13 May Does my house need gutters?

Gutters serve many functions within the home’s roofing system

The short answer is maybe. Your house might need gutters.

To understand why or why your house does not need gutters we need to look at what gutters do.

Gutters can be a very important part of your home because they direct rainwater away from your home. This prevents water damage to the structure of your home and its foundation, as well as the sidewalk and driveway.

Gutters can prevent soil erosion around your house’s foundation. As rain falls, it washes soil away, which can be detrimental to flower beds and even destabilize the foundation. Erosion can cause the foundation to settle unevenly. This can lead to cracks in walls, chimneys and floors.

Water can also penetrate basements, which causes a whole host of problems.

Puddling water in flower beds can drown plants as well.

Gutters also protect siding from mold and staining. But it’s not just the curb appeal that gets damaged, water can rot siding, which can lead to water penetrating the interior of the home.

Which homes do not need a gutter system?

Houses in dry climates don’t usually need gutters, but we live in Tennessee and tend to get a good amount of rain. In fact, Tennessee averages 54 inches (4 and a half feet) of rain annually, according to the National Weather Service.

If your house has any of the following, it does not need a gutter:

• A 6” to 10” overhang,

• A concrete, gravel or stone apron with a drainage system,

• The ground slopes to provide adequate runoff, or

• The roof is shallow.

Don’t always assume that because a house doesn’t have gutters that it doesn’t need them. Sometimes homeowners remove but don’t replace them. Sometimes builders don’t install them.

If you have a question about your gutters, contact us today.