Gutters aren’t usually the first thing you notice about a home. However, they do play an important role in the maintenance of your home. The primary mission of your gutters is to move rainwater away from the exterior siding and the foundation of your home.
Gutters are especially important if the surrounding land slopes toward your home.
Purpose of Gutters
In this situation your home’s foundation is naturally the barrier where water will collect and oftentimes this soil saturation will cause basement flooding. Water damage to a home’s foundation can be disruptive and expensive to correct and often includes removal of landscaping and excavation of the soil down to the area where the foundation needs to be repaired.
There are some less important, but equally, relevant reasons to install gutters on your home. One big advantage of having gutters is that they keep rainwater from soaking a person entering or exiting a home in a rainstorm.1
They also prevent soil erosion that occurs when rainwater drips off the roof in the same location, causing divots to occur in the ground, which, if not filled in, will eventually start eroding landscaping and the soil around the foundation of a home.
How Do Gutters Work?
A gutter system is made up of several components which are designed to channel rainwater away from the home. The gutters are attached to a home’s fascia board, which is the flat board that runs horizontally along the edge of the roof, using a metal bracket called a hanger2
The gutters lead to downspouts, which as the name implies, are the vertical pieces which channel water downward from the roof to the ground or a drain. At the ground the gutter may empty into a splash block, which is a plastic or concrete piece which is placed under a downspout to further deflect water away from a home’s siding and foundation.
Placement
Gutters on a home aren’t level. They are slightly tilted to force the rainwater in the gutter to flow downward more efficiently. This tilting of the gutters is also called the gutter pitch. Many companies now install seamless gutters, but seams are where gutter pieces connect with each other. The seams should be sealed to prevent them from leaking.
Gutters Protect
A gutter system also helps maintain the integrity of the exterior structures of a home. If you have a short overhang and don’t have gutters when it rains the rain that comes off the roof will run directly down the exterior of your home. With the flow off the roof comes dirt and debris which can cause streaking, premature rotting of wood siding, and peeling or staining of paint.3
The fascia board, which is the first point of contact for the rainwater draining off a roof without gutters, will also deteriorate over time when exposed to constant wet conditions. Wet home exteriors also are breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Gutters that channel the water away from the exterior of the home will help prevent these issues.
Time to Install
Time for new gutters? If the signs are there, a new gutter system will instantly make a difference and start protecting your home from unnecessary water damage, foundational wear, and a compromised structure from failing fascia.
Excel Home improvement in Romulus can take care of it all. Our home improvement company provides services such as gutter installation, siding repair and installation as well as roof replacement, repair, and maintenance.
We take pride in delivering high quality and exceptional customer service so that you feel good about taking care of your home. A solid home starts with a stable exterior and gutters play an essential role. Call us for a Free Estimate, you won’t be disappointed.
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1 Types of Gutters to Consider for Your Home, 6/19/2021
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/types-of-rain-gutters/
2 What Are the Different Types of Gutters (2023 Guide)? 4/18/2023
Link: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/gutters/reviews/types-of-gutters
3 Why Are Gutters Important & When Are Gutters Not Necessary?
Link: https://roofscour.com/gutters-