If you live in an area where it rarely rains, then gutters are not something you should be concerned about. However, if you live in Marietta, where thunderstorms and heavy rain showers are common, then gutters are essential for protecting your home from water damage.
What Can Gutters Do That My Roof Can't Do?
The short answer is, gutters and downspouts can divert rain water away from your home and direct it to your home's drainage system. The next question to ask is, "Why is this important?"
Imagine pouring a bucket of water down your roof. Assuming you have a high-quality roof installation, you will see the water run down the shingles and shed off the roof. But where does the water go from there?
Much of it will drop to the ground. This seems harmless enough, but when that bucket of water becomes a heavy Atlanta rain shower, you have water pooling all around the foundation of your home. This water soaks the foundation of your home, and some of it will find its way into your basement, crawl space and concrete floor, and that is where the trouble begins.
Gutters Help Prevent Flooded or Wet Basements
Once water finds its way into your home's structure, it can spread throughout your home. In the case of a basement, gravity is the enemy. The water seeps into the basement walls and runs down into the basement flooring. The end result may be a flooded basement and a big clean up effort.
You may also have a constantly wet basement. In this case, water isn't visibly pooling, but it has saturated your basement's walls and floor. You may have to replace damaged drywall or flooring, or even worse, deal with hazardous mold or fungi removal.
Gutters Help Prevent Water Damage Inside Your Home
Water doesn't only find its way down to your basement. A wet foundation can also result in a wet home and attic. In this case, air is the vehicle for damage, rather than gravity.
Imagine a home that is being heated during the fall or winter. If water has saturated the home's foundation andåÊ concrete floor, it can be absorbed as water vapor into the home's heated air. Eventually, the heated air works its way into cold spaces. Once the warm, humid air contacts something cold like your attic rafters and plywood, or the inside of exterior walls, drops of water condense on these cold structures.
Although you will not have a flood situation, you will have an increased chance of water damage to your home's wood structures and drywall, as well as another opportunity for mold or fungi to grow inside your home.
The good news is, all of these problems can be avoided by installing an effective gutter system with downspouts that route the water away from your home and towards its drainage system.
Gutters Are Green
In addition to preventing water damage and mold growth inside your home, gutters can help you be more environmentally friendly. Not only do they protect your shrubs, plants and flowers from standing water (which encourages harmful fungus growth and pests), they also can be used to feed rain barrels.
The water you collect in your rain barrel can then be used to water your plants and lawn, saving you money while conserving a precious resource.
Marietta Gutter Installation
Now that you know the benefits of rain gutters, we hope that you will consider Findlay Roofing for your gutter installation needs. If you have any questions about our gutter systems and products, or would like a free estimate for installing new gutters for your Atlanta home, we invite you to contact us today.
