Are Gutters Really Necessary

As a leading gutter installer here in central florida you would expect me to say yes every house needs rain gutters.

Are gutters really necessary.

If rain flows off your roof because you have no gutters the water causes massive erosion washing away more and more soil each time it rains. Millions of feet of gutter are installed each year throughout the country yet there is very little information available to educate or guide consumers when they re installing or replacing gutters. For them to work properly you need to keep the gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and debris and this takes regular maintenance. This causes your carefully sloped landscape to wear down allowing runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it.

They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial. Rain gutters have been staples of long island homes for over a hundred years and with very good reasons. Gutters are indeed quite necessary. Rain gutters are small but critical components of a building s roofing system and a long term investment in the infrastructure of your home.

You have a 6 to 10 wide roof overhang. The purpose of a gutter system is to catch rainwater and move it from the roof and to an area that won t damage your roof or home. Gutters also avoid the discoloration and paint peeling caused by excessive splash back on modern houses especially if slab on grade where finish siding is placed so close to the ground. Erosion also causes the foundation to settle.

The truth is some homes don t need them. While every home could benefit from a gutter installation there are times when having gutters isn t completely necessary. Ad years ago i discovered a design that does work. Most gutter guards fail miserably in the spring when the tiny debris drops from the trees like snow in a blizzard.

Maintaining your rain gutters is also important maintaining your rain gutters is also important. Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter. Keeping clean well maintained gutters is more than just another expense. What are those reasons you ask.