Are Damaged Gutters Covered By Homeowner’s Insurance?

Windows, siding and roofing are considered key areas of the home, which is why they’re always prioritized during summer maintenance. Other components, such as the gutters, tend to be put on the back burner. They’re visible, sure, but they usually get only a passing glance. And it’s unfortunate because gutters play such an important role in keeping your home dry and intact against water damage. Of course, this changes the moment something goes wrong with them. You might want to call a local seamless gutters company like Barry Best Seamless Gutters if you notice that your gutter system:

• Has standing water in them.
• Seems to be warped or sagging.
• Appears to be pulling away from the fascia board.
• Does not have the proper pitch.
• Has cracks, holes and dents.
• Displays signs of corrosion.
• Overflows whenever it rains.

You’ll also know your gutters are damaged if you spot:

• Mold and rot in the fascia board and side panels.
• Water streaks along your home exterior.
• Furrows on the ground near the opening of the downspouts.
• Pooling water near the base of your home.
• Soil erosion on the landscaping.
• Unexplained presence of water on the basement floor.
• Cracks forming on the paved driveway and walkways.

Gutter repair or replacement should fix the issue, but will your homeowners insurance actually pay for the job? The short answer is yes. Since your gutters are part of your home, your insurance policy should cover for any work related to them. But this doesn’t always guarantee that your insurance provider will pay up when you file that claim. 

Exclusions to Homeowners Insurance Coverage

Most homeowners insurance policies provide coverage against a “named peril” or an “all risks” unless otherwise specified. This usually means damage to your gutters resulting from fire, lightning, vandalism, high winds, flying debris or snow loads. But there are exclusions to this. If gutter damage isn’t caused by a covered peril, the cost of gutter installation or repairs will be 100% your responsibility.

• Wear and Tear

Gutters are designed to be tough and reliable, but like most home components, they’ll break down eventually. If they sustain damage because of old age or weathering, you’re expected to pay for their replacement out of pocket. That’s because age or deterioration isn’t typically covered by insurance companies.

• Poor Maintenance

Insurers see maintenance as the homeowner’s responsibility since most gutter problems are preventable. If gutter damage occurs – or worsens – because the necessary solution is put off, it’s unlikely that your insurance provider will cover its repair or replacement. And this isn’t limited to the gutters themselves. Any damage to your home’s interiors caused by poorly maintained gutters may not be covered by the policy, as well.

What You Should Do

Keeping your gutter insurance coverage intact is simple; just make sure your gutter system remains in tip-top shape. This can be achieved in several different ways. You should, for example:

• Keep your gutters clean. Leaves, pine needles and other loose debris can build up inside open gutters. This creates blockages allowing rainwater to back up and overflow. It’s also possible that standing water inside the gutters will seep through the fascia board and leak into your home. It doesn’t end there – the additional weight generated by the combined debris buildup and standing water puts strain on the gutter system, causing it to sag or pull away from the fascia board. You can avoid all these by having your gutters cleaned regularly by a professional. Cutting back any tree branches hanging over your gutters and roof system should also help.

• Consider having a gutter protection system installed. Open gutters are prone to congestion, but this should no longer be an issue of when you invest in a quality gutter protection system. Also called gutter covers or gutter guards, this optional addition keeps your system safe from blockages by filtering debris and letting only water pass through them. There are many types of gutter protection available today, ranging from mesh and bottle brush, to screen and foam. But the most effective one is found at Barry Best Seamless Gutters.
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• Check out our high-quality gutter guard systems from Gutter Helmet®. Thanks to a patented nose-forward design, which uses the concept of surface tension, rainwater is directed freely and smoothly through a specially-angled slit on the guards. Anything else, such as leaves, pine needles and debris, are shed to fall harmlessly to the ground. With Gutter Helmet guards in place, keeping your gutters clean and clog-free is simpler.

Gutter Helmet also has a number of distinct features that make it stand out among other gutter protection systems. It can be fitted easily over new or existing seamless gutters, for instance. Gutter Helmet guards also work well with asphalt and metal roofing systems. Available in an array of lovely colors, these gutter guards can match seamlessly with your home’s roof, exterior, and trim palette. To add an extra layer of protection to your investment, Gutter Helmet also comes with a Triple Lifetime Warranty. 

• Maintain proper gutter pitch.  Gutters can become loose or detached from the fascia board over time. With the gutters no longer pitched correctly with the adjacent roofline, rainwater may end up gushing past them and into the ground below, instead of being drained through the downspouts. The misalignment may also cause water to pool in some corners of the gutters. You’ll need to call a local gutter specialist like Barry Best Seamless Gutters to deal with this issue. Our professional team can realign your gutters to ensure a proper slope, securing them so they’ll remain firmly attached to the fascia. 

• Head off ice damming. Ice dams occur when snowmelt refreezes along the eaves and gutters during the winter. The additional weight they place on these components can cause severe damage, but how exactly do you prevent this? First things first – make sure your roof has proper attic ventilation. This way, the hot roof won’t melt the ice and snow on its surface, and refreeze it in the gutters. Secondly, you should consider investing in heated gutter systems. 
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  One prime example of this is the Helmet Heat® Ice Reduction System offered by Barry Seamless Gutters. Helmet Heat works through an advanced cable that increases and reduces temperature based on the temperature of your roof. When it gets too cold, this ice reduction system will heat and melt the snow and ice in your gutters so they drain properly through the system. In warmer months, the cable cools down to lower energy consumption and prevent your roof from overheating.

• Have your leaky gutters sealed. Are there holes and cracks along the length of your gutters? You might want to call a professional and have these openings sealed to prevent leaks. Otherwise, the water exposure will leave your home’s siding  and foundation vulnerable to damage. If there are multiple, sizable openings in your gutters, sealing them with a caulking compound may not work anymore; you should plan for a replacement then.

Working With Barry Best Seamless Gutters

When it comes to providing exceptional gutter solutions, Barry Best Seamless Gutters remains unmatched. We are a fully licensed, insured and certified company serving homeowners in Onondaga County and beyond for over 29 years. Delivering the highest quality service has always been our top priority, which is why we’ve partnered with trusted industry brand, Gutter Helmet. With its superior gutter protection and ice reduction systems, and with our own professional team, we’ll help keep your seamless gutters in top form no matter the season, all while keeping your homeowners insurance policy intact.