You see them everywhere in neighborhoods and very often among commercial businesses. Gutters have become a common sight for structures, down to the point of recognizing the sound of a dripping gutter. While many people have become accustomed to them as a normal aspect of life, it’s crucial to understand how important gutters really are. While the majority of new home constructions feature these gutter systems, some homes do not, and many older homes may not have a gutter system.
Do You Really Need Gutters?
This is an extremely common question, and it’s easy to understand why. For people that have had gutters, it can be difficult to see the benefits of having them simply because they’ve done their job. What do we mean by this? Well, gutters perform a specific job in keeping your home safe from water. But if you’ve had a properly functioning gutter system and never had to deal with any damage, it can be harder to see the benefits because you haven’t experienced what gutters prevent from happening.
For the majority of homes and even businesses in Keller, Texas, gutters are necessary. While the climate can be very hot and dry, North Texas still gets a substantial amount of rain and storms to make it worth having gutters. However, there are not any laws or regulations that legally require gutters to be installed.
Gutters Prevent Water Damage
The main purpose of gutters on a home or business is to prevent water damage. More specifically, the aim is to prevent forms of water damage like mold and mildew. Gutters essentially offer a method of water collection for any runoff from your roof. One example is a home built primarily with a wooden exterior. Without gutters, the rainwater that flows down your roof is much more likely to run down the sides of the home. This causes the wood exterior to be in constant contact with water, greatly increasing the risk of water damage. When there are periods of heavy rain for long periods of time, this risk can increase.
Direct Water Away from Your Home’s Foundation
Gutters don’t just protect your home that is above the ground. In fact, gutters do a great job at protecting your home’s foundation, too. This is especially true whenever any clay-type soils are involved, which is very prominent in Keller and the entire North Texas region. Clay soils are extremely absorbent. Without gutters, the clay soil around your home’s foundation will absorb a lot of water. This can lead to more and more water collecting around your home’s foundation. As more water accumulates here, the risk of water getting into your foundation increases. This, of course, can lead to foundation damage that can be expensive to repair.
When a home has a gutter system, the gutters are able to collect the water so it doesn’t pool around the foundation. The water flows through the gutters to the downspouts. Downspouts should be directing your water to some sort of drainage so that the water will drain away from your home. The drainage could be an actual drain, or just a ditch that allows the water to flow towards the street. Either way, this system allows for water to be directed away from your home to protect against water damage.
Get Professionally Installed Gutters in Keller
If your home or business doesn’t have gutters, or you have an old gutter system that needs to be replaced, it’s time to protect your property. Our happy customers in Keller and all across the Fort Worth metroplex have trusted R&O Landscape services for their gutter installation and cleaning needs. Give us a call today so we can discuss the best gutter system for your home or business!