While often associated with the arduous work of cleaning them, gutters can be extremely beneficial for your home and property, though they are not always necessary. There are several things you must consider when deciding on installing, replacing, repairing or removing any gutter system.
Pooling water
While stormy weather in South Texas can be hard to predict, look around your home the next time you get some rainfall to see if water pools in any areas near your property. Water pooling around the foundation can lead to cracks and leaks. Heavy rain can also erode soil around your house, possibly exposing foundation and creating drainage issues. Gutters can help divert water away from the house, minimizing these risk.
Drainage
Standing water near the house can lead mold growth and rot. It can also lead to more mosquitoes around your property as they lay eggs near water. Gutters can help keep your grounds dry and promote proper drainage to help control these issues.
Exterior of home
Water cascading down from the roof can damage siding and windows, and lead to door- and window- trim rot. With proper placement, gutters can alleviate much of these problems and extend the life of the exterior of your home.
When would gutter be unnecessary?
While most of the Coastal Bend area will see varying degrees of rainfall on an average year, there may be some areas with a dryer climate and less frequent rains that whose homes may be less suitable candidates for a gutter system.
If your roof has a very steep pitch, generally 9/12 and over, that alone can help direct water away from the house and could eliminate the need for gutters.
A swale or other drainage system may already be a feature of your home’s landscape that helps efficiently drain pooling and standing water, making the need for gutters around these drainage areas unnecessary.
No matter what your situation may be, the estimators at Berryman Roofing and Siding can offer several options to help keep you and your home above water.