How Gutters Help Your Foundation: The Atlanta Guide
Did you know that gutters play an integral role in an effective water management system?
As a resident of Atlanta, having an effective water management solution to protects your home from frequent heavy rain common in both Atlanta and the North Georgia area.
At AquaGuard, our complete gutter and water management solutions provide the protection your home needs against dangerous and costly water damage. On this page, our team of gutter professionals have compiled their knowledge to explain how a proper gutter system helps protect your foundation.
What is a Gutter System?
A gutter system consists of vinyl, aluminum, or steel troughs that line the edge of your home’s roof. When it rains, runoff flows off your roof and into the trough of your gutter system.
Each gutter is sloped towards a downspout which allows water to flow to the ground and away from your home. Downspouts then transfer water directly into an underground drain or through an extension that carries the water away from your home and deposits it onto the ground.
How Gutters Protect Your Foundation
Although water might seem harmless, it can wreak havoc on your home over time. Everything from your siding, foundation, and interior air quality can suffer damage due to an inefficient gutter system.
Gutters Defend Against Foundation Settlement
The biggest threat brought on by an inefficient or nonexistent gutter system is foundation damage.
When rain runoff pools around your home, water is likely to wash away the soil, seep below the foundation, and exert growing pressure on the foundation walls, all of which lead to uneven settling and foundation cracks.
When a foundation settles unevenly, the house moves with it and can cause extensive structural damage like cracks in the foundation or stuck windows and doors.
Gutters Minimize Soil Erosion
Runoff is a leading cause of soil erosion. Soil erosion due to faulty gutters typically occurs along the exterior sides of a home or just around the downspout.
Regardless of the extent of erosion, no amount is good for a home. Erosion has a direct impact on the foundation and structural integrity of your home.
Gutters Prevent Mold and Mildew
Gutters aid in keeping your crawl space or basement dry which prevents mold and mildew from growing.
Mold prevention is key to a healthy home because it breaks down structures in your home, it smells bad and looks bad, and mold particles can cause lasting respiratory problems to anyone living in your home.
Gutters Thwart Flooding in Your Basement and Crawl Space
If your home has a basement, there is a good chance you have personal items or important appliances stored down there.
Moreover, if your home has a crawl space, then vital home utilities like water pipes or electrical wiring sit below your home.
In either case, it is important that the area below your home remains dry. A complete gutter system keeps the water away from the base of your home and prevents it from leaking into your basement or crawl space.
The Benefits of a Gutter System
Gutters go a long way in preserving the safety, stability, and curb appeal of your home in more ways than one. Here are two major benefits:
Gutters Preserve the Structural Integrity of Your Home
Rain runoff that isn’t properly caught by gutters compromises the structural integrity of your home by weakening the soil supporting your foundation. Over time, this causes foundation settlement and structural issues.
Moreover, ineffective gutters allow water to seep into your home’s crawl space (if you have one), which leads to unpleasant problem signs like mold, wood rot, and sagging floors.
Basement walls are also at risk if your home has faulty gutters. When water floods the soil around your home, much of it drains below the surface and builds up next to the basement. Eventually, this leads to cracked and leaky walls in your basement.
Installing a proper gutter system will circumvent all of these problems by preventing water from overflowing onto your home’s siding, soil, and foundation.
Gutters Maintain Property Value
Another benefit of a complete gutter system is that it preserves your home’s curb appeal and keeps your property looking great. Faulty gutters allow water to flood down the side of your home or onto concrete, which can cause discoloration and staining.
Furthermore, inadequate gutters can transfer tons of water onto your lawn and damage your landscaping. Gutters, along with downspout extensions, carry the water away from your landscaping and siding, meaning your property can continue to look its absolute best and maintain value.
How Gutter Systems Are Installed
Gutter installations are a relatively straightforward process. However, there are several key components that ensure a gutter system works as it should.
Other companies and DIY installers often overlook these critical steps, which is why we recommend hiring gutter experts like AquaGuard to install an effective gutter system for you.
Measure and Assemble the Gutter
The first step in professional gutter installation is measuring each roofing section to see how long each gutter should be. Professionals will start with measurements in order to properly assemble each section prior to hanging.
When assembling a gutter, professionals start with an end cap and use the appropriate length of gutter for that particular section of the roof. Then gutter experts will attach the end caps and seamers to the gutters with self-tapping screws.
Seal the Seams
Once the section is assembled, professionals will use specialized gutter sealant products to seal the seams around the end caps and seamers. This will prevent water from dripping out of the gutters when it rains.
Hang the Gutter at the Proper Pitch
The most important part of a gutter installation is hanging the gutter at the proper pitch. The ideal slope is ¼ to ½ inch per ten feet. This pitch is slight enough that it can’t be detected from the ground but pronounced enough to ensure the water moves toward the downspout. Professional gutter installation will ensure the proper pitch is achieved.
FAQs
The only time you would not need gutters on a home is if it was located in an area with little to no rainfall and had sufficient landscaping drainage to efficiently move water away from the structure.
Not having an efficient gutter system can cause short and long-term damage to a home’s siding, foundation, structural integrity, and landscaping.
A complete water management system is the only way to guarantee your foundation remains protected from water damage. A gutter is just one component of an effective water management system.
Contact AquaGuard Today for an Effective Gutter Solution!
A complete gutter system is instrumental in protecting your home high rainfall and humid conditions common in Atlanta. Without a gutter system, your house and foundation are at risk of sustaining costly water damage that negatively impacts your home in more ways than one.
To learn more about how gutters protect your foundation and to schedule a free inspection, considering contacting us today!
