A sound gutter system is a vital part of any home. Gutters play an essential role in protecting your house from the elements- they help to divert water away from the foundation and keep it out of the basement or crawl space. If you think about it, gutters are really just channels that guide rainwater runoff away from the house. The downside to this is that most gutters become clogged over time as leaves and other debris accumulate around them. This can lead to severe problems with water infiltration, which can cause significant damage to your roofing shingles, fascia boards, soffits, and more!
Types of Gutter
Gutter systems come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same basic purpose: to divert rainwater away from the house. Here are a few different types of gutters to choose from:
Seamless Gutter
Seamless gutter requires that the downspout be positioned at one edge or another (usually on end) to channel water away from your home- this type of gutter is more challenging to install due to its complex design.
K-Style Guttering
It is a type of guttering that is typically installed on buildings with angled or sloped roofs. This can be done by using extra support, which will usually need to be mounted at the top edge of your roof’s slope and should go no further than two feet from where you want your gutters to start. The downspouts are positioned so that they are on the same level as the gutters and usually have a slope of about one inch per foot.
H-style Guttering
This is also known as a double gutter with downspouts. This style has an opening at either end that accepts water from two sections of roofing to divert it away from your home.
Pipe Gutter
A pipe gutter is composed of pipes that are installed and sealed at the top. These gutters can be straight or curved, depending on your needs and preference. Pipe gutters typically have a length of three to four feet- which makes them easier to install than other types as they don’t require precise measurements.
Fascia Guttering
Also known as Eaves Guttering, this type of guttering is designed to be installed on the house with an attached garage. The gutters are placed at the edge of the roof and channel water away from your home before it can make its way through the windows or doors below.
Roof Guttering
This type of gutter is designed to channel water away from a roof’s edge. They can be installed on pitched roofs or flat roofs and will usually have one downspout in the front of your home that is at least ten feet away from any window or door openings.
Gutter Guards
A gutter guard is a device that sits in front of the gutters and prevents debris from entering them. They are most often installed on smaller residential properties with minimal landscaping around the house- they can be difficult to install if the home has mature trees or other plants close by. Furthermore, any type of gutter guard can be difficult to clean- which considerably reduces its effectiveness!
Gutter Cleaning and Maintenance
In order to prevent water damage, it is vital to have your gutters cleaned on a regular basis. For homes with an existing guttering system that is still in good working condition, consider having them upgraded or replaced as well- this will help reduce any clogging issues you may be experiencing.
Cleaning gutters is important because all the water and debris that collects in your rain gutter eventually run down into your foundation. Over time, this causes damage to a home’s exterior, such as leaks through cracked joints or rotted fascia boards.
In addition to keeping your house protected, a good gutter system will also help you save on water costs. Why? Well, when rainwater is diverted away from the foundation and properly directed into downspouts or gutters that lead off of the property, it prevents water from seeping back up underneath your home’s exterior walls. This can keep your home from developing costly and extensive water damage, which will ultimately save you money on high water bills.
Finally, the most beneficial thing about a well-maintained and clean gutter is that it will help reduce insect infestation in your home as they’re less likely to accumulate dead bugs!
So, as you can see- gutters are an essential part of a well-maintained house! If they’re not functioning correctly or if there’s severe clogging in the gutter system that needs to be addressed, it could lead to significant water damage and a higher monthly bill.
We recommend having your gutters cleaned at least twice per year, especially if you live in an area with excessive rainfall or high humidity levels. It’s also important to have the debris removed from under your home so as not to cause any additional structural problems- which is something that can lead to costly repairs.
If you’re worried about the time and effort that goes into cleaning gutters, consider having them professionally cleaned with a power washer on an annual basis- this will remove any debris from your rain gutter and prevent it from clogging up again! Contact TCI roofing and get your gutters inspected or repaired if needed.
