The rain gutters on building 35 were installed in August, 2007. At that time I pointed out that they almost immediately failed to operate properly due to the large amount of leaves that the gutter collects (because there are so many trees nearby). Click here to see a post from that time that shows the water running over the edge and down the side of the building rather than channeling down the downspout as it should.
Since that time nearly two years ago I have been asking for leave guards to be installed on our rain gutters. We have had visits from the maintenance crew to remove the leaves that clog the downspout. In fact, they cleaned out our gutters within the past two months. Unfortunately, the trees shed their leaves so quickly that it would require much more frequent cleaning.
The latest rainstorm gave me an opportunity to take some pictures to demonstrate the problem we are having. It is hard to see in this picture, but the 50 foot long gutter that spans across two units in the back of the building has water pouring over the side and running down the building. The water breaches right at the point of the spot light in the picture below.
In August 2007 two buildings next to building 35 were fitted with the requested leaf guards. Pictured above is the downspout of one of those buildings during last night's storm. Compare the volume of water coming out of that spout to the amount of water coming out of the downspout in building 35, pictured below. You can see that the run off volume is much smaller for building 35. The water is restricted because the gutter has been clogged with leaves.
The consequence to having the water run down the side of the building rather than down the downspout of the rain gutter system is that the water infiltrates all the little cracks and fissures of the buildings siding. Over a long period of time that can only lead to problems of mold and rot. Evidence that the water is infiltrating the cracks can be seen on a back porch in building 35 where a porch with a roof has been installed. Water drops amounting to decent sized "leaks" can be seen where the siding cracks allow the water to bypass the caulking along the sealed joint of the roof to the side of the building, pictured above and below.
While the leaks into the porch might be a little bit annoying, it is the water infiltration into the siding of the whole building that is most alarming. Building 35 recently spent a collective amount of approximately $200,000 to have their building refurbished. Much of the expense of that project was due to water damage caused by infiltration. Part of the solution to the problem of water damage was to install rain gutters.
But our rain gutters do not work properly because they get clogged with leaves. The leaves do not get cleaned out often enough. Neighboring buildings got leaf guards but building 35 did not. The problem has been reported, even pictured and posted right here for all to see.
As a unit owner I am not allowed to install them myself. I am also not allowed to contract with someone to have them installed. All I am allowed to do is ask the Board of Directors, the Property Manager, etc.
So I am asking, "Please install leaf guards on the rain gutters of building 35."
Steve Frahm
building 35, unit 06
Since that time nearly two years ago I have been asking for leave guards to be installed on our rain gutters. We have had visits from the maintenance crew to remove the leaves that clog the downspout. In fact, they cleaned out our gutters within the past two months. Unfortunately, the trees shed their leaves so quickly that it would require much more frequent cleaning.
The latest rainstorm gave me an opportunity to take some pictures to demonstrate the problem we are having. It is hard to see in this picture, but the 50 foot long gutter that spans across two units in the back of the building has water pouring over the side and running down the building. The water breaches right at the point of the spot light in the picture below.
In August 2007 two buildings next to building 35 were fitted with the requested leaf guards. Pictured above is the downspout of one of those buildings during last night's storm. Compare the volume of water coming out of that spout to the amount of water coming out of the downspout in building 35, pictured below. You can see that the run off volume is much smaller for building 35. The water is restricted because the gutter has been clogged with leaves.
The consequence to having the water run down the side of the building rather than down the downspout of the rain gutter system is that the water infiltrates all the little cracks and fissures of the buildings siding. Over a long period of time that can only lead to problems of mold and rot. Evidence that the water is infiltrating the cracks can be seen on a back porch in building 35 where a porch with a roof has been installed. Water drops amounting to decent sized "leaks" can be seen where the siding cracks allow the water to bypass the caulking along the sealed joint of the roof to the side of the building, pictured above and below.
While the leaks into the porch might be a little bit annoying, it is the water infiltration into the siding of the whole building that is most alarming. Building 35 recently spent a collective amount of approximately $200,000 to have their building refurbished. Much of the expense of that project was due to water damage caused by infiltration. Part of the solution to the problem of water damage was to install rain gutters.
But our rain gutters do not work properly because they get clogged with leaves. The leaves do not get cleaned out often enough. Neighboring buildings got leaf guards but building 35 did not. The problem has been reported, even pictured and posted right here for all to see.
As a unit owner I am not allowed to install them myself. I am also not allowed to contract with someone to have them installed. All I am allowed to do is ask the Board of Directors, the Property Manager, etc.
So I am asking, "Please install leaf guards on the rain gutters of building 35."
Steve Frahm
building 35, unit 06
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