necessary. To keep water away from the foundation? For what purpose? Even if that is the reason, gutters are not going to keep water away from your foundations. It seems to me that this is a case of "Well, we have always done it that way," thinking. What do you think?
2006-12-20 01:21:43 · 11 answers · asked by Bluebeard 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I agree with you, in fact I recently remodeled a house built in 1842. Abraham Lincoln was 32 years old when this house was built. No gutters, until about 1970. No problem with the yard eroding, until about 1970. Hmmmm! If you have good drainage away from the house, then collecting all the water on the roof to four points makes no sense at all. I asked the city inspector what type gutters they required. They didn't require them. I didn't put any up, except to divert water from the entrance doors.
2006-12-20 02:38:45 · answer #1 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
most foundations are watertight enough that this isn't a real problem, but my house has no gutters and I have noticed in the 2 years I've spent here that the water runs down the roof and off the drip edging, but then it plummets to the ground so rapidly that a splash occurs when it hits the ground and the bottom third of my siding becomes damp while the rest stays dry. I will be installing gutters soon, after I replace all the damaged siding.
2006-12-20 01:39:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No: It isn't "This is the way it has always been" the "reason" maybe you don't do it or, haven't been doing it the proper way, having a downspout that actually carries the water away from the foundation, say, about six feet, mine does. So: With the ground level higher at the foundation as I always keep it, it's suppose to be this way, it tapers out and away from the foundation so, the water is carried away.
I also keep Hydrangea bushes and other sem-i hi bushes around the pipes and keep them clean, to cover the pipes for the appearance.
2006-12-20 02:04:30 · answer #3 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are absolutely necessary unless you like having water in your basement. Properly installed & maintained gutters will prevent that. My rain gutters drain down into the same sewer drainage system that is connected to the flood drain in the basement so the rain is carried away underground. Other homes have drains that end above ground & run a few feet away from the house.
I have seen cases where the home owner didn't appresiate the value of the length of rain gutter running across his yard, & chopped off a few feet of it, & later wondered why water started leaking into his basement.
Last December, I had a leak into my basement during a period of heavy rain. I checked the rain gutters, & found they had clogged up with leaves. When I cleared out the leaves my basement dried up.
Rain Gutters are absolutely important.
2006-12-20 01:33:14 · answer #4 · answered by No More 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure where you are from Buttermilk, but in Canada gutters are a "luxury item". ie; they are not required under the Building Codes in Canada.
However, if you choose to install them they must be installed properly.
I must admit that they are conveinient. The total area of your roof is quite large and sheds a lot of water. The gutters not only protect you from this rain pouring off your roof as you try to run out your door, but they do shed a lot of water away from the foundation if your downspouts actually extend the water away from the foundation.
Check for yourself how much water this could be. Take the area of your roof and multiply this by the next rainfall accumulation in millimeters, (or inches) which you could get from your local weather channel or website. You won't believe how much water these gutters actually divert away from your foundation.
2006-12-20 02:39:37 · answer #5 · answered by Building Inspector 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Why do we need gutters on our houses? I know the "standard" answers, but I still don't think they are
necessary. To keep water away from the foundation? For what purpose? Even if that is the reason, gutters are not going to keep water away from your foundations. It seems to me that this is a case of "Well, we have always done it that way," thinking. What do you think?
2015-08-16 16:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the old days water was not supplied to most houses so home owners had to build a cistern in which to store rain water. Gutters were put on tthe bottom edge of the roof to supply the cister with rainwater.so the homeowner had water.
Stan Hime
2015-06-06 02:06:55 · answer #7 · answered by Stanley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do You Need Gutters
2016-11-10 21:09:29 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi
yes some have basement that flood so gutters are used to keep water away from foundation.
depending on location it also good to keep dry to prevent termite and carpenter ants to chew your house
2006-12-20 01:27:23 · answer #9 · answered by pcc122 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YA YOUR RIGHT.KEEPING WATER AWAY FROM THE FOUNDATION KEEPS IT FROM SATURATING THE SOIL AND CAUSING YOUR FOUNDATION TO SINK ALONG WITH YOUR HOUSE.IN THE WINTER WHEN THIS SATURATED SOIL COULD FREEZE AND THAW CONTINUOUSLY THE PROBLEM COULD BE COMPOUNDED BY BREAKING UP YOUR FOUNDATION AND SINKING FASTER
2006-12-20 02:00:12 · answer #10 · answered by JAMES W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋