Gutter Cleaning Needs for Different Types of Properties
Depending on the type of property that you are managing, you may encounter different needs for your building’s gutter system. There are a few things to think about in regard to how work intensive gutter cleaning will be and how often it is needed. Whether your building is commercial or residential, the environment that your building is surrounded by, the shape of your building’s roof, and HOA requirements will all have an impact on your gutter needs.
Commercial vs Residential
There are differences between the gutter types used for commercial and residential buildings. Commercial buildings are generally bigger than residential and require a gutter system that can handle larger quantities of water. Because of this, commercial buildings tend to have larger sectional box style gutters which can be more prone to collecting debris. Residential, on the other hand, tends to use smaller seamless gutters due to less water runoff. Their smaller size can make them clog more easily.
The Surrounding Environment
A huge factor in how often and how work intensive cleaning will be is what type of environment your building is in. Trees are the main culprit of clogged gutters. If there are a lot of trees around your building and your roof is below the tree line, then you will most likely need to clean your gutters more often than if your building is surrounded by the concrete jungle and there are no trees around.
Commercial buildings are often in areas that don’t have lots of trees and often have roofs above the tree line. However, their larger box style gutters will be more prone to collecting debris. It’s still important to regularly clean and maintain these gutters, having overflowing gutters and worse, a gutter collapse, is terrible for your building and for business. A lot of commercial buildings with sectional gutters have many seams that require routine inspections and resealing to help prevent leaks. Residential buildings are often below the tree line and are commonly in areas with lots of trees around. With smaller gutters than commercial, its vital for your home maintenance to get regularly gutter cleanings, and it may be a good idea to install gutter guards.
Wind is another factor to think about. Windier areas will have more debris moving around that can find itself in your gutter. We get a fair amount of wind in the Pacific Northwest, so keep an eye on your gutters. Pests using your gutters as a nesting place is also more common in areas with plant life around, however, this can occur in the city as well.
The Shape of Your Building’s Roof
Pitched roofs will generally need a gutter system, but what if your roof is flat? Flat roofs will often use internal drains or scuppers. Internal drains will often have a slight pitch to a drain around the center of the building. Scuppers will drain to downspouts on the perimeter of the roof. It’s vital to maintain these because a flat roof with a clogged drainage system will inevitably lead to standing water and costly water damage repairs.
HOA Requirements
Homeowner’s associations will often have rules about how often and what type of gutters are required for your home. Definitely check your HOA rules if you are planning on replacing your gutters, you may need to get approval or use specific materials/ styles. Running into issues with the HOA after doing a bunch of work is no fun. Home Owners Associations also dictate where your gutter and tree debris can be disposed of. Working with a company who knows the common differences, and can also take the debris away with them may be very important.
Apartment buildings come in many shapes and sizes. It’s important to think about what kind of building you have, does it resemble more of a residential or commercial building? What kind of gutter/ drainage system does it have? Is it taller than the surrounding trees? This will help you determine how to approach your gutter needs.
SNUGS has the equipment and the expertise to help you with your gutter maintenance needs, no matter what kind of property you are managing. Schedule regular cleanings and rest assured knowing your property is well taken care of. SNUGS has services available days, nights or weekends so you can schedule at your convenience.
Snugs Pro Wash, Inc, dba SNUGS Services, has been providing high quality Pressure Washing Services in Portland, OR since 1995. Started as a residential pressure washing and roof cleaning service, SNUGS is now one of the leading exterior cleaning companies in the Northwest. From our humble beginnings as a man with a truck and a trailer we have grown to become a multi-million dollar company serving corporate customers, name brands, and mom and pop companies alike.