Why are gutters important?
The primary purpose of gutters is to divert water away from your foundation. Pooling water can collect around your basement walls inside your crawl space and create major damage. Most of the damage caused is very expensive to fix.
How do I know when to replace my gutters?
Gutter should be replaced when they are rusty and falling apart for obvious reasons. The other times gutters should be replaced are when they are bent or damaged by a storm or falling debris. Bent gutters can restrict the flow of water and cause other issues. Also, if your gutters are old and have seams, installing seamless gutters will be more appealing and offer longer life. Plus, without seams there is less of a chance for debris to collect inside your gutters.
Why are leaky gutters such a problem?
Leaky gutters are the single biggest cause of basement leaks. Basement leaks are the single biggest cause of foundation issues. Foundation issues are very expensive and can threaten the entire structure. The trickle down effect of leaky or faulty gutters can result in very costly repairs that are seemingly unrelated.
What is the difference between a residential and commercial gutter?
The short answer to this question is, one inch. A residential gutter typically refers to a five inch wide gutter and is very common on midwestern homes, which is why it’s referred to as a “residential gutter.” A “commercial gutter” refers to a six inch gutter and can handle a considerably higher volume than its five inch sibling. The difference is in the size. Now, six inch gutters are being installed on homes more frequently. They offer better curb appeal and move 50% more water. Plus the downspouts are larger in size so they are much less likely to get clogged than the five inch version.
Can I get gutters in all different colors?
Yes! Gutters come in a variety of colors. White is the most common color and there are literally hundreds of different shades of white. The time this is most evident is when you have new white gutters installed on your home and do not replace the metal fascia wrap behind the gutters. Many times people will notice a stark contrast between the two. It’s always good to hold a metal swatch up to the existing gutters to see how close you can get them.
