New house owners are often bamboozled when they are met with the question of if they should get roof gutters installed or not. It really is a thing to think about if you want a good home in working condition for a longer period. But aren’t gutters troublesome? They are extremely prone to clogging, nesting, and often split up from the attachments on the roof. On top of all this, they can only support a relatively less volume of water flowing. Do you even really need them? Of course, one can find a number of roofing contractors who will induce you to get them installed but isn’t that’s how they increase their sales? Rain gutters, as discussed above, are a very controversial form of gutters. And while there are many misconceptions regarding them, installing rain gutters is sometimes the safest route. They can prevent a lot of mishaps from happening. But since it is the question of the hour, let’s shed some light on it.
What are the roof gutters?
Gutters are used to redirect the channeling of the water away from the building foundation to prevent any seepage into the basements or adjacent walls. It also helps in keeping the soil moisture under control to avoid any effects to the building base. Gutters are efficiently designed to prevent erosion due to water run-off. However, they have a relatively low water holding capability and there is a high chance that it overflows if the rain or water flow increases, which ultimately defeats the purpose of installing it. They still are a great way of protecting your building walls and foundation against erosion, seepage, and weakening. These gutters, in order for them to withstand the adverse conditions of the weather, are made out of solid materials like aluminum and copper. This improves there durability drastically as compared to using plastic gutters.
Working on these gutters
Gutters are affixed near the edges of the roof. These then take up the load of the surplus run-off from the roofs and guides it along with a pipe to the ground underneath. To transport it to the ground, gutters use downspouts. With almost no point of contact between the water and the wall of the building, the chances of erosion or damage are reduced significantly. To utilize this set-up more efficiently, sometimes, the downspouts are extended and connected to a water storage unit or a tank. This is a concept for rainwater harvesting which can be used in times of emergency.
Benefits of having roofing gutters
Their importance can’t be talked about enough. Roofers are always recommending new gutters. They serve such an important purpose in protecting your house from erosion and unwanted seepage. Their success has been so huge that some countries have already started roof gutters a compulsion for all the new buildings and households. Here are some more reasons why there are necessary:-
- Control soil erosion around the building by stabilizing it.
- Water run-off doesn’t affect the foundation of the building.
- Flooding of basements can be prevented.
- There is no undue seepage.
- Water staining is extensively avoided across the wall and bricks.
- Reduces the occurrence of cracks on the wall.
- Exterior doors, garages, gates are well protected by this.
When gutters aren’t needed
There can be a few instances where installing a roof gutter is just a waste of money. Having it just means more maintenance cost with no returns whatsoever. Here are the cases where installing a roof gutter is rather useless:-
- When your house is situated on a slope which allows the water to rush off without any external factors affecting it. You wouldn’t need an entire downspout connection when it won’t be needed especially since environmental factors will be helping you.
- If your house has an elevated platform near it, like a pedestal or a sidewalk or even a patio, then installing a gutter really isn’t required as the water seepage into the ground through these materials will be extremely low which doesn’t harm the foundation of your building.
- It’s common sense to not install the gutters if you live in an arid or semi-arid region which experiences rainfall very rarely. It’s just a waste of money in such cases.
- If your roof has an extended end which more or less covers the nearby walls from any contact with water then gutters aren’t meant for you too.
Maintaining a gutter
People who’ve installed the gutters know how troublesome keeping a well-maintained gutter can be. Owners are ought to be vigilant in cleaning the gutters. Although these problems are very much solvable, they need to be kept on a check every few weeks, and sometimes even days. The excuses homeowners with gutters give are mentioned below:-
- Clogs – This is probably the most frequent complaints an owner would have. Your gutter is most prone to get logged by falling leaves, debris and bird nests. All these do not allow the water to flow smoothly through the gutter and sometimes even force the water off of the gutter. This, in turn, leads to damage to the gutter and to the walls. One can solve this problem by installing gutter covers which help in limiting all these issues substantially.
- Icing – Ice cones and bergs are usually the ones ruining the whole gutter by jamming its vessels and being the main reason for gutters to erode faster. But again, this only happens during the winters. Owners can prevent this by covering their gutters during winters and before the snow falls. Or it’ll be just a big load of cleaning the gutter every time it snows.
Getting them installed
Getting a proper gutter system installed is a crucial part of the entire job. You can either get them fixed by a professional or do it on your own. Just ensure you follow the procedure and do it right. Many roofing companies are willing to help you in your conquest. All you have to do is make sure you don’t make the decision in a hurry as getting gutter installed can be both – a blessing and a curse.