Why Your House Needs Gutters Installed Even When It's Built On A Slab Rather Than A Basement
You may know that gutters are necessary for keeping a basement dry, so that might make you wonder if you need gutters on your home if it's built on a slab rather than a basement or crawlspace. While you don't have to worry about a wet basement, gutters are still important. Learn why you should consider residential gutter installation.
Gutters Prevent Soil Erosion
Without gutters on your home, rain will roll off along a roof valley and dump on the soil. During a heavy rain, this could amount to a lot of water, and that water can erode the soil next to your home. The excess water might interfere with the health of plants near your foundation by washing away soil or drowning the plants. The soil erosion might even affect the soil near the slab and cause the slab to sink, shift, or crack. When your house has gutters and a downspout, water is directed away from your house before being released on the ground so it doesn't damage your home or plants.
Too Much Water Can Cause Slab Damage
Water should always drain away from a concrete slab whether it's a driveway or foundation slab. Besides affecting the soil and causing shifts, water can slowly affect the concrete and increase the risk of cracking. Rain can cause foundation damage on all types of homes, even homes built directly on a slab, so gutters are important for preventing potentially dangerous slab cracking or shifting. Movement of the soil or slab might even cause damage to a buried plumbing pipe, and a burst pipe will compound your problems.
A Gutter System Helps Keep Your Siding Dry
Gutter troughs catch all the rain as it rolls off your roof so it doesn't spill down the siding or splash against windows. While your house will get wet when it rains, the high volume of rain rolling off of your roof can cause problems if there are cracks or gaps in your siding or windows. When water gets behind siding, it can reduce the lifespan of the siding or cause mold and water damage behind it. Excess water can also cause wood windowsills to rot, or the water could leak inside your house and lead to excess humidity or water damage to your home.
When your home is too damp, insects might be attracted to it. If the wood along the windows and walls are damp, the moisture might attract insects that damage the wood and eventually cause structural damage. Keeping your home dry is important for preventing problems, and a gutter system is a good way to keep your house as dry as possible.
Once you have gutters installed on your home, it's important to check them periodically to make sure they drain like they should. A gutter installation company can put on guards that keep leaves out, and they'll angle the troughs to make sure rain drains away from your house. Your gutters should work properly for years, but it's always good to check them occasionally and install new gutters when needed to protect your home from the destructive force of rain.