How to Spot Gutter Damage After a Severe Storm

June 29,2026

Severe storms are tough on New Hampshire homes. Whether it is a winter nor’easter packing heavy snow or a summer thunderstorm with high winds, our weather can take a heavy toll. According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, severe storms account for nearly half of all disaster declarations in New Hampshire since 1980. After the clouds clear, you probably look at your roof or your yard for damage. But how often do you check your gutters?

Gutters are your home’s defense against water, and storm damage can completely disrupt how they work. Catching the issues early prevents expensive water damage down the road.

Why Should You Look At the Ground First?

You do not need to climb a ladder right away to look for problems. In fact, some of the clearest signs of gutter trouble are waiting for you right on the grass or pavement.

Take a walk around your foundation. Look for lines of washed-away soil or displaced mulch directly beneath your roofline. When gutters overflow during heavy New Hampshire rains, the cascading water punches into the dirt below. You should also look for pools of standing water near your basement walls.

If you notice puddles that refuse to drain hours after the storm, your downspouts are likely failing to move water away from the house. While you are walking, check for fallen gutter spikes, screws, or brackets. If hardware is lying in the grass, it means the storm tore the system loose somewhere above.

What Are the Warning Signs up on the Roofline?

Once you finish checking the ground, look up at the gutters themselves. Are they straight, or do they look crooked? Severe winds and heavy debris can easily warp metal channels.

Look closely for sagging sections. A healthy gutter system has a subtle slope toward the downspouts. If a section bends downward in the middle, water will pool there instead of flowing away. This pooling creates a heavy buildup that pulls the brackets away from your fascia boards.

You should also check the seams. If you have sectional gutters, storm winds can split the joints apart. Look for water dripping from the seams long after the rain stops, or look for dark water stains running down the outside of the metal.

How Does the Siding Show Gutter Trouble?

Your siding tells a story about how well your gutters survived the storm. Water should always flow smoothly through the channels and down the pipes, never over the sides.

If your gutters overflowed during the storm, they will leave evidence on your walls. Look for peeling paint, wood rot, or active mold growth on your siding. In New Hampshire’s humid summer months, trapped moisture behind siding leads to rot very quickly.

Intense coastal and regional storm events cause massive localized moisture stress. On a smaller scale, failing gutters create that exact same stress on your home’s exterior walls, wearing down your paint and siding materials prematurely.

Why Do Small Cracks Matter So Much?

A tiny crack might not look like a big deal, but it can quickly become an expensive nightmare.

During a storm, hail or flying branches can puncture your gutters. If you leave these small holes alone, the water seeps through and rots the wooden boards behind the gutter. Even worse, during our freezing winters, water gets trapped in those cracks, expands into ice, and splits the metal wide open.

When Should You Call a Professional for Help?

Checking your gutters from the safety of the ground is smart, but fixing the damage requires specialized tools and ladder work. If you notice sagging metal, separated joints, or water pooling by your foundation, it is time to bring in an expert.

At Udderly Gutters, we know exactly what New Hampshire storms do to local homes. Our team can safely inspect your system, patch leaks, reinforce brackets, or replace ruined sections before the next storm rolls through.

Do not let a hidden leak damage your foundation or rot your siding. Call Udderly Gutters today at (603) 899-2465 to schedule your post-storm gutter inspection and protect your home.