Let’s face it, most of us don’t give our rain gutters a second thought. They are just a part of our homes which we never have to worry about. Unless of course, they get blocked. But why are they even there? What would happen if they weren’t installed in the first place? The experts at Global Gutter Systems say that a rain gutter install is actually pretty important for the structure of a home. Particularly in areas that get heavy rainfall.
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What Are Gutters For?
As you probably already know, a rain gutter runs along the perimeter of a building and is designed to collect rainwater from the roof, draining it away from the home. A rain gutter system usually comprises the guttering around the roof and a downspout that will direct the flow of water into a drain and away from the foundations or basement level.
What Would Happen Without Rain Gutters
Most homes are built with a drainage system that includes rain gutters. But imagine for a minute what would happen if you were building a home and you decided to leave the gutters so that you could save some money.
Now imagine it starts to rain very heavily. If your home has a slanted roof, the rainwater will just pour off the roof. No big deal, right? Well, that rainwater that falls on your roof will run down the siding of your house. If this were to happen over an extended period of time, you can expect to see peeling or chipped paintwork, damp walls, and maybe even water damage to your windows and doors. If you had a flat-roof house, the damage could be even worse as you might experience water pooling on the roof.
Water that is allowed to run off the roof and down the side of the house could cause damage to the foundations of the home, which over time could lead to subsidence. If you have a basement, the water from the roof, could enter the basement and cause flooding.
Do All Homes Need Rain Gutters
Although rain gutters are necessary for most homes, there are some that will have some manner of protection without them. For example, if a home does not have any soil and is instead surrounded by concrete patios or driveways, then there is no need to worry too much about rainwater getting to the foundations. This does not mean that the rainwater would not affect the sidings.
In areas with a dry arid climate, such as Nevada where they typically get less than ten inches of rain in a year, rain gutters may be seen as unnecessary. In California, the average monthly rainfall in the summer is less than a quarter of an inch. However, some of the driest states in the summer become some of the wettest in the winter, so it is worth bearing this in mind before deciding to forego the rain gutters.
If your home is built on a slope, then rainwater is not going to collect around the foundations of your home and will naturally run away from the house. Also, if you have a large overhang on your roof, any water that runs off the roof will be far enough away from the siding and foundations to avoid causing any problems.
Conclusion
A rain gutter install is important for most homes as it will ensure that rainwater is directed away from its foundations and basement as well as prevent damage to the siding. However, in some areas that get very little annual rainfall, gutters may not be necessary.
