Gutters 101

Gutters 101: What You Need to Know

What is the purpose of gutters anyways? They seem to just be a lot of maintenance to up-keep and a hefty bill to replace. You may be wondering if your gutters actually do anything or perhaps you are just curious about how it all works. As our team here at American Standard Roofing explains, rain gutters main purpose is to channel water off of the roof and away from your home.

Importance of Gutters:

Gutter Worker

If you don’t have gutters and downspouts to direct the runoff away from your home, the water will flow over the sides and pool around the foundation every time it rains. Too much water falling too close to your home can erode the soil around it, compromise the home’s foundation and wreak havoc to your lower level. Installing rain gutters is something that is very important. A faulty gutter system can also cause water to run underneath the shingles of your roof, which can lead to great damage. This is also important for winter time when the snow melts and there is all the extra water.

Reasons to Have A Well Working Gutter System:

Good Roofing System

Here are 3 great reasons to have a well working gutter system:

1. Prevent Erosion

All homes are built on a slight slope to guide runoff away from the foundation. If you don’t have gutters (or they are clogged, rusted or faulty), the water flows off from your roof, causing massive erosion. Over time more and more soil will begin to wash away every time it rains or snows. This causes your perfectly sloped landscape to slowly wear down, allowing water to flow towards your home rather than away from it. Erosion prevention is core part of our gutters 101 course.

2. Protect the Siding

When rainwater carries all sorts of debris down the siding, this results in streaky staining. Pulling up to a home that looks unkempt and unappealing from the outside negatively impacts you and your curb appeal. Aside from the aesthetics, over time this moisture can begin to rot your siding, which becomes a hugely difficult and pricey problem to fix! It can create holes in the siding, where unwanted pests can nest or even affect the structural integrity if enough water seeps through.

3. Prevent Basement Flooding

Soil that is saturated with pooling water becomes extremely heavy. When it’s consistently happening around your home it creates a tremendous amount of pressure on the foundation of your home. This can over time cause the basement walls to push in or crack. These cracks in the foundation allow water to flow into your home, potentially flooding your lowest level. Unwanted and excessive moisture can create mold growth and other dangerous health hazards for your family.

There you have our gutters 101 for our readers. It’s important to upkeep all aspects of your home, to protect the safety, health, and well-being of your family! Gutters do a huge irrigation job, making sure your home stays dry and your land keeps it’s correct slope. Here at ASR we care about the foundational integrity of your home. We will offer you our best advice on whether you need new gutters or just a clean up. Call us today for a free wellness check. We Got You Covered!

” Their service is outstanding! “

Amy Kyle

– Amy D.

Need A New Roof?

ASR RooferContact ASR, we’d love to talk with you about your needs!

Servicing Southeast Michigan

248-350-2323