Gutter Clog Notes to Water Damage Risk Explanation
Takes a technician's notes about what was clogging the gutters and downspouts and explains, in plain English, what each problem can do to the house if water keeps backing up.
Before and after
Hi Ines,
Thanks for having Isaac Osborn out to 8025 Ivybank St today. You told us water pours over your front door when it rains. Here is what we found, and we believe it explains it.
The front right downspout was completely blocked by maple seeds and wet leaves. With nowhere to go, water stood in the gutter and spilled over the front right corner, which is the water you are seeing near your front door. Isaac cleaned the front run and the downspout, and water flows through them now.
Safety concern, recommended now
- The middle of the front gutter is sagging over your front walkway, and three spikes holding it are loose. Isaac marked this as a safety concern because that section could drop. We recommend having it re-secured.
Recommended now
- There is brown staining on the fascia board (the board behind the gutter) under the front right corner, and Isaac found a hand-sized soft spot when he pressed on it. Water that sits against wood can lead to damage over time. We cannot tell you what is causing the soft spot or how far it goes, so we recommend having a licensed roofer or carpenter look at it.
- There is dark, wet soil along the foundation at the front right. Water that spills near a foundation can soak the ground there. We cannot say whether any water got inside, so we recommend having a licensed professional check it, and checking inside near that corner yourself.
Also recommended
- The back gutter run was about half clogged with moss and shingle grit, and the back downspout was draining slowly. Isaac cleaned both and it flows well now. Buildup like this can lead to the same overflow problem we saw in front.
- The back downspout empties right at the wall with no splash block. Water landing there can soak the ground next to the house, so we recommend adding a splash block or a downspout extension.
- A small sapling was growing in the gutter at the back left corner. Isaac pulled it. Roots and plants in a gutter can hold debris and block flow, so we recommend having that corner checked for any remaining roots or growth.
Checked and good
- The left side gutter run and its downspout were clear and in good shape.
If you would like to go ahead with any of these, or you have questions, call us at 206-555-0119. The decision is always yours, and we will note anything you decide to decline.
Kettlebank Gutter Cleaning
Questions for the owner
- Do you want to include a price for re-securing the front gutter section or adding a splash block or extension?
- Does Kettlebank do the fascia repair, or should we name a roofer or carpenter to refer Ines to?
- Did Isaac check inside the house near the front right corner or in a basement or crawl space? If so, what did he see?
What it does
Takes a technician's notes about what was clogging the gutters and downspouts and explains, in plain English, what each problem can do to the house if water keeps backing up. Written so the customer understands what was found without being scared or pressured.
Use it when: Use when a gutter cleaning business needs to turn a technician's notes about clogs and debris into a plain-English explanation of the water damage risk for the customer, such as: explain what the clog could do, write up what we found in the gutters, or tell the customer why this matters.