Houston Storm-Season Gutter Checklist: What to Check This Week
Why this week
It's the second week of September, which is statistically the busiest week of the Atlantic hurricane season and the middle of Houston's. The Gulf is at its warmest, the fronts that steer storms away haven't started, and the ground is already wet from a summer of afternoon rain. If you didn't do the gutter walk-around in May, this is the last sensible moment to do it. The storms that hit Houston don't need to be hurricanes to tear gutters off a house; a tropical storm with 50 mph gusts will peel back any run that was already loose. Here's what to check, in the order that matters.
The six checks
1. Are the gutters actually attached?
Walk the house and look up at the front edge of every run. Spike-and-ferrule hangers — a big nail through the front of the gutter — back out over time. If you can see nail heads sticking out a quarter inch, or a gutter that's pulled an inch away from the fascia, wind will finish the job. Fix: hidden screw hangers every 24 inches. This is the single most important storm prep on the list, and it's a $150–$300 repair per run. In a normal week we can do it within a few days; the week after a storm, everyone in Harris County is calling.
2. Are the downspouts strapped?
Each downspout should be strapped to the wall at least every 8 feet, with a strap near the top elbow and one near the bottom. Loose downspouts flap in wind and snap at the elbow, and then the whole run is draining at your foundation in the middle of the storm. Straps are $5 each; this is a DIY job if you're comfortable on a ladder. While you're there, push on each elbow — if it wiggles, add a self-tapping screw.
3. Is the fascia solid?
Push a screwdriver into the fascia board behind the gutter at a few spots, especially near corners and downspouts. If it goes in easily, the wood is rotten and the hangers have nothing to hold. This is the one that turns a loose gutter into a gutter on the lawn. Rotted fascia replacement is $8–$20 per foot and has to happen before a gutter can be re-hung; the fascia and soffit repair page covers it.
4. Are the gutters clean and flowing?
The oaks finished in May, the pines and pecans haven't started yet, so a September gutter should be mostly clear — unless the summer's crepe myrtle blossoms and a few months of shingle grit have plugged a downspout. Flush each one with a hose and make sure water comes out the bottom. A clogged downspout in a tropical storm means the gutter fills, gets heavy, and pulls off. Our gutter cleaning visits include a ladder check of everything above.
5. Where does the water go?
Extensions on every downspout, water landing at least four feet from the slab. A stalled tropical system can drop 10 to 20 inches of rain over Houston in two days — Harvey put more than 40 on parts of the east side — and you don't want any of it pooling against the foundation. Downspouts and your Houston slab has the options and prices.
6. Check the roof edge
Look for shingles that have lifted at the eave and for a missing or bent drip edge. Wind gets under lifted shingles first, and a missing drip edge sends water behind the gutter. A roofer can tack down lifted shingles and add drip edge in an hour this week; the same call in the week after a storm is a three-week wait.
The ten-minute version
If you only have ten minutes and a pair of binoculars:
- Front edge of every gutter: any nail heads showing or gaps at the top?
- Every downspout: strapped, connected at the elbows, extension in place?
- Every corner: dark streak on the fascia below it?
- Any run that overflowed in a summer storm? That's where the water will go over again.
Anything you find is a gutter repair call, and storm-prep repairs are usually done within the week in September.
After the storm
If a gutter comes off, take photos before you touch anything — your insurance adjuster will want them. Wind damage to gutters is covered by most Houston homeowners' policies; age and wear aren't, and most Texas policies carry a separate wind-and-hail deductible. We do storm repairs first in line and document damage for the claim. Hurricane gutter damage repair Houston-wide is the one job we never make wait.
Need gutter work in Houston?
Call for a free estimate. Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.