Are Gutters Really Necessary

Rain gutters have been staples of long island homes for over a hundred years and with very good reasons.

Are gutters really necessary. Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter. While every home could benefit from a gutter installation there are times when having gutters isn t completely necessary. Sometimes gutters and dry wells are required by law in order to reduce erosion and or contamination of wet lands and waterfronts. They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial.

In order to decide for yourself whether rain gutters are necessary for your home it is best to first weigh the facts. This causes your carefully sloped landscape to wear down allowing runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it. For them to work properly you need to keep the gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and debris and this takes regular maintenance. Rain gutters are small but critical components of a building s roofing system and a long term investment in the infrastructure of your home.

Ad years ago i discovered a design that does work. Gutters are indeed quite necessary. As a leading gutter installer here in central florida you would expect me to say yes every house needs rain gutters. Gutters also avoid the discoloration and paint peeling caused by excessive splash back on modern houses especially if slab on grade where finish siding is placed so close to the ground.

What are those reasons you ask. Most gutter guards fail miserably in the spring when the tiny debris drops from the trees like snow in a blizzard. The truth is some homes don t need them. Erosion also causes the foundation to settle.

Your home may not need gutters if. The purpose of a gutter system is to catch rainwater and move it from the roof and to an area that won t damage your roof or home. Millions of feet of gutter are installed each year throughout the country yet there is very little information available to educate or guide consumers when they re installing or replacing gutters. You have a 6 to 10 wide roof overhang.