This simple roofline accessory does more than just direct water.
Your home needs gutters to help direct water away from your property, preventing soil erosion, water damage to your home’s foundation, and roof damage, as well as other issues that can lead to costly repairs.
Understanding What Gutters Do for A Home
- Gutters collect water running off of your roofline and move it into a drainage system or direct rainwater to flow away from your home’s foundation.
- Gutters prevent foundational damage caused by letting the water runoff collect around your home.
- Gutters increase curb appeal by protecting your landscaping and preventing soil erosion on the ground below your roofline.
- Some gutter materials, such as copper gutters, can enhance the aesthetics and value of your home.
Key Takeaways
Gutters prevent expensive damage to your home, including:
- Foundational cracking and water damage
- Basement flooding
- Mold growth
- Landscaping erosion
- Siding damage
Additional benefits of gutter installation include:
- Aesthetic appeal
- Proper drainage
- Long-term protection
- Low Maintenance
- And more!
Assessing Gutter Needs for Your Home
Each home is unique, and while every home needs a gutter system, there are several to choose from, and depending on factors like climate, your architecture, and personal style, there are many things to consider.
Consider Your Climate
First, think about the rainfall in your area. Is it a tropical climate like the southeast that receives inches of rain at a time? Or is it more like arid climates that rarely see more than a sprinkling? Think about the amount of water flow your gutters may be dealing with at a time. There are different sizes of gutters that can hold more water if that’s what you need. The amount of rainfall will determine the size you need.
Structural Considerations
Your roofline style, slope, and material can make gutter installation more complex. If you have a multi-story home with several peaks, you may need to work with an expert to determine the best strategy for rain collection. The most important structural consideration is the drainage away from your home’s foundation. Think about your lot as a whole and what slopes naturally impact the flow of water. In addition to your gutter system, you may need to install French drains or ground gutters to move water in the right direction.
Alternatives to Rain Gutters
If you dislike the look of gutters and are hoping for alternatives, there are several options that are either partial or full replacements for traditional gutters. An example of a partial replacement is a rain chain. Designed to replace a downspout, the water flows down a chain and to the ground via a more decorative design. Some homeowners look to ground-level French drains as a gutter alternative. With the proper slope and drainage, they can guide water away from the home’s foundation in a similar manner to gutters. They will require aesthetic sacrifices to the area around your home if you get a lot of rainfall, as most plants won’t like getting pummeled by falling water from your roofline.
Are Gutters Necessary?
In the long run, every home needs gutters. You might be able to wait a few months and get by if you’re not in a particularly rainy season. But in most cases, damage can begin in as few as 3 months if you’re not careful. Even arid climates can get sudden heavy rainstorms, and all that water sitting around your foundation can begin to cause problems like cracks, mold growth, and wood rot fairly quickly. Gutters are an essential part of your home and a great way to protect your investment for years to come.
Responsibilities of Gutter Ownership
Gutters are not a maintenance-free area of homeownership, but staying on top of the responsibility can be very simple. Regular gutter cleanings are required to keep your gutters free from any number of obstructions that may find their way into the channels. From pine needles to dirt to ice dams– removing blockages before heavy rains arrive is key to having their full-functionality at the ready. You’d be surprised at how much can build up over a short period of time, and it shows the importance of gutters and why you need to keep them clean.
Cost Considerations When Selecting Gutters
Gutter costs vary based on the material, square footage, difficulty of installation, and the size of your home. Professional gutter installation specialists can tell you what the necessary protection is for your home, what size will best handle rainwater runoff, and how to navigate any tricky structural issues with your roofline or design. Add-ons like gutter guards or seamless gutters can also impact the cost of both installation and maintenance.
Average Installation & Maintenance Costs of Gutters
Depending on what you choose, there’s a pretty wide range of gutter installation costs from $7-$40 per square foot on average. Maintenance can be affordable, and with proper cleanings, your gutter system’s lifespan will be extended, so you make the most of that upfront cost. At Aerotech Gutter Service, we recommend quarterly cleanings to catch any issues early and keep your gutters free of obstructions. Most people spend around $500/year on maintenance, but this can vary based on the complexity of your gutter system. If your existing gutters need repair, read our blog on those average costs here.
Average Cost of Water Related Damage
The potential water damage caused by dysfunctional or non-existent gutters can be expensive to repair. From mildew growth to black mold– water getting into your home causes nasty damage. The average cost to deal with these damages far exceeds what you would spend preventing these issues.
| Mold / Mildew Remediation | $10–$25+ / square foot |
| Fascia Board Repair or Replacement (3–6 ft of damage) | $900+ |
| Sealing Minor Foundation Cracks | $300–$1000+ |
| Waterproofing Foundation | $2000–$7000+ |
| Foundation Bowing / Settling | $10,000–$20,000+ |
| Landscaping Repair | $250–$1000+ |
The return on your investment to install and maintain gutters is huge. Several of these problems can more than double the cost of installation.
Three Ways to Assess Your Gutter Function
Assessing your gutter’s functionality is fairly simple. First, try to see how they work in action during a rainstorm. Are they overflowing, slow to drain, or otherwise non-functional? If you don’t have rain in the forecast, you can also create some rainfall with a hose and see if it’s able to navigate its way to the downspout. Running water at the top of the downspouts can inform you of potential clogs within that spout as well.
Finally, check your foundation for signs of damage. Displaced soil along the ground at the roofline, puddling near the base of your home, and any water collecting where it shouldn’t be are signs you should call a professional to assess whether your gutter systems are working properly. Knowing common gutter problems can help you spot issues early.
Most Homes Benefit from Having Gutters
If your gutters aren’t working properly, you’re risking your home’s structural integrity. Bring in experts like those at Aerotech Gutter Service to assess, repair, and maintain your gutter system and reduce the risk of basement flooding, foundational damage, and improve your home’s curb appeal. Contact us to assess if you need gutter repair or replacement and for all of your installation needs.
We’re Here to Serve!
Aerotech brings over 34 years of gutter expertise to every job. We’re fully insured, so you will have peace of mind that the job will be completed safely and efficiently every time.
Aerotech proudly services: