Are Gutters Really That Important? 5 Ways They Protect Property

Gutters are some of the most underrated elements of the home's exterior. They may seem like a purely aesthetic feature, making the outside of the house more comfortable when it rains. However, gutters are a key part of protecting your house. Discover five reasons they're so important. 

1. Preventing Foundation Problems

Rainwater may fall on the roof, but some of its worst damage happens at the foundation. When rain, snow, and melting ice falls directly off the eaves, it falls almost directly onto the foundation below. That water will then pool on the ground, drain toward the foundation, and splash onto the lower sections of the walls.

This eventually leads to cracks in the foundation, wood rot above it, and erosion around it—all of which are serious problems for the foundation. And foundation problems are some of the most expensive repairs homeowners face.

2. Maintaining Property Drainage

How does water flow throughout your property?

Bad drainage is hazardous to the health of your home. When rain and snow is allowed to drain wherever it wants, it often runs toward the sensitive house structure. It may erode parts of the protective ground and landscaping all around the house, creating unwanted trenches and stagnation. A gutter system lets you direct water not only softly to the ground but also safely away from the house.

3. Avoiding Ice Dams

Winter is harsh on a roof, and it may not be obvious how gutters help with snow and ice. One of their most important contributions is to prevent ice dams from forming at the eaves. An ice dam occurs when snow melts over the warm upper parts of the roof and flows to the colder eaves.

At this point, it refreezes and forms a dam along the outer edge. The ice pushes into the roof's structure and more water builds up behind it, exacerbating the problem. 

Gutters are an important part of preventing ice dams because they quickly move the melting water away from the danger zone. Broken, damaged, missing, and clogged gutters all contribute to their formation instead. 

4. Discouraging Pests

Soggy ground, moss near the foundation, and cracks from moisture are all great ways to welcome insects and other pests. The problem, of course, is that most property owners don't want to provide a welcoming home for pests. Make your house and yard less attractive by limiting the amounts and locations of standing water, preventing water damage to the house's base, and avoiding overgrowth by water-loving plants. 

5. Protecting Home Value

Because of both their role in protecting the house's structure and making it more appealing, gutters contribute to home value. When future buyers look at your property, broken or missing gutters will make it look messy and not properly maintained. The signs of damage from uncontrolled water are red flags for buyers, who may either want a more thorough examination or dismiss your home as problematic.

Certainly, if you plan to sell your home in the next few years, now is the time to think about how the gutters contribute to or detract from its value. Fixing them up is a relatively small investment that could seriously boost the home's curb appeal and overall impression.

Could you use help in any of these areas? Have you already noticed problems that may stem from bad or missing gutters? Stop the damage by meeting with the exterior pros at Minnesota Roofing Company. We'll put out three decades of local gutter experience to work for you by assessing your current gutters, designing a new gutter strategy, and supporting your gutter needs after installation. Call today to make an appointment.