Gutters: Exterior Necessity

When deciding on a spring home improvement project, gutters may not be one of the first things that come to mind. But they should be, because gutters can be essential to maintaining the integrity of your home's foundation and exterior walls. Water damage in and around a home can result in cracked walls and foundation, diminished topsoil, driveways and sidewalks that sink or rise, and mildew or mold in floors and interior walls.

So that is why when springtime rolls around, gutter projects take the forefront for exterior home projects. If the request isn't for installing gutters, it is for gutter cleaning because leaves from the fall built up and caused a sludge that is preventing the spring runoff from being efficiently transported away the home. Anyone who has cleaned out a gutter system knows that it is a messy process.

Whatever the weather brings, water has to be routed quickly and efficiently away from the house to ensure that there is no damage to exterior walls, sidewalks, driveways, or landscaping. Particular areas of the house that can benefit from gutters are the front entrances and over any decks. Homeowners with steep roofs should also consider oversize downspouts.

Homeowners should look for three criteria when evaluating a gutter installation: the gutters themselves should match the fascia, the downspouts should match the siding, and both should not visible from the street. Gutters and downspouts are not meant to be an accent to the home's exterior.

There are also several questions that should be asked of any contractors when securing an estimate for gutter installation. In the case of new construction, homeowners should ask to have drain tile installed prior to the cement being poured for sidewalks or driveways. Once the cement is poured, it must be dug under which can cause other potential problems that may need to be addressed further down the road.

A homeowner should also ensure that a good quality product is being used, and that gutter hangers are being placed every two feet. Perhaps most importantly, the gutters need to be sealed away from the house. This is done using gutter flashing. Gutter flashing will ensure that if the gutter starts to overflow because the water can't drain fast enough, the water is pushed over the front of the gutter instead of towards the back, which can result in damage to the exterior walls. The homeowner will usually need to get up on a ladder to ensure this was done.

What is the sign of a quality gutter installation? A good compliment after the gutters have been installed is when the homeowner realizes a week later that the gutters were actually installed. A gutter project can usually be done in one day and doesn't require the homeowner to be home, so a job done well can easily be overlooked.