All About Gutters
A gutter system may seem simple at a glance, but these structures play an indispensable role in protecting your house from water damage. They reroute rainwater and keep it away from the foundation, walls, and landscaping of your home.
Gutter troughs, downspouts, and gutter hangers are all part of the same system. When they’re working properly, they can save you a lot of money and stress.
Prevents Water Damage
Gutters protect the walls, siding, internal structures, and windows of your home by routing water away from them. This prevents moisture build-up and subsequent mold, mildew, and wood rot that would otherwise eat away at the structure of your house.
Without gutters, rainwater will fall directly from the roof and soak the ground near the foundation of your house. Over time, this can cause shifting and cracks in the foundation and lead to basement flooding and crawl space issues. Gutters keep rainfall far from the foundation and direct it to a drain or a splash block that disperses water on the lawn.
When rainwater pools around your house, it can also create standing water that becomes an ecosystem for mosquitoes, grubs, and other insects that can damage your lawn and garden. This is because bugs are drawn to damp areas and standing water. Gutters and downspouts reduce this by directing rainwater away from your property, keeping it from creating breeding grounds for pests that can enter your house through openings in the walls, windows, or other areas of your home.
Gutters are also essential for safeguarding the integrity of the soil that supports your home’s foundation. Without gutters, the constant flow of water over the foundation may erode the soil, undermining its stability and causing cracks in your home’s basement and walls. Gutters, paired with proper grading, help ensure that your home’s foundation is firmly planted on stable soil.
Prevents Mold & Mildew
Gutters keep water from running down the walls of your house and causing mold or mildew to grow. If left unchecked, the growth of mold and mildew can affect the indoor air quality in your home, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues. This is particularly true for people who already have a compromised immune system.
Mold and mildew thrive in damp, shaded environments, and clogged gutters can trap moisture inside the gutter system, resulting in the growth of mold and mildew on or within the gutter. When these spores come in contact with your home, they can cause a musty odor and lead to stains on the walls or ceilings.
Gutters are designed to channel the rainwater that falls off of your roof away from the foundation and walls of your home. This prevents the soil around your foundation from becoming too saturated, which could eventually shift the ground underneath your home and result in serious structural damage over time.
Gutters also help preserve flower beds and other outdoor landscaping features by preventing rainwater from cascading over or through them during heavy rains. This can be especially helpful for homeowners with lush gardens and other landscaped areas that can be damaged by excessive water runoff. Ensure that your gutters are clean and well-maintained to preserve the beauty of your home’s exterior landscaping as well as its function.
Prevents Foundation Damage
Rainwater that collects around the foundation of a home creates hydrostatic pressure that puts stress on the walls. Gutters help to prevent this by creating a designated path for water to flow away from the foundation. This keeps the soil surrounding the foundation from becoming saturated, which can cause shifting and settling that compromises structural integrity and eventually leads to cracks.
Gutters also prevent soil erosion by guiding rainwater into downspouts that are strategically placed to direct the flow of water far away from the foundation of the house. Without gutters, the water that pours directly off a roof can wash away the soil underneath and can lead to costly foundation repairs over time.
Stagnant pools of water around the foundation are breeding grounds for insects and other pests that can damage wood, landscaping, or your house itself. Insects are drawn to standing water and will often crawl through openings in the siding or windows of a house. Gutters and downspouts prevent this by directing water away from the house to grass, gardens, or another area where it can be easily absorbed.
In the Salt Lake City area, where the weather can be especially unpredictable, it’s important to have gutters to avoid the many issues that can arise with unprotected homes. By collecting and redirecting rainwater, gutters can prevent the build-up of stains, mold mildew, and even rotted wood and siding. Gutters can also prevent flooding in basements and crawl spaces, protecting stored items, reducing potential foundation damage, and keeping moisture levels stable around the house’s foundation.
Prevents Garden Erosion
Gutters help to prevent soil erosion, protecting the foundation and landscaping of your home. Without gutters, rainwater will cascade directly off the roof and down the sides of the house, causing erosion in the soil and destroying your landscaping. Gutters collect rainwater and channel it into downspouts, where the water is directed away from the foundation of the house. This helps to avoid soil erosion and prevents basement flooding or other structural problems.
When gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs, pine needles, and other debris, they can be used as an inviting habitat for unwanted pests. Pests like mice, squirrels, and mosquitoes will use a clogged gutter as an easy entry point to your home. When these critters invade your home, they will cause further damage and can cause costly repairs to your home. Clogged gutters also increase the likelihood of your home being subjected to water damage resulting in expensive repairs.
Soil erosion is an issue for homeowners, especially in areas with heavy rainfall and sloped landscapes. When water pools around the foundation of your home, it can wash away soil, destabilize retaining walls and cause cracks in the wall and flooring over time. Gutters provide a critical role in preventing soil erosion, keeping your yard and garden safe and stable for years to come.