ARE GUTTERS ACTUALLY NECESSARY?

If you’re a new homeowner or new to home maintenance you might ask yourself:

Do I really need to put money into my gutters when I can put it elsewhere? Are they just there for decoration, providing clean edges around your home? Are they made for convenience so that water isn’t dripping on your head and front porch when you come in and out of your door? While those things may be a benefit, gutters are actually extremely vital to your home’s structural health and realistically every home should have them! Let me jump into why:

A gutter system’s main purpose is to guide rainwater off the roof and away from your home’s foundation, which is vital in avoiding water damage to your home. You may try to justify –

Technically, A little water doesn’t hurt, but realistically your home is exposed to tons of water from rain and snow every single year. No matter how gently rain falls onto your roof, it’s a very large surface area catching that rain, which accelerates and surges downwards directly off of your roof without gutters installed. Perhaps you don’t mind, and even enjoy hearing the “pit pat pit pat” constantly dripping off of your roof, but let me tell you what’s happening:

That rain coming off your roofline is like a constant hammer hitting the ground next to your foundation. As the ground saturates, the soil around your home is expanding. But that’s okay because it will dry up right? It will! But as that happens, the soil then contracts. This constant expanding and contracting of the ground surrounding your home creates cracks in your foundation, which is then a major mess. Not only is your home’s structure compromised and your home can shift, but with cracks comes leaks, mildew, mold, algea, wood rot, and an unsafe home for you and your family. Yikes! Think about how that surging roof water can also affect your siding, window and door trim, decking, patio, porch, and driveway. Gutters and downspouts protect your yard so hammering and pooling water doesn’t kill your lawn, flowers, and other vegetation. They also keep landscaping from shifting, washing away, and flooding by directing water to a safe, appropriate area.

That all being said, gutters are a way to protect your home, the investment you have into your home, and save you from spending thousands on repairing water damage! Seems

like a no-brainer that you should have a gutter system installed if you don’t already, and don’t forget to have a gutter specialist make sure they’re properly maintained and functioning throughout the year.

Routine Gutter cleanings are just as important as the gutters themselves. If you fail to have your gutter system cleaned and inspected, many problems can arise. Gutters can easily clog from leaves, twigs, debris, pollen, and other miscellaneous objects. Once your gutters are clogged, it’s almost as bad as having none at all! The water will rush over the edges causing that hammering effect.

When the debris in your gutters remains as winter time approaches, rain and snowmelt can pool and refreeze in the gutters adding so much extra weight that they can potentially pull free from your house. This can cause damage to your fascia board and expose your home for leaks and additional damage. Ice dams can also form at the roofline if gutters aren’t draining properly through the downspouts which can bring about roof rot and damaged shingles from prolonged moisture exposure.

If you have traditional gutters on your home, you should clean them about 2 times a year: You definitely want to get them clean at the end of fall, before winter arrives. Read more about gutter cleanings and what other time of year might be best for you here: https://yourlocalgutters.com/2022/10/18/gutter-cleaning-is-important/.

Can you just install and clean gutters yourself? Sure, but just remember there are risks and hiring a professional gutter crew is your best bet. Buying gutters from a hardware store only allows for 10 foot sections at a time, meaning you have to join the sections and hope they don’t leak or break from the constant water pressure or weight. A gutter company like ours will provide your home with seamless gutters from corner to corner, making them more durable, longer lasting, and less of a maintenance headache.

Using a reputable gutter company to clean the gutters and downspouts, will ensure the job is done right, any pests within the gutters will be taken care of, and an inspection will be done to let you know if any repairs or upgrades are essential in your gutter system’s proper functioning. Don’t forget, gutter guards can further protect your home by protecting your gutters from getting clogged, but those too should be cleaned and inspected regularly.

For peace of mind, installing gutter guards could be a great option! There are different styles to fit your needs. I’ll give you the positives and negatives of each so you can decide what’s best for you! White vinyl gutter guards are slotted and allow water to flow into the gutters while keeping debris out. It definitely looks nice to have white guards on white gutters and they’re cost effective, but they aren’t the most durable and can crack with weight and freezing temperatures.

An aluminum mesh drop in gutter guard is durable and when correctly installed will allow water to freely fall into the gutters while catching larger debris from entering and potentially clogging your downspouts. Most professionals will have a more durable style than what’s available at your average hardware store – with seamed edges for more secure installation. This is a great option for most circumstances, but will be useless with pine needles and leaves that are tall and thin.

Screened gutter guards are extremely durable and rust free. They contain an aluminum screen over aluminum mesh, making sure to stop that finer debris from entering and potentially clogging your gutters, such as seeds and pollen, dirt, and pine needles!

These gutter guards also allow water to flow freely into the gutters while keeping most other things out.

Yes, there is such a thing as a gutter helmet, but we don’t recommend or install them. We stand firm with the work we do and only want to deliver the best; and with that comes honesty. High volumes of rain flow right past the gutter helmet, making it as if you don’t have any gutters at all, defeating the entire purpose of having gutters on your home in the first place. Although they do prevent clogged gutters, they do not ensure your home is safe from water damage. Gutter helmets also permit snow and ice to collect on top of your gutters, which is a lot of added weight that can ultimately cause damage. A hefty investment with no guarantee your home is safe from water damage.