Clogged Gutters and Your Roof: 6 Problems They Cause

Gutters have one job: catch the water coming off the roof and send it away from the house. When they fill with leaves, that water still has to go somewhere, and it usually goes where it does the most damage.

In Louisville, most of the leaves come down in late fall. A gutter that's half full in October can be packed solid by the first hard freeze.

What happens when a gutter overflows

A clogged gutter doesn't just spill over the front. Water backs up and runs behind the gutter, along the fascia board and the edge of the roof deck. Those are the parts of the house least able to handle it.

1. Rotted fascia and soffit

The fascia is the board the gutter hangs on. When water sits against it, the wood stays wet and rots, and the soffit underneath follows. Soft, stained or peeling wood along the eaves is the first sign.

2. Damage to the roof edge

Behind the fascia is the edge of the roof deck and the first row of shingles. Water that backs up there soaks the decking and the drip edge. Rotted decking at the eaves often isn't found until the roof is replaced.

3. Leaks at the eaves and walls

Once water gets behind the fascia, it can run into the soffit, down the inside of the wall, or into the attic at the eaves. These leaks often get blamed on the roof itself.

4. Ice in the gutters

A gutter full of wet leaves freezes solid in a cold snap. Melting snow then has nowhere to drain, and water can back up under the bottom row of shingles. The weight of the ice also pulls on the gutter.

5. Gutters pulling away

Wet leaves and standing water are heavy. Over time the hangers loosen, the gutter sags, and it starts pulling away from the fascia. Then water runs straight down the wall.

6. Water at the foundation

When gutters overflow, water lands right next to the house instead of being carried away by the downspouts. That means soggy beds, washed-out mulch, water in the basement or crawl space, and ice on walkways and steps in winter.

What to check this fall

You don't need to get on a ladder to spot most gutter problems:

• Watch the gutters during a heavy rain. Water spilling over the front or back means a clog or a bad slope.

• Look for sagging sections or gaps where the gutter has pulled away.

• Check the fascia and soffit for stains, peeling paint or soft spots.

• Make sure each downspout actually puts water out, and that it lands away from the foundation.

• Look for plants growing in the gutters. If something's growing, it's been clogged a while.

If you clean them yourself, use a stable ladder, and never lean it against the gutter.

Do gutter guards help?

Gutter guards cover the gutter so leaves stay out while water gets in. They cut down on cleaning a lot, especially on houses with big trees nearby, but they don't make gutters maintenance-free. Small debris and roof granules can still build up, and the guards themselves need an occasional check. We install gutter guards and can tell you whether they make sense for your house.

When it's more than a gutter problem

If the fascia or decking is already soft, cleaning the gutters won't fix it. The rotted wood needs replacing, and the roof edge should be checked. A free roof inspection covers the drip edge, soffit, fascia, gutters and downspouts, with photos of what we find. If water has already caused a leak, see our roof leak repair page. Property managers can use our pre-winter roof checklist for whole buildings.

Common questions

How often should gutters be cleaned?

At least twice a year: in late fall after the leaves are down, and in spring. Houses under big trees may need it more often.

Can clogged gutters cause roof leaks?

Yes. Water backing up at the eaves can soak the roof deck and run under the bottom row of shingles, especially when the gutters freeze.

Do gutter guards mean I never have to clean my gutters?

No. They keep most leaves out, but fine debris and shingle granules can still collect, so plan on an occasional check.

Should I replace my gutters when I replace my roof?

It's a good time to look at them. If they're old, sagging or damaged, replacing them along with the roof lets the new gutters and the roof edge be set up together.

Schedule a gutter and roof edge check

3 Peaks Roofing installs and repairs gutters, gutter guards, soffit and fascia, and roofs across Louisville, Jefferson and Bullitt counties, La Grange and Southern Indiana. Call 502-864-7663 (Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 5 PM) or request a free inspection.