Every winter, a row of icicles hangs off the same corner of the house, and every spring the basement wall under it shows a damp line. Or the gutters along the back are pulling away from the fascia, and water now runs behind them. Problems with gutters in Country Club, Denver usually show up somewhere other than the gutter itself, which is why they’re easy to put off.
That’s the frustrating part. You can see the symptom, but not always the cause, and nobody wants to pay for new gutters if the real problem is somewhere else. You should get a straight read on what’s happening and what will actually fix it.
APC Roofing installs seamless gutters and works on the roof edge they hang from. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and the estimate is free. Call 720-902-6940 to have a roofer look at your roofline.
What Denver winters do to gutters
Snow on a Denver roof doesn’t sit still. On a sunny day it melts, runs down to the eaves and fills the gutters. When the sun goes down, that water freezes. Do that for a few weeks and the gutters fill with ice, the hangers carry far more weight than they were built for and the downspouts plug solid.
Ice dams form a little higher up. Heat escaping from the house warms the roof deck and melts snow on the upper roof. The meltwater runs down to the eave, which sits over the cold overhang, and freezes there. The ridge of ice holds back more water, and that water can back up under the shingles.
Gutters don’t cause ice dams, and new gutters won’t cure one by themselves. Gutters that are packed with ice or pitched the wrong way can make it worse, though, and a roof edge without proper flashing gives backed-up water an easy way in. That’s why we look at the roof edge and the gutters together.
Where the water goes after the downspout
A gutter’s whole job is to move water away from the house. Plenty of downspouts end right at the foundation, which defeats the purpose.
Much of the Denver area has clay soils that swell when they get wet and shrink as they dry. Water dumped against the foundation, year after year, works on that cycle. It can find its way into basement walls and window wells, and around slabs and steps.
A few simple fixes go a long way: downspout extensions or splash blocks that carry water several feet out, ground that slopes away from the house, and downspouts placed so they don’t empty onto a walkway that freezes. If water is still pooling against the foundation hours after a storm, the discharge and the grading both need a look.
Signs your gutters need attention
- Icicles or ice buildup along the same stretch every winter
- Gutters pulling away from the fascia, or a run that sags
- Water stains, peeling paint or rot on the fascia board behind the gutter
- Water spilling over the front edge during a storm
- Damp spots in the basement near a downspout
- Dents and splits after a hailstorm
- Seams or corners that drip after the rain stops
The fascia and the roof edge
The fascia is the board along the eave that the gutters attach to. When water gets behind a gutter, the fascia is the first thing to rot. Once it softens, the hangers lose their grip and the gutter starts to pull away.
Drip edge flashing at the roof edge keeps water flowing into the gutter instead of behind it. Many older roofs were installed without it. If the fascia is soft, it should be replaced before new gutters go up, and we handle fascia and soffits too, so it can be done as one job.
Hail damage to gutters
Hail dents aluminum gutters and downspouts, and a hard storm can split seams or crack corners. Dented gutters are also one of the easiest signs from the ground that hail was big enough to damage your roof.
If you file an insurance claim, you file it with your insurer and pay your deductible. We document the damage to the roof and gutters with photos, give you a written estimate and work with your adjuster. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or cover your deductible.
Cleaning and timing
Denver’s cottonwoods shed seeds and fluff in late spring, and leaves come down in fall. Gutters near big trees may need cleaning in both seasons. A gutter that’s clear going into winter is much less likely to fill with ice. Gutter guards can cut down on cleaning, but they don’t stop ice and they still need occasional attention, so they’re a trade-off rather than a fix.
How it works
- Book your free estimate. Call 720-902-6940 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We look at the gutters, the fascia, the roof edge and where the downspouts discharge. You’ll see photos of what we found and get a written estimate.
- Your gutters get installed and the site gets cleaned up. You’ll have the schedule ahead of time.
A gutter pulling off the fascia or a downspout dumping against the foundation is easy to fix now. A winter of ice and a spring of wet soil can turn it into rotted wood and a damp basement.
Gutter questions from Country Club homeowners
Will new gutters stop ice dams?
Not by themselves. Ice dams start with heat escaping into the roof. Gutters that are clear, pitched correctly and backed by drip edge flashing help keep backed-up water out of the house.
How far should my downspouts discharge from the house?
A good rule of thumb is several feet out, onto ground that slopes away from the foundation. Extensions or splash blocks are usually enough.
Can you replace the rotted fascia at the same time?
Yes. Replacing soft fascia before the new gutters go up gives the hangers solid wood to hold onto.
What gutter material holds up best to hail?
Heavier-gauge aluminum and steel both hold up better than thin aluminum. Steel is stiffer, while aluminum won’t rust. You’ll get a recommendation based on your house.
Get gutters in Country Club, Denver looked at
Call 720-902-6940 or request your free estimate online. You can also read about seamless gutters in Denver, our Denver gutters page, or everything we do in Country Club.
What you’re after is a dry basement, a solid roof edge and a winter without a wall of ice at the eaves. Trust matters.
