Besides from adding curb appeal to your home, gutters play a crucial role in protecting it from damaging rain water. Unfortunately their importance is often overlooked until costly damage has already occured.
10 REASONS YOUR HOME NEEDS GUTTERS:
Gutters Protect Exterior Walls, Windows, Doors: Water dripping off the edge of the roof can splash dirt and moisture back up onto the exterior walls of the home and can lead to staining, rotting or premature weathering.
Gutters Help Prevent Water Intrusion in the Basement: The majority of all water problems in the basements are due improper water shedding. Poor planning or the natural landscape of a location can slope toward the home and route hundreds of gallons of water toward the foundation. Overtime this can lead to cracks, leaks, flooding, and excess moisture resulting in expensive water, mold and mildew damage.
Gutters Prevent Soil Erosion: Properly routing excess water away from the home and reducing the energy created by falling water can prevent the erosion of the foundation backfill and surrounding soil.
Gutters Protect Landscaping: Excessive water channeled to landscaping around the home can kill shrubs, grass and other plants.
Gutters Protect Fascia: Properly installed gutters with the correct flashing, or apron, will stop water from running over the lip of the roof and sneaking back up under the roof or fascia which can cause damage.
Gutters Protect Decks & Railings: The drip-line created by a roof without gutters can prematurely weather deck boards and railings.
Gutters Protect Driveways, Concrete Slabs and Walkways: Not only can drip-lines from the roof stain and wear asphalt or concrete used around the home, excessive water can wash out the fill below driveways, slabs and sidewalks causing them to sink, crack or heave.
Gutters Provide Winter Safety: Melting snow can freeze on sidewalks and driveways creating an icy hazard. In addition, the salts or other chemicals used to melt ice can reduce the lifespan of the concrete or asphalt being treated.
Gutters Help Keep You Dry: The drip-line created by a roof without gutters can create a sheet of water during rainstorms making it impossible to enter or leave the home without getting drenched.
Gutters Help Collect Rainwater For Irrigation: It is becoming increasingly popular to use to use rain barrels to collect rainwater from the roof for use as irrigation on lawns and gardens lowering utility bills for those who use them.
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