Gutters are crucial to the safety and health of your house. They shield your foundation from water damage and deter vermin and other pests like birds and rodents.
A properly maintained gutter system can keep your property looking beautiful and add value to your home. However, a poorly designed or clogged gutter can cause many problems.
Gutters protect your home’s foundation
Gutters are an essential part of a home’s foundation. They protect your home from water damage by diverting it from the foundation.
Expansive soil expands and contracts when wet, shrinks, and swells when dry. Without gutters, this movement could cause significant foundation damage.
Gutters prevent basement leaks, mold, mildew growth, and muddy landscaping. They also save you money on replacement roofing materials and roof repair costs.
Gutters divert water away from your home
If rainwater pours into a yard without gutters, it can pool and cause soil erosion or damage your home’s foundation.
It can also cause damage to the interior of your home by causing non-structural cracks, deteriorated mortar joints, and even seepage from cove joints. These issues can be avoided by diverting water from your home and basement.
Gutters protect your roof
Gutters divert water away from your roof, protecting it from damage. It prevents shingles from getting wet and rotting and prevents stains and other structural problems from occurring.
They also help prevent mosquitoes, termites, and other pests from breeding in gutters. They also help prevent ice dams from building up and causing a fire.
Gutters protect your siding
Gutters are an essential part of protecting your siding. Without gutters, rainwater runs off the roof and drips down onto your siding, which over time, will cause rot.
Overflowing gutters can also damage your foundation. When this happens, water can pool around your foundation and place pressure on your basement walls, causing leaks and structural failure.
Gutters protect against pooling water
Gutters are a home’s first line of defense against pooling water. They channel rainwater and snow melt into a downspout that safely directs it away from the house.
Keeping water out of your gutters protects your foundation from soil erosion and basement flooding. They can even help prevent muddy landscaping areas and mold growth.
Gutters protect your shingles
Gutters protect your shingles from the elements by diverting rainwater from your home. In addition, it helps prevent shingle rot and damage to your foundation.
Shingle granules are added to asphalt shingles as a fire retardant and to help protect your shingles from UV rays. These granules are often naturally shed off by storms, so it is common to occasionally see some in your gutters.
Gutters protect your fascia
Your fascia board runs all along the roofline and helps keep your gutters in place. It also helps prevent your rafters from rotting and adds curb appeal.
Fascia rot is a common problem caused by leaky gutters, excessive moisture, or wood rot. Fortunately, protecting your fascia boards from damage may be done quickly and affordably by adding a fascia wrap or covering.
Gutters protect your eaves
Gutters protect your eaves from water splashing onto the roof and damaging your home. It is especially true in areas with heavy rain.
Clogged gutters can also attract pests like carpenter ants which can quickly rot eaves and fascia boards and cause more severe damage to the home.
Gutters protect your foundation
Gutters are a crucial component of a house’s structure. They prevent water from damaging your house by directing it away from the foundation. In addition, they divert water from your home, preventing soil erosion and flooding in your basement.
Without gutters, rainwater pools around the base of your house and causes foundation issues like water damage, cracks, and bowing. Pooled water can also cause mold and mildew growth in your basement.
