Walk or drive through any neighborhood, and you’ll notice that nearly every home has a gutter system. They probably all vary from half-round gutters to gutter systems with guards, k-style gutters, and some with gutter screens and filters. Whatever the style, most homes have gutter systems installed, and for good reason.
If you’re building a new home that doesn’t yet have a gutter system installed or your current gutter system is in rough shape, you may be wondering if you need to install or replace the gutter system. Keep reading to learn if you really need gutters, why homes have them, and how clogged or damaged gutters can put a leak in your wallet.
Why Do I Need Gutters & Why Do Homes Have Them?
Gutters are an investment. Is it one you really need to make? And why do so many homes have them installed? Many homeowners have these questions when it comes time to install or replace a gutter system. So, let’s see if your home truly needs them.
For starters, a gutter system is one of the best investments you can make as a homeowner to protect your home from drainage issues and water damage. Without a gutter system, rainwater and meltwater would drip off the roofline, landing directly under and along the home’s foundation. Could you imagine how soggy and damaged our yards would be if water continually collected under the roofline? Excess water would form a trench around the foundation, causing soil erosion, foundation damage, and basement floods.
Foundation damage is very costly, especially if a home has an inadequate gutter system. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair foundation damage and cracks, something that could be avoided with a properly functioning gutter system. So, what can a gutter system do to prevent these damages from occurring?
Gutter systems collect and carry rainwater and meltwater from the roof, carrying it from the gutter to the downspout and directing it away from the home’s foundation. As a result, water is diverted away from the home rather than left to fall and collect under the roofline. Therefore, lawns don’t get overwatered, water doesn’t seep into the home’s foundation, and the roof stays drier.
The invention of gutter systems dates back to 47 AD. Not much is known about their construction, but most buildings installed gargoyles that diverted rainwater from the roof. By the 1500s, gutters became a common component of most structures, mostly made from brick and lead. By the 20th century, more gutter materials were introduced. So yes, gutters have been used for thousands of years and are still used to direct water away from a structure.
How Clogged or Damaged Gutters Can Put a Leak in Your Wallet
Having a gutter system installed is paramount to preventing extensive water damage to the rest of the home, including the roof. It’s also important that you perform regular maintenance on your half-round gutter system to prevent clogs and catch and repair damage. Clogged and damaged gutters could cause a major leak in your wallet.
Clogged gutters happen for many reasons: failure to clean them often, pests dwelling inside them, storm damage, small openings between sections of gutters, and so on. Gutter systems that have the inside of the gutter completely exposed are prone to clogging since debris, like falling leaves, can simply fall in and collect over time. Even with a gutter screen or filter, blockages can occur that end up impeding water flow. Failure to clean your gutters often can result in costly damage from overflowing gutters. Likewise, damaged gutters can cause water to spill over the sides of the gutter, slip through cracks, or trickle out of the gutter system.
Damaged and clogged gutters prevent a gutter system from working properly to collect and drain water away from the home, resulting in costly damage like interior water damage, damage to the home’s siding, and roof damage, to name a few.
If your home needs gutters installed or you need to replace your existing gutters, consider installing seamless gutters and guards or the K-Guard System from K-Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop. Our seamless gutters prevent clogs from forming and pair perfectly with our Xtreme Mesh Gutter Guard, blocking debris from entering the gutter system.
K-Guard is a complete system with oversized gutters and downspouts, and a curved hood, all of which keep debris out and water moving through the gutter system at a rapid pace. Debris won’t be able to enter the system or accumulate on it. We offer a free estimate to all first-time customers, which includes an assessment of your current gutter system and our recommendations for installing our seamless gutters or the K-Guard System.
K-Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop has been installing and repairing gutter systems for decades with tens of thousands of happy customers in Lynchburg and surrounding areas. We can help with all your home improvement needs, whether you need help with an insurance claim or a quote for installing a new roof or gutter system. We’re here to help every step of the way throughout the entire process. Contact us today for a free estimate!
