If you complete a simple Google search of “Gutters near me” you will quickly find a list populated of companies, service providers, and gutter suppliers in your area.
Whey you might be surprised by is the sheer amount of gutter companies and gutter suppliers. In fact, many times people will ask the team at Gutter Gurus of Woodbridge,
“Are gutters really that important to your home?”
Without hesitation, we always reply with an emphatic YES! So today, we decided to share with you the reasons why gutters are so important and why they’re an integral part of your home!
Why Gutters Are Important 101
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Think of how rivers, tributaries, and the overall drainage systems work for stormwater.
When a strong rain occurs, drainage ditches flow into creeks. The creeks then connect to more extensive river systems which act as tributaries to larger bodies of water such as bays, before finally connecting to oceans.
While this may or may not resonate with you, it will once we explain how gutters protect your home. Your home’s gutters are like the small ditches next to a road that feeds into the creeks.
Whenever it rains or there is precipitation, water accumulates on a home’s roof and is channeled down to your gutters. Gutters then collect water and dispense the water in centralized areas away from your home.
Gutters work properly just like the small creeks feeding the larger rivers. However, instead of feeding rivers, seamless gutters displace water away from your home’s foundation. This protects your home from more significant foundational issues.
But sometimes people still ask, “Do I really need gutters?”
What gutters do & why you need them:
Knowing the purpose of gutters is one thing; knowing why you need them is another.
With properly installed gutters that are maintained annually or that have gutter guards, there should be no issues. However, if your gutters are:
- Clogged
- Damaged
- Pulling away from home
- Cracked
- Missing
- In need of repair
- Broken
Then there is a chance you may experience some of the following issues from inadequate/lack of gutters.
1. Erosion
Water constantly splashing off a roof with missing or poor-performing gutters can lead to erosion around your home in a hurry.
Homes that are built correctly and meet grading codes have a slope that prevents water from sitting or pooling around a home. However, the slope is designed to work by downspouts. Without gutters working properly, erosion can lead to issues such as missing soil around your foundation all the way to ground settling – which can lead to really big problems like foundational cracks.
While this might seem somewhat extreme, it is possible over extended periods of time!
2. Foundational Issues
As noted above, an inefficient gutter system can lead to bigger problems like foundational issues. Dirt around a home’s foundation becomes heavy when saturated with water and can increase the pressure around a home’s foundation.
As a result, homeowners can sometimes experience cracks in their foundation, which can lead to big issues like foundation repairs and #5 below – basement flooding!
3. Landscape Beds
Ever seen what heavy rain does to freshly laid mulch? Imagine tons of rain running off your roof constantly peppering the same spot in your landscape beds. That is what can happen without gutters.
Protecting your landscaping starts with downspouts that are properly functioning and allow for water to flow away from landscaping beds. Your foundation, landscaping, and gutter system all work in a symbiotic fashion.
4. Siding
Your siding is designed to protect your home during rainstorms when raindrops hit the side of your home. However, siding is not designed to withstand loads of water gushing down the side all at one time, from let’s say a house without gutters…!
Over time, if gutters are not properly maintained or installed, siding can also become stained from rainwater and shingle residue – which is not the ideal curb appeal. In the rare case of wood siding, it’s important to prevent water from rotting the wood, starting with a solid gutter system!
5. Basement Flooding
Last but not least, no one ever wants to come home from a long trip or day of work to find a basement that has been flooded.
While this is rare and more likely to happen if a home’s sump pump doesn’t work correctly, overtime this sequence of events is possible:
- Gutters are not maintained or inspected
- Water is not displaced correctly due to gutter issues
- Erosion occurs
- Water pools around home
- Small cracks in the foundation lead to water entering the basement
The end result is a bunch of wet carpets and old boxes! So while we tend to not think of gutters as being important, they certainly serve their role in keeping homes dry and safe. A flooded basement can cause severe issues such as black mold so if you ever do have flooding, be sure to call a restoration company!
All this to say – none of this will happen if you follow these simple gutter tips!
Gutter Tips To Keep Your Home Dry!
Follow these tips and you will never have to worry about any of the common problems from underperforming gutters.
1. Check Your Gutters Every Fall or Spring
If you don’t have gutter guards like the Gutter Guru Raindrop product, you will need to check your gutters every year at least 1x, ideally two. This is to make sure your gutters are not clogged, damaged, cracked or pulling away from your home.
2. Install Gutter Guards
One solution to not having to check your gutters or ever clean them is to contact the Gutter Gurus of Woodbridge, Va, about Raindrop gutter guards. While we can’t make the same promise for other gutter guards (you can read about the best gutter guards here), we can for ours.
Why?
Because we offer a lifetime no-clog warranty with our Raindrop gutter guards! You can get a free quote here in under sixty seconds.
3. Keep an eye out during storms
Last but not least, next time there is rain, keep an eye out on your gutters. From time to time it’s a good idea to look out your windows or observe your downspouts to see how your gutters are working.
If you see rain flying off your roof or not coming out a downspout, that’s a tall tale sign you might need to get a gutter inspection!
Hopefully, you now know why gutters are important and if you have any questions simply reach out below!
~Leafie
Your Gutter Options:
When it comes to gutters, what you need to know is that there are plenty of options.
Gutters come in many styles and sizes, colors, and types. Most homeowners elect to go with a gutter material that is durable and inexpensive such as aluminum.
The most important question you might find yourself asking is the price question. How much do new gutters cost?
Luckily below, we have a FREE gutter calculator you can use to get an accurate price in just a few simple clicks!
DIY Gutter Calculator
Figure out how much to pay for new aluminum gutters & gutter guards for your home!
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Select a Size
5" gutters come with 2"x3" downspouts, 6" gutters come with 3"x4" downspouts and drain 400% faster than 5" gutters
Choose Your Color
Please select a color that best works for your home.
Wicker
Dark Green
Dark Grey
Eggshell
White
Ivory
Light Grey
Musket Brown
Red
Cream
Clay
Brown
Bronze
Black
Estimate Footage for 5" Gutters
Please provide the estimated total footage needed for gutters on your home.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for downspouts
Lifetime No Clog Warranty
Raindrop Gutter Guards are an absolutely fantastic way to save time and extend the life of your gutters, roof, and home. By adding Raindrop Gutter Protection System to your order, we guarantee a lifetime of free flowing gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutter guards on your home.
Choose Your Color
Please select a color that best works for your home.
Wicker
Dark Green
Dark Grey
Eggshell
White
Ivory
Light Grey
Musket Brown
Red
Cream
Clay
Brown
Bronze
Black
Estimate Footage for 6" Gutters
Please provide the estimated total footage needed for gutters on your home.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for downspouts
Lifetime No Clog Warranty
Raindrop Gutter Guards are an absolutely fantastic way to save time and extend the life of your gutters, roof, and home. By adding Raindrop Gutter Protection System to your order, we guarantee a lifetime of free flowing gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutter guards on your home.
Final cost
Here is your final cost, please fill out the form below to get started!
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