Why are gutters important?
Are you wondering why you need gutters? Actually, gutters are very important to the health of your entire home.
Gutters have one job… to move water away from a building or home so the structure does not suffer from water damage. When water is not diverted away from your home, all sorts of problems develop:
- Leaks and/or flooded basement or crawlspace
- Cracked, uneven, or damaged foundation
- Soil erosion around the home
- Mold and mildew growth inside and outside
- Moist environment attracts termites and other insects
- Staining on the exterior of the home, siding, or masonry
- Settling and cracking of sidewalks, driveways, and other concrete
These problems can be avoided by making sure gutters are installed around your entire home and the downspouts are directing water at least 3 feet away from the base of the building. Any distance less than 3 feet is just dumping water from your roof onto the ground next to your foundation which is somewhat pointless.
Now that you have installed gutters, the trick is keeping them clear and free-flowing because gutters can be a lot of work unless they are protected.
READ NEXT: WHY IS GUTTER PROTECTION IMPORTANT?