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Gutters and Roof Edge Work in Cedar Park
The bottom eighteen inches of the roof does more work than the rest of it, and under live oaks and cedars it also collects the most fuel.
Gutters move roof water away from the siding, the trim and the slab. When they clog, water goes over the back and soaks the fascia board and the soffit.
The contractor replaces or re-hangs gutters, adds downspouts where runs are too long, fits drip edge and guards, and repairs the first rows of shingles.
What Clogs Them Here
Cedar Park is on the limestone side of the Balcones Escarpment, where the native cover is live oak and Ashe juniper, the tree everyone here calls cedar. Live oaks drop their leaves in spring, not fall, right as the storm season starts. Cedar needles are small enough to slip past coarse screens and mat down in the trough.
The result is gutters that are full in April and May, when the heavy rain and the hail arrive.
Terrain: University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology description of the country west of the Balcones Escarpment. The tree species damaged in the 2023 ice storm, including live oak and Ashe juniper, are listed by the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Parts of the Roof Edge
- Drip edge. An L-shaped metal strip under the first shingles that sends water into the gutter and not behind it. Missing on many older roofs.
- Starter row. The sealed first course of shingles. Wind peels a roof from here.
- Gutter and hangers. Seamless aluminum formed on site is the usual choice. Hanger spacing and slope toward the outlet decide whether it holds water.
- Downspouts. Enough of them, sized for the roof area, discharging away from the house.
- Kickout flashing. A small diverter where a roof edge ends against a wall. Without it, water runs down the siding at that spot for years.
- Guards. Fine-mesh guards keep out cedar needles better than wide slots. None is maintenance-free.
The Ember Side of It
On August 8, 2023 the Parmer Lane Fire in Cedar Park burned 37 acres. KXAN reported the fire chief's account that it moved from grass into a tree and from the tree to an apartment building.
Dry leaves and needles in a gutter are kindling sitting against the edge of the roof deck. Keeping gutters clean in a dry summer, fitting metal guards and having metal drip edge at the eave are small jobs a roofing contractor can do on the same visit.
More on the fire edge page.
Questions About Gutters and Roof Edge in Cedar Park
How often should gutters be cleaned here?
At least after the live oaks finish dropping leaves in spring and again in late fall. Houses directly under trees need it more often.
Do gutter guards work with cedar needles?
Fine stainless mesh does better than perforated or slotted covers, which needles pass through. Debris still collects on top and needs brushing off.
Is gutter work covered by the no-permit rule?
The city's list of work needing a permit does not include gutters. If you are unsure about a specific job, the building office number is 512-401-5100.
Gutters Overflowing or Pulling Loose?
A local contractor can fix the edge of the roof before the water reaches the trim.
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