How New Gutters Can Prevent Your Attic from Growing Mold

“Mold” is the four letter word every homeowner dreads hearing. While common in how often it occurs, mold in the home can be a challenging, not to mention unhealthy, problem to have. While most believe that mold only happens in basements and bathrooms, the attic can be a hotspot for its growth too. While there is more than one cause to mildew in the attic, an old gutter system is a common culprit.

Why do worn gutters lead to mold in the attic? To answer this question you first need to understand how and why mold forms. Mold needs three things to grow: moisture, warmth and food. Attic’s often already have the warmth and the food for growth. Old gutters provide the moisture.

When gutters surpass their usefulness, they begin to become inefficient at draining the excess water away. Ice damming and clogs can occur. When either of these happen water is pushed back into the home. And what’s right behind the gutters? Your attic space. Water begins to penetrate the insulation, roof deck and others areas surrounding the attic space. As the moisture continues to build, mold starts wreaking havoc in the area.

The best way to ensure your attic stays dry and mildew-free is by keeping it protected. Installing new gutters will increase your ability to shed rainwater safely away from the home. You won’t have to worry about whether there are leaks, wood rot or mold hidden beneath the surface.

Replacing worn gutters also allows you to enjoy the many benefits of a new system. New gutters work more efficiently to drain excess water. They also increase the curb appeal of the home. When it comes time to sell, you can list this renovation as one of the property’s great selling features.

When it comes time to plan your next project trust the new gutter installation to only the most experienced, professional contractors. For those in the Lake Forest area, that team is Custom Installations. We are experts at exterior renovations and repairs including roofing, siding, windows and gutters. As a fully-licensed and insured contracting company based in Chicago, you can be rest-assured we’ll treat your home as if it was our own giving it the care and attention it deserves.

Schedule your gutter replacement today!