Your foundation problem might be a gutter problem
We get called for roof leaks and find gutter failures. We get called for cracked walls and sticking doors, and we walk outside and find the actual culprit standing in plain sight: a downspout that empties into a hole next to the foundation.
These are connected and most homeowners don't connect them.
The chain
One inch of rain on a 1,500 sqft roof produces around 900 gallons of water. Working gutters carry that water 4 to 6 feet away from the foundation. Failing gutters dump it directly against the brick or stem wall.
A few seasons of that, and you get:
- Soil saturation right at the foundation perimeter.
- Differential settlement — one corner of the house drops a little faster than the others.
- Hairline cracks in interior drywall, doors that won't latch, gaps appearing in trim.
- In the worst cases, an actual foundation repair invoice in five figures.
You fix the gutters, and the soil dries out, and the slow drift slows down. You don't fix the gutters, and you eventually pay a foundation contractor instead of a gutter contractor.
Four things to check on yours this month
1. Are they actually clean? Get a ladder and look in. If you see anything that isn't water — leaves, shingle grit, a tennis ball — the gutter is restricted. Even a partial restriction backs water up against the fascia and over the edge.
2. Where does the downspout end? It should discharge at least 4 feet from the foundation and onto soil that slopes away from the house. If the splash block is right next to the wall, or worse, missing entirely, you have an overflow problem regardless of how clean the gutter is.
3. Are the seams holding? Walk the gutter line during a rain (or with a hose) and look for dripping seams. Sectional gutters leak at the joints over time. Seamless gutters don't have that problem.
4. Does the fascia behind the gutter look dark or soft? Rotten fascia is a sign that water has been backing up behind the gutter for years. The gutter needs to come off, the fascia needs to be repaired or replaced, and you need new fasteners.
When to call a pro
If you're seeing water inside the house, doors are sticking that weren't, or you've already had a foundation contractor out — get the gutters looked at. It's the cheapest leverage point in the whole drainage chain.
We do seamless gutters in K-style and half-round, gutter cleaning, and gutter replacement. If you're not sure what you've got, we'll come out and tell you.