How clogged gutters cause water damage to the home's foundation may not seem obvious at first. The gutters are at the roof and the foundation beneath the house. However, the purpose of gutters is to divert water flow off the roof and away from the house. Concrete foundations aren't meant to withstand long-term exposure to accumulated water. Water cascading out of clogged gutters during heavy rains pools on the ground below, turning into a chronic source of water infiltration into and beneath the foundation.
- The process begins as pooling water saturates soil adjacent to the foundation walls. This heavy, water-sodden soil creates pressure the walls are not engineered to resist. Cracking and deformation of the foundation walls results.
- As water continues to penetrate the ground, it eventually flows beneath the foundation and erodes supporting soil. A gap forms between the foundation and the soil. Over time the foundation settles into that gap, causing cracking, uneven floors and other structural damage.
- The constant pressure of water on foundation walls also infiltrates the cellular composition of concrete, eventually saturating walls and creating an atmosphere of perpetual dampness inside the basement. This continuous presence of moisture spawns mold and mildew and makes the basement walls difficult to seal or cover.
Clogged gutters cause water damage. Keeping gutters clean is an important strategy to eliminate pooling that penetrates the foundation. If you're up to the task, climbing a ladder twice a year and cleaning the gutters will reduce blockages. Or you can have a professional install gutter covers or screens to reduce the amount of clogging debris entering your gutters.
For more information on the ways clogged gutters cause water damage to foundation, as well as additional suggestions to prevent the problem, contact the water damage professionals at Rytech Restoration.

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