You might’ve seen some new places not having gutters - so do homes really need gutters? In this post, we look into the importance of a gutter system and weigh the pros and cons.

What gutters do

These long, narrow tubes used to reroute rain that falls on a roof. When it’s raining, the gutter funnels the water to downpipes towards the ground where it’s directed away from the foundation of the home. This keeps the ground around the building from being waterlogged and potentially leaking or causing other damage to the structure and surrounding landscaping. Without gutters, rain runs down the roofline creating a waterfall effect. Gutters help prevent damage to roof, fascia and exterior trim and paint.

Who needs gutters

Not all homes need gutter, homes with overhangs that are broad enough to drain water away from the home do not need the expense of a gutter system. However, entering and leaving the home without getting wet can be more difficult during heavy rains.

What can happen without gutters

Damage occurs once any water has penetrated the foundation or walls of your home, this can be a major problem and can be quite costly. This type of damage happens where there’s no gutter system or your gutters are damaged, or the downpipes aren’t working as intended or place in a bad location. Water damage to the building can causing settling and cracking of the walls and foundation and mould growth. Mould isn’t only hard to get rid of but can also cause serious health problems for you and your family and most of the time you aren’t aware of mould until a health condition arises.

The downside

Because gutters are generally open, they collect more than just rainwater. Leaves, yard debris and insects get into them as well. Debris hinder water flow, causing water to back up in the gutter and overflow. Gutters can also get damaged - tree limbs, animals and even heavy rains can dent gutters and weigh them down so they sag or cause them to pull away from the building.

Giving way

While gutter maintenance can be a hassle - fixing damaged gutters isn’t difficult or expensive. Holes can be patched and plugged; sagging or loose gutters can usually be hammered back into place; and, gutter screens can be added to prevent debris from accumulating. Also, if there is damage you replace sections and don’t need to replace your entire gutter.