Does Your House Really Need Gutters?

By Author: Gutter Empire Vancouver
Total Articles: 45
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Gutters are an obvious part of any home today in Vancouver. While the trend of having a gutter system started with its potential benefits, today modern gutter systems also participate well in enhancing the aesthetics of your house. If you had the chance of getting a gutter system professionally installed in your home, you are well aware of the cost that it took. You must be aware that professionally installed gutter systems are not cheap. It is because of this expense that some homeowners even have this question in mind today - are gutters necessary in Vancouver?

Well, to get an answer to this question, it is better to unwrap the solution one by one. There are so many things to understand such as the working of the gutter system, the suitability of a gutter system in your home, and many others. Let us explore all the aspects one by one to understand the true necessity of gutters in Vancouver.

The Need for a Gutter System for Vancouver Homes

Let us first straightaway answer the question of what are gutters for. Gutter systems will collect rainwater or snow-melting water and then drain it away from the house ...
... foundation. So, houses without a gutter system will always have the risk of roof and foundation damage during rain and snow. There can be several issues when you do not consider getting a gutter system in your Vancouver home. Here are some of them.

• Damage to the Home Foundation

When water starts collecting near the home base, it starts eroding the foundation, leading to serious damage. Hence, the prime reason to get a gutter system is to protect the foundation from such water damage. The gutter system comes with a downspout that diverts the water collected in the gutter to somewhere away from the home foundation. Many homeowners may even use extended pipes or splash blocks to protect their foundation from any water damage.

• Damage to the Landscape and Garden

Apart from the foundation, many homeowners may have a garden area or some landscaping around their house. When water starts pooling in these areas, it can damage the roots of the plants, ultimately destroying the garden and the landscape. So, the gutter system diverts the water away from such landscaped areas to keep the garden as it is while the rainwater drains out somewhere else.

• Basement Flooding

If water starts collecting at the foundation of the house, the accumulated water may start putting pressure on the basement walls. This pressure can cause damage such as cracks on the walls of the basement. Slowly, water may seep in, causing basement flooding. Even if it does not flood inside the basement, the water may cause other damages such as mold growth in the basement of the house.

• Damage to the Siding

When water with dry leaves and other dirt flows down the side walls of the house, it can cause stains and marks on the wall. It will start looking extremely dirty over time. Also, when steam water flows through the areas that have wooden construction, it can cause rotting and pest infestation. Overall, it can cause damage to the aesthetics of the house. When the downspout diverts the water to another location, the water does not touch the side walls, leaving a quality impact.

So, are gutters necessary in Vancouver? Yes, as per the experts, a gutter system is an extremely essential part of a house that protects the overall health and aesthetics of the house.

When do Gutters become a Necessity?

There is no specific law that you have to install gutter systems mandatorily in your house. However, the above reasons explain why a gutter system can become an eminent part of your house. But are rain gutters needed in all the houses in Vancouver? This again becomes an eminent question.

While today most people in Vancouver prefer to get a gutter system, the system is mostly required in homes that are located in highly rain-prone areas. In fact, homeowners residing in high rain-prone areas even may install wider gutters to collect more water and divert all of it properly to some other spot away from the home foundation. Here are some specific situations when you definitely require a gutter system.

• Upward Slopes

If you have a house at the bottom of a hill or any other similar slopes, then you require a proper gutter system. In such a case, the water from your roof will not flow out, rather will start collecting in the basement. So, you must have a gutter system with a downspout that diverts the water to some other location.

• Clay-rich soil

If the ground on which your house is built is rich in clay, then again there is a reason to get a gutter system for your house. When there is clay, the water stays on the ground for a much longer time. So, if the water starts accumulating in your basement area, it will stay for a long time and will start eroding the foundation of your house or will start causing other damages such as mold growth on the walls.

• House Basement

If you have created a basement in your house, you must make sure that you have a gutter system in the house. When water gets collected in the foundation area, the water can pressurize the basement wall to create cracks. Water can start seeping in through these cracks, causing a flood-like situation in the basement and even causing damage to all the belongings in the basement of the house.

• Lack of Overhang

If somehow your house roof does not have any overhang, there is an absolute situation in which the water collected on the roof will start sliding down through the side walls. When water continuously slides through the side walls of the house, carrying debris and dirt, it will start causing damage to the walls. The aesthetics of the house will soon get compromised. So, again, in this case, you must consider getting a gutter system.

Variations in the Gutter System

Today, gutter systems are available in different variations. The idea is to protect your house without disturbing the aesthetics of your house. So, before you learn how to install gutters on a house, you must choose from a wide range of options available today. Here are some of the most common ones displayed.

• K-Style Gutters

Most houses in Vancouver prefer to get K-style gutters. These have a width of 5-6 inches and have a rectangular-shaped downspout. One of the issues with this gutter is that it requires sectional installments. So, you will require professional help mostly for the installation of this gutter. Also, this gutter system will require more maintenance in the long run. So, many other people even go for the seamless gutter system to stay away from the situations or repair and maintenance work.

• Half-Round Gutters

This gutter system has been there in the society since 1960s and still works amazing for the Vancouver weather conditions. These are half-rounded gutters with round downspouts. While these gutter systems offer a great appeal to the house, they may not work as efficiently as modern-day gutter systems.

Vinyl Gutters

These plastic or PVC-made gutter systems are readymade and you can purchase them instantly to install. It is one of the easiest options to install yourself. However, these also come in seams, similar to the K-style gutter system. At times, you may notice leakage through the seams of the gutter. Apart from an easy-to-install feature, the gutter system is also cheaper than other possible options.

• Copper Gutters

If you want a shining appeal and also something that stays forever, you must consider the copper gutter system once. It is one of the most durable gutter systems as of now. However, one of the downsides of the copper gutter system is that it can get extremely expensive. Also, you will require professional help for its installation.

Can Gutter Systems Have a Problem?

While gutter systems are there to protect your house from water damage, at times the gutter system may also suffer from issues. These are manageable but you must know about them in advance.

• Drain Clogging

When dry leaves, twigs, and other debris enter the drainage of the gutter system, they clog the drain, leading to the accumulation of water in the gutter. This can cause overflowing of the accumulated water and even can cause damages such as mold attack on the roof wall. Of course, there are ways to combat such issues.

• Ice Dams

Often after the snow melts, the water moves to the eaves of the roof. Here, the water can again freeze causing an ice dam structure. You must regularly clean up the areas properly again to stay rid of such conditions. Experts can show you other possible ways to avoid such situations.

• Incorrect Pitch

You must create a slight slope in the gutter system so that the water can flow down easily through the downspout. If this slope is absent, the water will start collecting in the gutter. This is one of the prime reasons why you must get in touch with a professional for your gutter system installation.

• Leaks

Incorrect installation, corrosion, and other reasons can cause damage to the gutter system, leading to leakages. So, you must use sealants to attach the seams properly. Also, look out for cracks and holes to seal them carefully.

Ways to Maintain the Gutter System

Cleaning and maintaining your gutter system can get quite dangerous. However, you must clean and maintain the gutter system at least twice a year. One of the most eminent things that you should check out is the clogged drain. If the drain gets clogged by debris, it can cause issues such as overflowing of water and mold attack. So, you must make sure that the drain is not clogged. You can make use of different tools and methods to keep the drain free from such clogs.

If you do not have too much time to clean and maintain the gutter system now and then, you must use preventive measures. Using options such as splash guards will ensure that the water safely moves away from the house. Also, installing gutter guards Vancouver will ensure that the debris does not enter the gutter system. The guards catch the debris and just allow the water to enter the gutter system. This way, the drains do not clog and you get free-flowing water through the downspout.

However, you must still invest some time at least twice a year to clean and maintain the gutter system to ensure that you have a healthy one.

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