Spring Has Sprung in Eastern Iowa—But This Winter’s Snow Left Its Mark on Many Gutters
Happy spring 2024, Eastern Iowa! The calendar says it’s officially the season of renewal—flowers blooming, birds chirping, and hopefully the last of the snow finally gone from our yards. But after the brutal winter we just endured, many homeowners are discovering that the heavy snowfall took a real toll on their gutters.
This past winter (2023–2024) was no joke here in Eastern Iowa. We saw multiple major storms in January alone, dumping record-breaking amounts of snow—some areas got over a foot in just a few days, with totals pushing 15+ inches in places like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and surrounding communities during those back-to-back systems. Wet, heavy snow followed by powdery accumulations and high winds created the perfect recipe for trouble.
We’ve been out inspecting and repairing gutters across the region, and the damage is widespread. Some issues are impossible to miss:
Gutters completely pulled off the fascia
Downspouts bent or detached
Sections sagging dramatically or lying on the ground
But here’s the sneaky part that worries us more: a lot of gutters look “fine” now that the snow has melted. The weight of all that snow and ice pulled the hangers right out of the fascia or stretched them to the breaking point. In many cases, as the load eased during thaw, the gutter popped back roughly into place—making it seem like no harm was done.
Don’t be fooled. Those gutters are severely compromised. The hanger brackets are often destroyed, deformed, or pulled loose, even if the gutter appears seated. Over time (or with the next heavy rain or wind), they’ll fail again—leading to detachment, overflow, foundation issues, or worse.
How to Spot Hidden Snow Damage to Your Gutters
Grab a ladder (safely!) or step back and take a close look this spring:
Light visible between the gutter and fascia — If you can see daylight where the back of the gutter should be tight against the board, the hangers have been pulled out or failed.
The front of the gutter looks unusually wide or flared — The channel may have been stretched or deformed under the weight, changing its shape.
Uneven or wavy appearance — Sections that bowed or twisted under load often don’t return perfectly.
Loose or missing hangers — Peek under the lip; if brackets are bent, cracked, or absent, trouble is coming.
This kind of damage shows up especially often on steel roofs (metal panels shed snow in big sheets that can avalanche into the gutters with tremendous force). We’ve also seen it on steep shingle roofs where snow slides quickly, and of course on any system that was poorly installed to begin with (too-wide hanger spacing, weak fasteners, etc.).
What We’re Doing Differently to Fight Back
We’ve seen enough of this kind of preventable damage that we’ve stepped up our standards significantly.
On all new gutter installs—especially those on steel roofs—we now use an unheard-of 16-inch hanger spacing as our standard (much tighter than the typical 24–32 inches you see elsewhere). This dramatically reduces the chance of sagging or pull-out under heavy snow load.
We’re also strongly encouraging (and often installing) snow guards or snow bars on every steel roof we work on. These small but mighty devices hold snow in place and release it gradually in smaller amounts instead of letting massive sheets slide off all at once—protecting gutters, lower roof edges, landscaping, and anyone walking below.
If your home has a metal roof and no snow management system, this spring is the perfect time to add them before next winter hits.
Don’t Wait for the Next Storm
If you suspect your gutters took a beating this winter—even if they look mostly okay—give us a call for a free inspection. Catching compromised hangers now means a simple bracket replacement or reinforcement instead of a full system replacement later. And if you’re ready for new gutters built to handle Iowa winters, we’ll design them tough from the start.
Spring is here—let’s make sure your home is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us next. Reach out today; we’re already booking inspections and repairs to get everything back in top shape before summer rains arrive.
Stay dry and safe out there, Eastern Iowa! 🌷❄️