Does My House Really Need Gutters?

As a homeowner, there are many home maintenance items to keep track of.  Some have to be completed every month, some every 6 months, some yearly, etc.  Cleaning gutters may not seem like a high priority and, in fact, you may not even be sure if your home has gutters!

As a homeowner, there are many home maintenance items to keep track of.  Some have to be completed every month, some every 6 months, some yearly, etc.  Cleaning gutters may not seem like a high priority and, in fact, you may not even be sure if your home has gutters!  Whether your home has gutters already or not, you may be wondering if your home really needs gutters.  After all, if it does not yet have gutters, you may be wondering if your home experiencing damage without your knowledge?  And, if it does have gutters, you may be wondering how necessary they really are?  If you drive around your neighborhood you may notice that some homes have gutters and some do not.  So, how do you know if your home really needs gutters?

One easy way to know if your home needs gutters is to take a look around the neighborhood.  If most of your neighbors have them you probably need them as well.  Without gutters, rain water will simply run off your room straight down to the ground.  In some climates and with some homes that is not a problem but for many, that amount of water running directly towards your foundation is not ideal.  Gutters serve to collect the water from the roof and direct it safely away from your home’s foundation.  Without gutters, water can build up around the foundation of your home which can lead to flooring or accelerated deterioration/eroding of the ground underneath your foundation which can compromise your home’s structure.  Additionally, gutters can help direct water away from walkways to a safer destination that will not risk slips and falls.

If you live in an area that frequently receives rain or that receives intermittent but sudden bursts of rain, gutters are likely a wise investment for your home.  A slow an occasional rain trickle is probably not going to be problematic.  But frequent rain or a sudden heavy rainfall can produce excessive amounts of water that will pool near your foundation.  For these reasons, an investment in quality gutters is advisable.  A qualified and experienced handyman can assist you in choosing the appropriate gutters as well as proper installation.  If your home already has gutters, it is important that they be properly and routinely maintained so that water and debris does not build up in them which can lead to other harmful problems for your home.  Cleaning gutters is no simple task so it is best to allow a handyman to climb the ladder and safely remove dirt and debris from your gutters so that water can flow freely.