The Function, Benefits & Maintenance of Roof Gutters
New homeowners often ask if roof gutters are essential in their homes or if they are just for beautification purposes. The answer is yes. Roof gutters are a very important part of the home.
While it is true that they add aesthetics to your building, their primary function is to trap water on your roof and direct water away from your house, preventing structural damages to your foundation and walls.
Keep reading to know more about the importance of roof gutters in your home, why you need them, and how you can keep them in good condition.
Why Are Roof Gutters Important?
Roof gutters are important in the home because of their many functions, which include:
- They prevent rainwater from damaging your foundation.
- They direct rainwater away from your wall, preventing mold or rot
- They prevent flooding in your basement area.
- They reduce soil erosion
- They prevent water stains on bricks and walls
- They prevent water damage on your roof
When Are Roof Gutters Important?
Clay Soil: If the soil in your home is red or loam clay soil, you should invest in gutters to protect your foundation. Clay soil absorbs water, retains them, and over time, directs them to your foundation. A roof gutter can help reduce the chances of this happening by trapping the rainwater from your roof and controlling them to a drainage system, reducing the quantity of water on the floor.
Basements: It is essential that homeowners with basements in their homes get roof gutters to prevent basement flooding. Not having gutters can cause basement leaks that will allow rainwater to enter your basement and damage your belongings.
Upward slopes: If your house is at the bottom of a hill, water will usually pool around your foundation whenever you experience heavy rain, causing damage and mold growth. Installing rain gutters in your home can help redirect water from your foundation.
When Are Rain Gutters Not Necessary?
Concrete floor: If you have concrete floors like pavements and walkways in and around your home, you do not necessarily need roof gutters, as the concrete already protects barriers for your home from water.
Downward slopes: If your home’s landscape is downward sloping, you might not need a gutter, as the water flow is more likely to naturally run past and away from your home.
Little rainfall: Traditional gutters protect the building from damage over time. But when you live in the drier climates where there is no regular rainfall, there will be no damage, so there is no need for gutters.
How to Maintain Rain Gutters
As crucial as roof gutters are, when you don’t maintain them, they get clogged and cause problems for your home.
A clogged gutter can direct water down the walls of your home and cause damage, defeating the purpose of having a gutter in the first place. Some simple tips to keep your gutters clean and functional are:
Clean your gutters regularly: It is recommended that you clean out your gutters at least twice a year. The perfect time for this will be during spring and fall. Using a gutter trowel, remove debris and leaves from your gutter, and flush it until it’s clean using a hose.
Perform routine checks: Regularly check up on your gutters for irregularities. If you notice holes or cracks in your gutter, you can quickly seal them with a gutter seal. However, if the damage is extensive or the gutter shows signs of dropping, you should contact a gutter repair.
Protect your gutter with a gutter guard: Having a guard over or inside your gutter will prevent leaves and debris from entering and clogging it. However, you should check the structure of the guards before buying them, as some gutter guards prevent water from entering the gutter during a heavy downpour.
Clean your roof: Using a rake, remove debris and leaves from your roof so they won’t flow into your gutter when it rains. However, take safety precautions when cleaning your roof. Avoid going on your roof when it is wet or icy.
Don’t ignore your downspout: When you check on your gutter, remember to check on your downspout too. Ensure that they extend a few feet away from your home. Consider installing extended downspouts to keep the flow further extended from your building.
Maintaining a clean gutter is important to maintaining the structure of your home and protecting your garden and belongings from damage, especially in areas with high rainfall. Due to their usefulness, it is essential to keep your gutters in good condition and debris-free.
Discover the importance of roof gutters. For top-notch gutter cleaning and repair services in South Florida, Perkins Roofing has a team of expert technicians in Jupiter and Miami who can provide effective gutter solutions at affordable prices.
