Does Every Home Need Gutters?
Saturday, December 4th, 2010
Gutters are recommended for most homes. But whether they are absolutely necessary depends on the answer to 2 major questions:
1. How much rain must the roof handle?
2. Where does the water drain?
Without gutters, a building needs some feature that ensures rain runoff is directed safely away from its foundation. If the overhang from the roof is extended far enough, the water will drain a safe 6 feet away. This is an unusual circumstance. Eaves on most homes stick out only 2 to 3 feet.
If the building is located in an arid climate where there is very little rain, then gutters might not be required. Again, this is a highly unusual situation. So, most buildings require properly maintained gutters of some sort.
Why Don’t New Homes Have Gutters?
Some builders have been known to leave gutters off new houses. The reason is fairly simple. Guttering can create warranty issues with eaves and overhangs because the gutter needs to be nailed into the fascia. There, it can create wear and tear and water damage over time. Crafty construction businesses know gutters are required. Yet they want other companies to handle the warranty for this work. This can save them a lot of money over an extended period of time.
Building contractors can get away with this because homes often look finished without gutters. If a buyer of a new home asks about gutters, the builder can always recommend another company to do the work. Their excuse is often that they are not in the gutter business and custom built ones will work better anyway. So, if you are planning to buy a new home, remember to ask for an additional discount to cover the cost of having gutters installed.

Wooden gutters can be cut in a variety of shapes to optimize both their look and performance. The material has a somewhat rough surface compared to metal and plastic. So, wooden gutters tend to be cut larger or deeper than standards gutters so they can handle the required volume of rainwater. Redwood is the preferred species of wood because it is both strong and resistant to water penetration. Painting once a year helps ensure consistent performance and to keep peeling to a minimum.
The surface tension of the flowing water is supposed to guide it over the leading edge of the reverse curve and into the gutter trough. Debris should slide off the edge and onto the ground. However, it is sometimes possible for flexible, waterlogged leaves, pine needles, and catkins to enter into the gutter along with the water flow. Dirt and grit may also enter and create sludge in the
Collector – A rain barrel is the most frequently used rain collection system. However, it will easily overflow in a heavy downpour. A drainage system that pipes water into a cistern or other reservoir is required if you want to capture a significant amount of rainwater.
Gutter downspouts can become clogged by all sorts of debris. Twigs, silt, leaves, catkins, and more can drop into the trough and get swept along the
If you have a small leak in your
In the northern U.S. where snow storms are an unavoidable winter weather phenomenon, a house can really take a beating.
Unlike aluminum or vinyl, galvanized metal 
