Do I Need Gutters

Without gutters water cascading over the roof s edge can wash down the side of your home especially in a windy rain event.

Do i need gutters.

Especially in michigan it s far more likely that you should have gutters on your home. Gutter guards form a physical barrier against fascia boards making it difficult for rodents to make their way into your roof. Gutters are water channels that are designed to funnel water from the roof of a structure to a safe drainage area. Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter.

After all they are prone to clogging attract nesting birds can only handle a limited volume of water and can eventually pull away from your roof or tilt. You need to multiply that drainage area by the roof pitch and the rainfall intensity. For them to work properly you need to keep the gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and debris and this takes regular maintenance. Water control can help prevent leaks.

If you don t have gutters and downspouts to direct runoff away from your home this will happen every time it rains. If you are like many homeowners you have probably wondered whether gutters are even necessary. It can easily overwhelm your gutter capacity. Strictly speaking metal roofs do not require gutters because metal roofs themselves are resistant to the damage gutters are designed to prevent.

That s because your roof is like a waterslide and the water slips down quickly into your gutter when there is a steep pitch. Either you have to climb the ladder and do it yourself or you need to hire a professional gutter cleaning company to do it for you. This seems like a logical train of thought but the reason clogged gutters cause damage is because they let water flow over the sides where it pools all around the foundation. While cleaning and maintaining gutters can be a dirty tedious task it s well worth the effort to prevent potential costly dangerous problems.

However there are a few reasons you might not need the added expense and maintenance. During the winter gutter guards can reduce the amount of ice forming along the roof of your house. A common question that i get from customers is whether or not the upper story of their home needs gutters although there is no patent answer there are signs to look for that might suggest guttering your upper roof. A gutter can help control the volume of water.

However gutters do play a significant role in protecting other parts of your property. My last house in cincinnati had more than 400 linear feet of gutter on it. Why does a house need gutters anyway. Do you battle leaves in your gutters twice or three times a year.

Windows doors and siding will be coated with rain water and that can increase the opportunity for leaks. If your roof is steep you ll need a larger gutter. Some roofers even advise against them.