Do I Need Gutters Around the Entire House?

December 08, 2020

With the passage of time, rain gutters have become a standard part of most homes. They take care of keeping all the rain water from affecting a building's foundations, with specialized rain gutter installation services handling all the intricacies involved in integrating a new gutter and drainage system to an existing structure. If you live in a small home and a dry climate, you might doubt the purpose of such a sophisticated system, so we'll address the most common questions to help you make up your mind on the matter.

Why Do I Need Rain Gutters?

As you've probably guessed, rain gutters take care of collecting the rainwater that falls on your roofs. They are built on durable materials to withstand the flow of water and installed around your roofs to redirect the water away from the house, simultaneously preventing leaks and slowing down the gradual deterioration of your home's foundations.

A faulty rain guttering system often results in the erosion of the soil and the degradation of the structure they're built around as more water seeps into the roofs and walls. In more extreme cases, a single rainstorm can lead to major flooding with no way of channeling the water to a safer distance.

The layout of certain buildings might turn gutters into a hassle, but these cases are exceptional at best. When necessary, gutters are customized to fit the structure of a house without demanding additional changes on the house itself. In addition, there's no denying the usefulness of keeping an apt rain gutter system to protect your home during the rainy season.

Do I Need Gutters Around the Entire House?

This will mostly depend on the size of your roof, as well as on the number of slopes dividing it. Rain gutters are highly effective, so most buildings don't need for a guttering system to run around their whole structure. That being said, there are still details that are exclusive to your own home and they will play a part in defining the full length of your gutters. Some important things you need to know in advance:

• If your roof has multiple slopes, each of these slopes must have a gutter at its edge. When it rains, every slope will drain the water in opposing directions, so you need a guttering system and downspout to catch the water on each side.


• Many suburban homes divide their roofs in two slopes. You'd need to place a gutter on the two sides that correspond to these slopes while forgoing the two remaining sections in which the slopes come together.


• A low-pitch roof will move the water more effectively towards the gutters. If the slopes on your roof aren't particularly steep, you might need to keep an eye on them to make sure there's no water left after a storm.


• Flat roofs don't need gutters on each of their sides, but this largely depends on the overall size of the roof. Since there are no slopes to help gravity move the water toward the gutter, you need to install scuppers that will channel the water from the roof's surface to the edges where the gutters are built. If the building is too big, multiple downspouts will be necessary to keep the water from pooling on the roof and the best solution might be to install gutters on several sides of the construction.

Another important factor is the amount of rain you get in your area. Even if your roof's design doesn't call for gutters around the whole building, there are instances in which you might still need to customize your gutters and install other accessories to protect them. If your city suffers from constant heavy downpours, you need to discuss your options with your rain gutter installer to make your gutters as sturdy as they can be.

Can My House Be Safe without Gutters?

More often than not, rain gutters are a practical addition that will protect your home and save you lots of money on repairs. There are some cases, however, where there's just no room to install a guttering system, like when roofs are too ornamented to fit a gutter seamlessly.

Roofs with a wide overhang (around 2-3 feet from the wall) can often keep rainwater far from the walls without the assistance of a rain guttering system, but might still benefit from additional mechanisms to drain the water away if they're struck by downpours on a regular basis. Since a traditional rain guttering system would be obstructed by the presence of a large overhang, you would need to get the assistance of a plumber and/or rain gutter installer to work on an appropriate alternative.

Houses that see little rain can also sustain strong foundations without the help of rain gutters. Rain gutters corrode quickly when you add factors like sunlight and poor maintenance, so it's best to avoid this investment if you're under the impression that gutters can go neglected in mild climates where rainwater is scarce. Otherwise, a rain guttering system serves as a viable preventive measure to protect your home during the rainy season.

Choosing what you want for your rain gutters can be daunting after you discover all the options available. Rain Gutters Solution helps you through the process, installing the most durable gutters to protect the foundations of your home. We are the ultimate solution to protect your home from leaks and runoff. Contact the experts at Rain Gutters Solution calling (305) 270-7779 or filling out the contact form on this website and schedule an appointment right away. We will be happy to assist you!

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