Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance: What to Check After the First Real Snowstorm This Winter

Denver’s first real snowfall of the season arrived, and with it comes the annual wake-up call: winter exposes every weakness in your home’s gutter system, roof insulation, drainage, solar setup, and snow-shedding patterns. At CO Gutter Pros, we specialize in helping homeowners across the Denver metro area protect their homes from freeze–thaw damage, ice buildup, sagging gutters, and dangerous runoff.

Here’s what every homeowner should be inspecting now that the first storm has hit.

1. Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance: Ice Buildup & Early Ice Dams

Even small icicles or thin ice sheets forming along the gutter edge are early signs of:

• Heat escaping the attic

• Cold, uninsulated eaves

• Gutters holding water or debris

• Meltwater refreezing before draining

Early ice dams can quickly grow into roof leaks, shingle damage, and costly repairs. After the first snow, walk the perimeter of your home and look closely at the gutter line for any ice ridges or overflows.

2. Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance: Look for Zebra Striping & Insulation Issues

Zebra striping, like in this picture, can become a gutter and drainage issue. Uneven snow melt causes ice to build up on and below your gutters.

One of the best inspections you can do doesn’t require a ladder — just step across the street.

Look for:

• Zebra striping: alternating melted and snowy lines

• Uneven melt patterns

• Hot spots where snow disappears faster

• Snow melting directly toward the gutter edge

These patterns indicate insulation gaps or warm attic air escaping. Poor insulation warms the roof from the inside, causing snow to melt even when temperatures are below freezing. That meltwater runs to the cold gutter edge and freezes, creating ice dams.

If you see zebra striping, address insulation and ventilation before the next storm. Need help or guidance call (720) 440 - RAIN to talk to a gutter expert.

3. Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance for Older Spike-and-Ferrule Gutters

Many Denver metro homes built from the 1960s through the 1990s still have their original spike-and-ferrule gutter systems. The first heavy snow of the season usually reveals their weaknesses.

Why these older gutters begin to fail:

• Spikes back out as freeze–thaw cycles loosen wood fascia

• Heavy snow load stresses aging fasteners

• Ice buildup forces spikes outward

• Fascia boards soften or rot behind the gutter

What you’ll see:

• Gutters pulling away from the fascia

• Sagging sections or dips

• Water spilling behind the gutter

• Noticeable gaps between gutter and roofline

Once spikes start backing out, they never hold tight again. Upgrading to hidden hangers restores strength, slope, and long-term reliability.

4. Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance: Sidewalk Ice Hazards from Gutter Overflow

One of the most dangerous winter issues isn’t on the roof — it’s on the ground.

When gutters overflow or leak during melt cycles, water drips onto:

• Sidewalks

• Driveways

• Porch entrances

• Stairs

• Walkpaths

By evening, that meltwater freezes into solid sheets of ice, creating major slip hazards.

Common causes include:

• Clogged gutters or downspouts

• Improper slope

• Loose or sagging sections

• Leaking miters

• Spike-and-ferrule pull-away

• Downspouts draining too close to concrete

If you see wet streaks across walkways during the day, expect dangerous ice by night.

5. Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance: Sagging Gutters from Heavy Snow Load

Denver’s snow can be light and fluffy — until the sun hits it. Then it becomes heavy, dense, and ice-packed.

Check your gutter line for:

• Bowing or sagging

• Hangers pulling loose

• Sections filled with solid ice

• Gutters leaning forward

• Watermarks on the fascia

Sagging gutters lose their slope and stop draining, which accelerates ice buildup and can result in gutters fully detaching from the home.

6. Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance: Frozen Downspouts & Ice Plugs

As you are walking the perimeter of your home in the Denver Metro area performing your gutter maintenance inspection, check your downspouts. Downspouts freeze faster than gutters because they narrow as they descend. After the first storm, look for:

• Bulged downspouts

• Ice plugs at the bottom elbow

• Meltwater dripping out of seams

• No water exiting during warm daytime temps

A frozen downspout forces water back into the gutter, pushing meltwater up under shingles and increasing ice dam risk.

Solar Snow Dog Snow guards, specially made to go between solar panels, are a low-profile solution to slow the movement of snow and ice off the panels, limiting the chance for a large mass to fall from the roof at once.

7. Solar Panels, Melt Patterns & Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance

Solar panels heat quickly in sunlight, even on freezing days, causing rapid melt-off.

This can result in:

• Sudden sheets of snow sliding off panels

• Heavy snow hitting gutters at high speed

• Meltwater rushing toward cold eaves and refreezing

• Icicles forming under panel edges

• Overflow into gutters that can’t keep up

Homes with solar must keep gutters clean and structurally sound to handle panel-driven melt patterns.

Pipe-style snow guard acts as a snow fence, breaking up the snow before it hits and destroys the gutter below.

8. Snow Guards & Roof Protection in Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance

Snow guards are essential for homes with:

• Metal roofs

• Solar panels

• Steep pitches

• 
  

  Large upper roof sections dumping onto lower ones

Snow guards help by:

• Slowing down snow movement

• Preventing huge roof avalanches

• Protecting gutter systems

• Reducing impact damage

• Keeping decks, patios, and walkways safer

If snow slid off your roof in large sheets during this first storm, you likely need snow guards installed.

9. Drainage Checks During Melting Cycles: Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance

During warmer daytime temps, observe where meltwater flows:

• Is water draining toward your foundation?

• Are downspouts too short or missing extensions?

• Are walkways wet during the day and icy at night?

• Is water pooling near the home?

• Is water backing up from frozen downspouts?

Poor drainage is one of the leading causes of foundation damage in Denver’s freeze–thaw climate.

10. When to Call CO Gutter Pros for Denver Metro Gutter Maintenance

If you notice any of the following, it’s time for a winter inspection:

• Ice dams or icicles

• Overflow during melts

• Gutters sagging or pulling away

• Spike-and-ferrule fasteners backing out

• Snow sliding off in large sheets

• Frozen downspouts

• Zebra striping or uneven roof melting

• Leaks dripping onto walkways

• Solar-related gutter overload

Our team at CO Gutter Pros specializes in winter gutter solutions tailored to Denver’s unique climate — from heat cable installation to gutter replacement, drainage corrections, hinge-downspouts, snow-guard installation, and more.

Protect Your Home Before the Next Storm

Denver rarely gets just one snowstorm — the first simply exposes the problems. A quick winter check now can prevent expensive repairs later.

📞 Call CO Gutter Pros: 720-440-RAIN🌐 www.cogutterpros.com