GUTTERS, FASCIA & CHIMNEYS / New Braunfels, Texas

Gutters, downspouts, fascia, and chimneys

Gutters are the least interesting part of a house right up until they fail, at which point they become a foundation problem. In this region, where the ground moves with moisture, that is not a small thing.

Why it matters

What gutters are actually protecting.

A roof sheds an enormous volume of water in a Central Texas downpour, and gutters exist to move that water away from the foundation. When they fail, it saturates the soil against the house.

Expansive clay soils in this region swell when wet and shrink when dry, and that cycle is one of the most common causes of foundation movement in Texas homes. A failed gutter is a cheap problem that becomes an expensive one.

Common failures

How gutters, fascia, and chimneys fail here.

Hail dents and deformation, which also corroborate a hail claim on the roof
Sagging or pulling away where fasteners have loosened or the fascia behind has softened
Undersized gutters or too few downspouts for the roof area draining into them
Debris packing from overhanging oaks and pecans, causing overflow behind the gutter
Rotten fascia board, usually the result of water that has been overflowing behind the gutter for a season or more
Drip edge missing or installed incorrectly, letting water track behind the gutter by design
Cracked flashing or deteriorated chimney seals that allow water intrusion around the roofline

Timing

Do it with the roof.

Gutters have to come off for a proper tear-off anyway, and the drip edge and roof edge detail are installed at the same line. Replacing them together means one mobilisation, one crew, and a roof edge that’s detailed correctly rather than worked around.

If the fascia behind the gutter has softened, that’s the moment to deal with it — while it’s exposed and visible.

Chimney flashing and roof penetrations should also be inspected when roof-edge or drainage work is being completed.

Sort the roof edge properly.

We’ll assess the gutters, drip edge, fascia, and chimney flashing together and quote the work as one coordinated scope.