A: Gutter staining, or zebra striping, is caused due to the acidity in rain. When it drips over the edge of the gutter it causes this staining. This will happen over time on most gutters regardless of it they are cleaned out or not, but a overflowing gutter will usually speed up this process.

The only way to remove this striping is with a soft bristle brush and degreaser (see our gutter brightening section to watch a couple videos on the process). When completed, most gutters will look brand new (white) after the work is complete. 

It is however important to note that on homes where the gutters are 10-15 years old or more, that sometimes the paint itself has begun to fade, exposing the aluminum. In this situation the only alternative is having the gutters repainted, and maintaining their cleanliness from that point forward.

A: Having your gutters cleaned out frequently is much more important than many people realize. The purpose of gutters is to collect all excess rain runoff from the roof and divert it away from the home. If your gutters are clogged, they lose their ability to do so. 

Here are some issues that commonly arise with clogged gutters:

1) Gutters are installed in a way that they slant towards the downspouts so that rain naturally runs in that direction. When the gutters are clogged they lose their ability to do this and start to bow and pull away from the home due to the excessive weight in the gutter. This causes irreversible damage in many cases as the structure of the gutter has been compromised. 

2) Due to the bowing of the gutter, water is now able to leak behind the gutter and start to rot the facia board. Once this happens water can leak behind the board and into the home, causing flooding and a leaky roof (we have seen this on many occasions unfortunately).

3) As massive amounts of water accumulate in the gutter, it starts to pour over the side. In extreme situations this can cause damage to the foundation itself, and excessive moisture in the crawlspace which leads to mildew growth. 

4) Rust and other staining can occur on siding from water constantly dripping against the home instead of flowing through the downspouts as it was designed to do. 

5) Rivets and dead grass from water constantly dripping over the side on to the ground around the home. This will also cause mud to splash up on to the house.

6) Harmful insects like ants and termites making a home in the leaves and debris and multiplying. 

All of these issues we have seen on one or many occasions. Preventative maintenance is always the best policy when it comes to the health of your gutters and home.