When you think about protecting your home from moisture, we tend to think of the basics; sump pump maintenance, filling in foundation cracks, etc… But when’s the last time you cleaned your gutters?
Gutters are your first level of defense for your basement and foundation against flooding, mold, and cracks.
Believe it or not, clogged gutters can have a significant impact on the health of your basement or crawl space. As leaves and debris fill up and clog the gutter, they reduce the amount of water gutters can hold, and slow down water flow. If gutters become completely clogged, they can overflow, dumping huge amounts of water right next to your foundation walls.
This waterfall of water dumps against your foundation walls, and can do one of a few things.
1.Splashes against your foundation, leaking into windows, the sill place, and above-grade foundation cracks.
2.Pools against your home, significantly increasing soil saturation and water pressure, potentially leaking through existing below-grade cracks, and helping to create new ones.
3.Fills and overwhelms existing exterior drainage systems you might have in place, causing soil to become over-saturated, increasing the likely hood of seepage.
If you feel that your gutters need to be replaced or serviced call New America Construction today at 973-487-3704.