In building a home, sometimes the gutter system is missing despite being one of the biggest things you can do to protect a home’s exterior. The 20 inches of average annual rain Amarillo receives adds up when you see the signs of home/property damage. Getting gutter installation in Amarillo, TX can help prevent a variety of home exterior issues.
So, what exactly is the purpose of gutters, and why are they so important? Let’s explore the comprehensive benefits of a good gutter system.
The Cost Of Not Having Gutters
Not having gutters can cost us financially and damage our property, including foundation damage, basement flooding, siding damage, and landscaping damage, so proper water management is essential.
Foundation Damage
Right below your roofline is your home’s foundation, meaning when rain slides down the side of a roof, it directly hits the soil surrounding the foundation. When rain hits the soil, the soil will expand and apply pressure to the house’s foundation. Constant or repetitive pressure can cause foundation blocks to shift under your house, creating major safety and liability issues.
- Cost of repairs: Fixing damage to the foundations can be very expensive and cost thousands of dollars.
- Long-term problems: Once structural cracks are in your properly, they can slowly worsen as the damage spirals and escalates.
Gutters help redirect water away from our foundation and prevent these costly issues before they start.
Basement Flooding
Without gutters, your basement can flood, which can affect the foundations. Rainwater that runs off the roof and pools around the foundation can seep into the basement.
- Water damage: Pooled water might damage walls, insulation, and flooring.
- Mold growth: Damp areas create an environment for mold, a health risk to our families.
A sound gutter system directs water away from the house and avoids the drama of a flooded basement.
Siding And Exterior Damage
Rainwater that cascades down from the roof without gutters can stain, rot, and deteriorate your home’s siding and exterior paint. Not only will this impact your curb appeal, but it can also lead to siding damage, rot and even mold. With gutters, the excess rainwater will be directed away from the side of your home, keeping it clean and mildew free.
Proper gutter installation doesn’t just help prevent erosion for your landscape and siding; it also protects against damage to your patio, driveway, and walkways. As water accumulates, it can cause staining or cracks on exterior floors.
- Rot and Water stains: When water persists in an area, it can result in stains and potential wood rot. Once rot creeps in, you often must replace the wood or make extensive repairs.
- Decreased property value: Problems like water-damaged siding can reduce an appeal and market value, making it harder to sell.
Gutters protect our siding and help maintain our home’s look and market value.
Landscaping Erosion
Like we mentioned above, without rain gutters, rainwater will pool on the soil around the foundation. Not only can this lead to foundation issues, but it can also loosen and move the soil; this movement is known as erosion. Erosion can damage and kill your costly lawn and landscaping. It can also amplify the effects of excess water on your foundation by creating depressions in the soil that can hold additional water. This is one of many reasons why many residential and commercial building regulations around the United States now requires rain gutters.
- Erosion issues: These affect the appearance of our yard and damage flower beds, gardens, and shrubs, requiring more expense to restore.
- Water flow disruption: The natural flow of water is disrupted, making it hard for plants to get the right amount of moisture.
Gutters can manage water flow better, keeping our landscaping intact and looking great.
Roof Damage
Having properly functioning gutters will prevent water buildup on your roof. Water buildup can lead to damage and rot causing unnecessary roof repairs. If the water buildup persists, it can leak into your attic and damage your insulation, electrical wiring and drywall. To ensure your gutters are always functioning, make sure to maintain a regular cleaning schedule and keep up with any repairs.
Clogged gutters need a thorough cleaning to prevent roof damage. Having no leaf guards leads to even more rainwater collection on top of the roof causing deterioration.
It can also lead to:
- Wear and Tear: water wears down shingles, resulting in leaks and roof repairs.
- Ice and Freezing: In colder locales, water freezes, forming ice dams that can move the shingles and tiles and penetrate the roof. Damp in bricks can also lead to bricks spalling. As water freezes inside them, it impacts the shape, and the face of the brick can become damaged.
- Mold and mildew
- Attic flooding
- Water coming inside your home
Gutters extend the life of roofs by directing rainwater away and keeping homes leak-free.
Ice Dams
In winter, poor water management can cause ice dams on our roofs.
- Ice accumulation: When snow melts and then refreezes near the roof’s edge, it can create barriers that trap water under roof shingles, resulting in dampness.
Gutters manage snowmelt, preventing ice dams and winter damage.
Pest and Bug Infestations
If you have small bodies of water around your roof, or on the patio, bugs can attract to those like magnets. All sorts of insects are attracted to large pools of water. In fact, mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water.
Stagnant water can collect around our homes without proper drainage.
- Breeding grounds: This provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes and more pests around our property.
- Health concerns: More mosquitoes increase our families’ disease transmission and health risks.
Installing gutters ensures water is directed away, reducing stagnant areas that attract insects.
Now what kind of system should you get if you need to replace gutters?
Preventing Leaks
Just like excess rainwater can corrode your foundation blocks, the rainwater can also dissolve the concrete in between the foundation blocks. When water pools on the foundation, it’s only a matter of time before it leaks into the house. Excessive leaking can cause your home to flood, leading to irreversible damage that insurance frequently will not cover.
Protecting Your Investment: The Benefits of a Sound Gutter System
Rain gutters protect homes by managing water flow properly. This then protects and shields the foundations, giving your home more longevity.
Protect Your Foundations
Guttering protects the foundations of your property by redirecting water preventing soil erosion. It also protects the foundations of your house. Foundation movement or subsidence can lead to cracks and structural damage in walls.
Protect Your Basement
Heavy rain can lead to basement flooding, but a sound gutter system can reduce this risk. Gutters preserve siding and exterior surfaces by stopping water from falling down the roof. They also prevent peeling paint and wood rot and keep homes looking great by directing rainwater away. This reduces repair or replacement costs.
Protect Your Landscaping
It’s not just the surface grass that gets water pouring down from your roof during a good rain. All that time and money invested on a garden and flower bed goes down the drain without proper water drainage through a well maintained gutter system.
Extending Your Roof’s Life
Rain gutters prevent water from pooling on the surface, which can cause leaks and damage. Proper drainage minimizes roof damage and saves you money on future repairs.
Choosing the Right System: Seamless Gutters
Getting water from where it could potentially collect to where it needs to be requires a sturdy material so water doesn’t leak through on its journey to draining off. Vinyl gutter installation breaks down on the sunnier days in Amarillo.
Seamless gutters are a strong material that is installed around the sloped roof edges. Seamless gutters have several less chances to leak because they do not leak within the gutter multiple joints that vinyl gutters have.
If you’re unsure if your current gutter system is working properly, take a look around the house after it rains next time. A properly maintained gutter system funnels bodies of water away from your home. Look for any pooling, leaks, erosion or damage to your plants.
Protect your home with New Vision Exteriors
Without rain gutters, you can have many issues caused by water ingress. These can cost you significantly as you deal with external, structural, roof, and foundation damage. Gutter systems direct rainwater away from our roofs and walls, preventing erosion and keeping our basements dry. It will protect the value of your home time.
If you’re considering installing new gutters, check out New Vision Exteriors. They offer a range of gutter solutions to help you protect your home. Call today to discuss your needs and take a step toward controlling water damage.