Homeowner's Corner

Mould in Attic
Clogged downpipes and ice dams in eavestrough result in water back up. This soaks through the roof/fascia or causes ice build-up under the shingles that result in water entering the attic. When water comes into contact with any organic material ex. wood rafters, drywall, plywood, etc. mould may form.

Soaked Ceilings
Water will follow the path of least resistance. If you have water coming into your attic, water may come through your ceiling, light fixtures, etc. mould can form.

Damaged and Mildewed Walls
The same water that has now soaked your attic and ruined your ceiling is not done yet! Finding the path of least resistance, the water will drip down the inside of the walls potentially causing electrical damage to your homes¡¯ wiring and again forming mould along the way. Drywall will become weak and begin to breakdown, water stains will become visible. A large influx of water can become devastating to your homes integrity.

Soaked Roof Deck
Asphalt shingles are very resilient and can last 20 ¨C 25 years when installed properly. However, if clogged eavestroughs are holding and spilling water over, this water will eventually soak the shingles at the edges of the roof. Shingles that are constantly wet will breakdown faster than other parts of the roof and lead to the need for replacement of the roof before you can get the most out of your investment.

Rotten Fascia and Soffit
If water is not flowing freely from your downpipes, this probably means that water is sitting in your eavestrough. When the water starts to spill out and over the eavestrough the water can go anywhere. This water is also getting back behind the eavestrough soaking; the wooden fascia and wooden soffit. The eavestrough is secured to the roof through the fascia board. When this wood becomes constantly wet it will eventually rot and its integrity and ability to keep the eavestrough on the roof will be affected and will likely lead to loose or hanging eavestrough.

Damaged Siding
When water is backed up, it can flow inside or outside your walls. It can flow down the outside of your interior walls or could flow down the inside of your exterior walls. If you have siding (vinyl, aluminum or wood), water flowing behind the siding will eventually rot the back board and/or insulation and the alignment of the siding will become altered eventually causing pieces of siding to become loose and/or fall off completely. Should you have a stucco facade , water stains will be very evident, also cracks in the stucco will appear.

Cracked Patio, Porche and Driveway
Leaks from corners or seams in your eavestrough are inevitable. If left unattended these drips, depending on what kind of surface is beneath them, will slowly erode away at porches, patio stones, walkway paths, asphalt driveways even concrete.

Erosion of Flower Beds and Landscaping
Water that spills over or behind the eavestrough, or from leaks in the seams can wreak havoc on landscaped bushes and flowerbeds and can turn regular grass into mud. This water will also drown all types of flora and fauna, making expensive landscaping void and unsightly.

Cracked Foundations
If you ask any waterproofing company they will tell you that water from buried downpipes or water spillage from clogged eavestrough will definitely contribute to wet basements and cracks in your foundation walls. Should your weeping tile be clogged or if your foundation wall is porous or cracked, rampant water may find its way into your home.

Buckling Basement Walls
The same water that will wet your basement will also seep through the mortar of a block basement wall and weaken its integrity, possibly shifting the wall and making it more prone to buckle. This will only happen in extreme circumstances where water has been left unchecked for long periods of time.

Mould in Crawl Space
Very few houses have crawl spaces instead of basements in Toronto however these crawl spaces are very likely to develop because of the amount of moisture that collects under the house. It is normally damp in these crawlspaces due to lack of sunlight, additional water from spilling eavestrough will dramatically increase the ability of mould to form.

Hazardous Ice at Your Front Door!
Ice patches are a slippery and dangerous part of winter. Nothing is worse than a re-occurring ice patch in your driveway, walkway, porch or by your front door. Not only is it treacherous those walking to or around the house but it is destructive to your walking areas as well. Constant salting and scraping of ice, leaves the concrete weak, cracked and chipped up. Cracked concrete acts like a reservoir and melted ice will run into these cracks, re-freeze and expand causing further cracking and damage.

Ice Dams in Winter Can Tear The Gutters Right Off Your Home!
Ice dams have become a serious problem in recent winters. Due to climate change, precipitation increases, poor sunlight exposure, poor attic insulation and venting ice dams are ruining thousands of roofs and eavestrough systems across Toronto annually. These dams can also lead to icicles that loom dangerously overhead of doors and walkways, threatening serious injury should it suddenly fall. Dams that build up from the eavestrough almost always finds their way under the shingles, past protective membranes, attics and ceiling, causing costly damage to drywall and wooden finishing.

Mosquitoes and Spread of West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is a virus that is spread through contact with infected mosquitoes. It first surfaced in Canada in 2002. The City of Toronto believes it is a big enough threat to its population that it employs teams armed with pesticides and repellents, ordered to remove standing or stagnant water wherever it may lie. A homeowner should assume responsibility for removing stagnant water on their property. Clogged eavestroughs are a great place to start, improperly sloped or hanging eavestrough are also contributors to breeding grounds for mosquitoes.