When it comes to roof replacement, most homeowners will focus on whether they need new tiles or shingles for their roofing. However, an often overlooked yet highly significant feature of your roofing is the gutters. Although gutters are designed for durability, they do become susceptible to wear and tear over time. If the gutters are not professionally attended to as needed, they will begin to deteriorate and pose the risk of irrevocable damage to your roofing and structure at large. As such, it is essential for homeowners to keep their gutters in mind when contemplating roofing care and maintenance. So how do you know if your gutters are posing the risk of roof replacement? 

The gutters have come loose

For your gutters to work at optimum, they need to be tightly secured to your structure. Staying in place is what allows them to sufficiently collect run-off from the roof and redirect this precipitation away from your home. When you start to notice that the gutters are either hanging or are loose, this should be a red flag of potential roof repairs or replacement. If the gutters are sagging, it means water has the chances of collecting on your roof. When this pooling water is left unchecked, your shingles or shakes will become damaged, leading to their eventual replacement. Moreover, loose gutters will not be able to keep water away from your residence, and this poses the risk of foundation damage.

The gutters are cracked or corroded

Another warning that you need to attend to your gutters before they cause your roof to become damaged is signs of corrosion or cracking. A common assumption homeowners have about rust and cracks is that they simply affect the aesthetics of the gutters. In reality, these structural damages increase the chances of leaks developing in your gutters. You will also find that organic matter can become trapped in the cracks, which cause the formation of blockages in your gutters. Blocked gutters will, in turn, pose the risk of water pooling, leading to roof damage. Any visible signs of structural damages to your gutters should incite you to hire a roofer to examine them and determine if they should be repaired or replaced.

The exterior walls show signs of damage

In some instances, your gutters may not show visible evidence of damage. Nonetheless, the exterior walls or cladding may look to be deteriorating much faster than they should. These damages could be in the form of peeling paint, crumbling brick and more. More often than not, this could imply your gutters have an undetected leak, which would translate into the water collecting under your roofing and causing damage that could mean repairs or replacement.