Your gutters are more than curb appeal! They’re the channel that protects your roof, walls, foundation, and landscaping from water damage. In Staten Island and South Brooklyn homes, where heavy rainfall, coastal conditions and aging systems combine, a failing gutter system is one of the most overlooked maintenance items until major damage sets in. Here’s how to tell if your gutters are failing.

Warning Signs of Failing Gutters

• Overflowing water during rainstorms even with downspouts clear.

• Sagging or pulling gutters away from the fascia board.

• Shingle edges are curling or granules are shedding near the eaves.

• Basement or crawl space walls show water streaks or damp spots near the footings.

• Downspouts terminate into loose soil or gap to the foundation, causing erosion.

• Visible rust, holes or sections of missing gutter.

• Paint peeling or wood rot under the gutter line indicating water exposure.

Why This Issue Is Common Locally

Older homes in 103xx / 11209 / 11214 / 11228 often still have the original metal gutters or undersized systems. With coastal winds, salt air, and heavy rain events, gutters may simply be overwhelmed or degraded. When they fail, water is diverted into the siding, roof edge, landscaping or foundation, not where it’s supposed to go.

What You Should Do

• Inspect your gutter system after a heavy rain to see where water is going and how it’s handling the load.

• Check for sagging, misalignment or seams opening up - these are early structural failures.

• Confirm downspouts extend at least 6-8 ft from the foundation in older homes or empties into proper drainage.

• If you see multiple signs above, budget for a full gutter replacement rather than spot repairs, it may save you thousands in roof edge or foundation damage.

When you’re walking through a property in Staten Island or Brooklyn, the gutter line often gives you an easy visual cue about maintenance and value and I’ll help you spot it.

—

Joseph Ranola | Five-Star Staten Island & South Brooklyn Realtor® (30 + Google reviews)
Associate Broker · Matias Real Estate | Founder · Bridge & Boro Team
Serving 103xx and 11209 / 11214 / 11228 | $25 M + closed volume
📞 917-716-1496 | ranolarealestate.com