Are Gutters Really Necessary

In order to decide for yourself whether rain gutters are necessary for your home it is best to first weigh the facts.

Are gutters really necessary.

Rain gutters have been staples of long island homes for over a hundred years and with very good reasons. 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. 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. You have a 6 to 10 wide roof overhang.

What are those reasons you ask. The truth is some homes don t need them. Sometimes gutters and dry wells are required by law in order to reduce erosion and or contamination of wet lands and waterfronts. 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.

Your home may not need gutters if. They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial. Ad years ago i discovered a design that does work. Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter.

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. While every home could benefit from a gutter installation there are times when having gutters isn t completely necessary. Maintaining your rain gutters is also important maintaining your rain gutters is also important. Rain gutters are small but critical components of a building s roofing system and a long term investment in the infrastructure of your home.

As a leading gutter installer here in central florida you would expect me to say yes every house needs rain 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. Keeping clean well maintained gutters is more than just another expense.