Why We Need Rain Gutters

They are designed specifically to reduce erosion by guiding water to a drain or safe area.

Why we need rain 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. There aren t a lot of alternatives to gutters as even a good slope can be eroded over time by the water beating down. The goal of gutters is to move rain water away from your home before any problems occur. In many parts of the country rain gutters are an absolute must and are integral in keeping water out of basements and preventing damage to homes.

With the rain gutters the rain will just flow off your roof washing away soil each time it rains causing soil erosion. Besides protecting the roof and the overall structure of your home rain gutters also prevent soil erosion and protects your garden beds. Understanding rain gutters the basic function of a gutter is to provide a channel for redirecting water. Rain gutters are small but critical components of a building s roofing system and a long term investment in the infrastructure of your home.

Most water damage caused by rain will start around the roof structure fascia soffit and foundation. Without gutters rainwater soaks the soil. This causes your carefully sloped landscape to wear down allowing runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it. Gutters have a limited capacity and may overflow although they still effectively remove a large volume of water.

When your roof has an overhang of at least 6 inches past your homes walls here are 2 options. Gutters are the horizontal metal usually aluminum part of the system that are usually installed along the eave edges of your roof or along roof features like dormers. Water tends to scatter everywhere if not funneled properly. Gutters act as a safe pathway for rainwater to flow away from the roof into the downspouts and to the downspout extension.

Your rain gutter system is designed to move rain water away from these areas to protect your home. Erosion also causes the foundation to settle. Gutter systems may not be needed in an arid climates and areas not subject to periods of heavy rains. We need such a system in order to help reduce water and moisture damage to our homes.

The rest of us need a good system to collect the storm water that lands on our roofs and directs the collected water away from the house.