If you let water, leaves and other debris sit in your eaves and gutters, they can cause damage to your roof, such as rot and decay. In addition, dirty and cluttered eaves and gutters have the ability to make a house look sloppy. Therefore, it is very important that you keep them clean and maintain them.
Instructions
1. Clean your gutters at least twice per year, or more if you have many trees that drop leaves on your house. Get up on the roof safely, when it is dry. Clear out the debris with either your hand or a special gutter scoop.
2. Look for solidified dirt, and if there is any, wet it so that it will loosen. Then, scrape it free. Run water into the gutters and check to see if it drains out of the gutters. If not, then you probably need to unclog your gutters.
3. Try to unclog the gutters by spraying a stream of water down them. If this doesn't work, try to push the clog through with a plumber's snake. You may also be able to draw out some of the debris from the top or the bottom with a coat hanger.
4. Run more water on the eaves and down the gutters and check for any leaks. If you find any, repair them with gutter repair caulking. Also, look for any broken straps, holes or corrosion. If you find any, repair them as soon as possible.
5. Cover the openings to the top of the downspouts with wire mesh so that the gutters clog up again. You will have to get on the roof to clear this area often, however.
6. You also need to clean your eaves every year. You can clean them by spraying them down with a pressure washer. Get on a ladder and check for any rotting wood, or cracks that could allow moisture or bugs to enter. If there are any cracks, you need to fill them in with a good quality acrylic latex caulk.
7. Paint your eaves at least every five years to help maintain them and make them look great. Your eaves will look like new, and the layer of paint will help protect then. Cover water spots and stains with a latex primer. Allow it to dry and follow up with an exterior latex paint.
