Rain gutters are a crucial part of any home's exterior as proper water diversion
helps keep the home's foundation, patios, walkways, decks and siding in top condition

Several key things should be looked for when inspecting gutters and down spouts.

• Sagging Gutters - Typically due to loose hangers and gutter spikes
• Rusty GUtters, hangers and spikes - Usually a sign of age
• Blocked gutters - Due to lack of gutter guard or rain gutters were hung
  with water running the wrong way or sagging gutters.

• Loose outlets where the downspout connects to gutter and any downspout elbows
  that are coming apart.

• Downspouts are loose or not connected to the house frame. Straps are missing or
  unattached.

• No Splash guards where spouting runnoff goes.
• Specialty Gutter hangers are unconnected or missing

One element that is often installed on rain gutters is gutter guards. These can range from
simple metal covers to elaborate water runoff management. These often cause more
problems than solutions as they tend to back-up water especially during winter freezes.
Be sure to ask the inspector to look at the edge of the roof and shingles where
one of these systems has been installed. This is where you will typically find rotten wood, mold, moss and debris buildup.

Finding and Seeing problems with a home's gutters are easy to distinguish during
a home inspection while simple solutions are often easily applied. Neglect to these
simple items on your home exterior ultimately will cause future grief and other
problem areas for your home inspection.