Unless there is an issue with your gutters, they are often a forgotten aspect of your home’s exterior. However, clean, well-maintained gutters serve several essential functions in protecting your home and your family.
Gutters direct water from your roof to the ground and away from your foundation. This controlled flow of water can help protect your home while keeping your family safe and dry. So, before you neglect your home’s gutters, consider these five benefits they provide.
1. Gutters Protect Your Foundation
The foundation is one of the most important aspects of your home. It is also one of the costliest to repair, so keeping it in good condition is vital. While gutters may seem too far from the ground to make a meaningful impact on your foundation, that is not the case. An effective gutter system provides essential protection for your home’s foundation.
Gutters collect rainwater from your roof and direct it through downspouts to the ground. These downspouts are typically flared at the bottom and accompanied by splash blocks (those trays at the bottom of your gutters) which direct water away from your foundation.
Without gutters, water could accumulate near your foundation, leading to erosion, mold and mildew growth, as well as wood rot. These issues can cause permanent damage to your foundation including fracturing which could necessitate costly repairs.
Gutters are especially important if your home has a basement. Without a way to direct water away from your home’s foundation, basements could flood, destroying your belongings and leading to further costly repairs.
2. Gutters Direct Water Away from Your Home’s Exterior Walls
Similar to the way gutters protect your home’s foundation, they also keep water from damaging the exterior walls. When siding becomes waterlogged, it can pull away from your home’s exterior, leading to costly repair or replacement. Additionally, prolonged exposure to water can promote wood rot, and mold and mildew growth for most types of exterior materials. These factors can cause damage over time if not properly remedied.
Gutter systems prevent water damage to exterior walls by collecting water on your roof and directing it to the ground. When gutters are clean and functioning properly, your home’s exterior will have additional protection from water damage.
3. Gutters Protect Your Landscaping
Attractive landscaping often requires significant time and money to accomplish, so you don’t want it ruined by uncontrolled water flow. Gutters and downspouts direct rain away from expensive lawn features.
Proper water flow, aided by gutters, can also help prevent erosion. If you don’t have gutters to direct water, it could wash away your landscaping efforts, create unsightly ditches, and even impact the slope of your yard.
4. Gutters Protect Your Roof
Roof shingles are designed to repel rain, but standing water can present significant challenges. Clogged, warped, and broken gutters can cause water to pool near the edges of your roof. These pools of water can seep between shingles, into cracks, and penetrate your roof’s defenses. When this happens, leaks could form which can damage your roof’s substructure and allow water to accumulate in your attic. This often results in an expensive, complete roof replacement.
Since roof leaks can damage your belongings and require expensive repairs, it is important to do all you can to prevent them. This includes ensuring your gutters are clean and functioning properly to prevent standing water.
5. Gutters Add Aesthetic Appeal
It is no secret that dirty, sagging, or cracked gutters can detract from the curb appeal of your home. But many types of gutters can actually improve aesthetic appeal. For example, K-style gutters resemble crown molding from a distance, which can add additional detail to your home’s exterior.
In addition to the design of gutters, the material that you choose for your gutters can help create a custom look. Zinc, steel, and copper can all be used as gutter materials to add curb appeal to your home.
While specialty gutters can add to curb appeal, all types of effective gutters can help protect the appearance of your home and lawn. Functional gutters help to prevent erosion and protect your landscaping features which can also greatly improve the appeal of your home.
Keep Your Gutters Functioning Properly
With the essential benefits gutters provide, you want to keep yours functional. To do this, ensure that your gutters are clean and properly maintained. Clogged gutters cannot move water effectively. In addition, leaves and debris left in your gutters for an extended period can damage them and house unwanted critters.
Gutters should be cleaned at least every six months and could require more frequent care if your roof is surrounded by many trees. Cleaning your gutters can be dangerous, so it is best to have a professional undertake the task for you. If you choose an experienced roofing company to clean your gutters, they can also inspect your gutters and your roof for damage. Just be sure that the roofing company you hire is licensed, bonded, and insured.
If your gutters are visibly sagging, rusted, or cracked, have these issues repaired promptly to prevent further damage and keep your gutters functioning as intended. Additionally, if you notice water dripping from your roof or pooling around your foundation, seek assistance immediately. If you see cracks in your foundation, or unusual erosion in your yard, these could also be signs of damaged gutters. A trustworthy roofing company can inspect, clean, repair, and replace your gutters.
Contact Complete Roofing for All of Your Roofing and Gutter Needs
Complete Roofing is a licensed, bonded, and insured roofing company with locations on the Mississippi coast, Alabama coast, and in the greater New Orleans area. We clean, install, repair, and replace all types of residential and commercial gutter systems.
As an added benefit, a no-cost roof inspection is always included with our gutter cleaning service. If your inspection reveals roof issues, our expert roofers can repair or replace it.
When you work with Complete Roofing, you receive the highest quality craftsmanship, your choice of resilient materials, and outstanding customer service. Our team can answer your questions, help you choose the right material for your budget, and even file your insurance claim for you.
To contact a gutter specialist in your area, use the following links for our 3 general areas or click your city for express service:
Installation and Repair Services for Roofs and Gutters are available in the following locations:
- Coastal Alabama Main Office with local agents in:
- Coastal Mississippi Main Office with local agents in:
- Greater New Orleans Main Office with a local agent in: