is that when there are gutter guards in place they tend to create more problems than they solve. I will agree that they slow down the amount of organic debris that will collect in the gutter. But they do not stop that buildup of crud. The problem is that the contented homeowner, figuring that the gutters are swell, forgets about them. Yet, you give a few months of years of … (4 comments)
gutters: The Home Inspector As The Storyteller
- 03/13/08 07:28 AM
A reference was made today, in a blog, to the home inspector as a storyteller. I look upon writing a report in much that manner. While not always possible, it is my goal to get the point across, good or bad, with detailed descriptions and interesting photos. Where possible, I try to use the terms that people understand. While electricians use the term "receptacles" most people refer to those things you plug into on the wall as outlets. I say receptacle, but define what that means. Sometimes a simple tool, that takes a good photo, can get a point across … (0 comments)
gutters: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House) When The Figurin' Comes Easy
- 03/07/08 10:45 AM
The photos below tell an interesting story. Sometimes it is hard to decipher or forecast all the ins and outs of a potential problem. Then there are times when the figuring comes easy. Case in point -- The gutters and downspouts at this home were, generally, well controlled as far as runoff water from the roof. The planning was good, but this downspout missed the foundation drain. This is something an inspector should call out. And, honestly, some people probably would think the inspector was overreacting. But here I actually have good cause and effect photos. Crawl space dry as … (2 comments)
gutters: Not Subtle If You Look
- 02/26/08 01:50 AM
Realtors in our wet Pacific Northwest are usually expecting an inspection report to mention something about gutter or downspout problems -- gutters full of leaves, gutter leaks, downspouts draining on the siding or next to the house. Sometimes agents will, visually, take a look at gutters as they walk around the home with their clients. One thing to look for, that seems to be often missed, is the downspout that is leaking at an elbow or where there is a joint of one kind or another. The photo below is a good example of that -- more obvious than what you usually … (2 comments)
gutters: Why Gutters And Downspouts Help
- 12/03/07 04:20 AM
In some climates they might not be necessary, but here in the wet Pacific Northwest, the runoff water and splashing from missing or damaged gutters or downspouts can lead to decay of structure. The photo below is typical. In general, the deck is holding up; however, just above this rot there is a problem with the gutter and it is allowing the rain to empty on this wood, day in and day out, during the rainy season. As a result of that, the wood has decayed or rotted. Because of this common problem, in this state the WSDA has declared missing … (6 comments)
gutters: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House): Neglected Maintenance
- 09/09/07 11:54 AM
At home inspections, sometimes at otherwise good houses, I am often surprised at the simple things that are easily corrected but were not dealt with by the seller. For example, the dirt will be piled on the siding near the gardens. The one maintenance issue that I see over and over again is heavy debris in the gutters. I have even seen debris in the gutters when the seller has told me that he cleaned them a few days before. Granted, some locales have more needles and organic material than others, but it is still apparent that the gutters were not … (3 comments)
gutters: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House): Open Ended Gutters
- 08/29/07 02:45 AM
In the Pacific Northwest, where we have so much rain, gutters are a pretty important part of a home. They control the rain and runoff water. Around here, when you see a house without gutters and downspouts there is almost always a big pile of mud under the eaves, caused by the falling water. Missing gutters is what we call a conducive condition. One construction method that has become common is to install gutters on dormers but to install gutters that have open ends. The gutters have a slight slope back and from there they drain onto the roof below. From a home … (2 comments)
gutters: Bellingham Wa. Washington Home Inspector (King of the House): Unsafe Wiring Practices
- 08/16/07 03:08 AM
Here is another one I see frequently on inspections. This is the case of running the live electric wires over, inside, or through the gutters or downspouts. The gutters and downspouts are obviously not designed for this purpose and the wires usually move around and wear the insulation off the conductors. Often the wires seem to find a sharp metal edge on the gutters. Maybe all the rubbing makes one. I had an inspection one time where a bare conductor, insulation had rubbed off, was in contact with the metal of the gutters. Depending on which wire was in contact that could … (0 comments)
gutters: Is the home inspector just being a petty jerk?
- 06/30/07 03:36 AM
I have met people who feel that a home inspector, who points out some smaller issues such as gutters full of debris, is a petty jerk. They say: "That is not a real problem! Too minor to mention." Obviously a gutter can drain with some debris in it, but it depends on how much. I saw this gutter the other day at an inspection. It is a great example of a gutter and an ssociated downspout that is not draining. As a result, it overflows and dumps everything that it comes in contact with onto the roof below. That roof never dries … (8 comments)
Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals.
Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector, ASHI certified inspector #252760 and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.
When gutters are allowed to fill up with organic debris, they are prone to leakage. That might be a leak over the top of the gutter, or it might be more subtle.
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