Invest in Gutters, Avoid Bad Waters

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What Are Gutters?

In buildings, troughs are placed at the edge of roofs to capture and distribute rainwater so a flood of water does not plummet from the roofing, and instead has a controlled descent through a down spout. From there, the water is either collected into rain barrels for garden or other use, or is directed into the manmade drainage. This diversion is intended to keep water from the foundation of the structure to limit flooding or water damage such as basement leaks or flooded gardens. The down side is that these gutters can become clogged with natural debris like leaves and must be regularly maintained. However, maintenance is neither costly nor hard to do. The investment in a rain diversion system will in the end prevent more expensive or difficult repairs to the structure itself.

Who Uses Gutters?

The need for a rain diversion system is primarily determined by things such as the type of property you own or manage, how much rain you regularly receive, especially in a given storm, and your cost budget. Property inspectors and building officials have recently determined that gutters are essential to every property. The value of the home is stabilized and the amount of damage or eventual wear and tear repair is minimized. The soil at the base of the home as well as the home's foundation are kept stable, erosion in gardens is minimized, exterior water staining is averted, exterior doors will be less likely to warp, and sidewalks, patios, and driveways might have less settling and cracking. Therefore, all owners and property managers need to invest in rain gutters on every structure.

There are many different types of gutters to choose from. Most frequently, the materials used are steel, aluminum, copper and quite often vinyl. While vinyl is cost efficient and popular overall, they are not best used in extreme cold or heavy snow-laden areas. Ice, hail and deep freezes can damage vinyl easily, though without extreme weather the vinyl should last at least 10 years. Steel is the most durable of the materials, but the greatest weakness is the possibility of rust. If the finish is kept tidy and damaged areas are fixed quickly, rust is less likely and so this material can last well over 10 years and up to 50 years, depending. Aluminum though, is rust- resistant, yet with aluminum the integrity is weakened, thus denting may be an issue. That said, the lifespan of most aluminum gutters is about 25 years, roughly half that of steel. Copper gutters are very durable. In fact, they can last well over 50 years if maintained properly. The attractive patina that copper develops over time is an added bonus for many, but keep in mind that copper gutters can be a tempting target for theft because the material is so expensive.

How Should Gutters Be Maintained?

Rain troughs must be maintained, so regularly cleaning and checking for good working order is essential. If you wait too long and find your gutters filled with leaves or worse yet growing grass and weeds, you could be causing damage to the gutters. If they are clogged, there might be water damming, which can cause damage to the eaves or even flooding into the house itself, mosquitoes may breed in standing water, or the gutters themselves may be deteriorating from the heavy loads. The more trees surrounding the building, the more often the gutters must be cleaned. At minimum, twice a year is a necessity, though each property is different. To keep gutters from needing further repair, or worse yet to prevent gutter damage to the building, have gutters cleaned as often as necessary.

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