I've noticed most new houses don't have rain gutters. What purpose do they serve & are they really needed?

Answer 1

yes they are needed. Otherwise the water can damae your house over a period of time and will probably create a lot of humidity in the basement

Answer 2

If you need gutters, you have a problem that is not fixed by gutters. The problem probably is a bad slope away from the house. That is what should be fixed instead of gutters. If you have gutters to prevent soil from splashing up and staining you exterior wall, you need something better for the rain runoff to land on. Like a sidewalk. All gutters fill full of crude, from leaves to grit off of the roof. All gutters have to be cleaned. It is an unnecessary task that can be prevented by getting rid of the gutters.

Answer 3

Gutters Are Really Just To Keep Alot Of Water From Seeping Under Neath Of Your House

Answer 4

Depends on where you live .
If there is poor drainage, gutters & leaders are used to direct water away from the house.
Fairly common not to have them in some places in N East because of snow & ice buildup.
If not used & drainage is an issue ,french drains are used below the eaves to direct water away from the foundation.
Nice to have over unprotected entrys so you don't get water down your neck whilst looking for your keys.
I skipped them on upper roof & porch & put covers over the gutters I do have.
Best rehards

Answer 5

Rain gutters are a regional thing. When I lived in western Oregon everybody had them and the newer houses they drained into pipes that took the water to the street.

Living in the desert now, hardly any houses have gutters. In fact none of the local codes require them. It rains so little here and the soil is so sandy they are pointless.

Answer 6

The only way that I would have gutters on a house is if the lot is not graded properly. If the water drains away from the house they are not really needed. If you have gutters and you do not maintain them they can cause more problems than they prevent. The worst part is that by the time you have a problem it can be very expensive to fix.

Answer 7

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Hi Marlbobama, I've been in the home repair business for decades, and the jury is in on this one. Yes, they are better than not having them. Let me give you some pro's and con's. 1st the con's. Roofers HATE them. Most of my customers have been advised at one time or another NOT to use them. They make life MISERABLE for roofers. 2nd, They require frequent cleaning to work to their potential. 3rd, If not properly installed, they will DESTROY for facia/soffit area (that's your roof's overhang area) from moisture/water damage. PROS: (WHEN CORRECTLY INSTALLED) 1st, It directs water to where YOU "NEED" it to go rather than where IT "WANTS" to go. This is CRITICAL in the overwhelming majority of homes that have gables directing water (via BADLY designed gables) towards the homes entryway. Obviously, this is more important in northern areas where ice is a problem, but still a major inconvenience in any situation. 2nd, When rain water falls from your roof's edge to the ground, it's absorbed by your masonry foundation. Block and brick foundations are even more susceptible to this damage, and if you add the freeze/thaw issue into northern homes, you can understand why foundations CRUMBLE. They not only crumble, but WAY before their time! 3rdly, When a roofer tells you that those gutters will ruin your facial boards, ask them this question. "If YOU had to pay to have your home repaired by someone else, would YOU rather pay for new 1"x6" facia boards, or have your house LIFTED (about $150,000.00 bucks), and have the foundation replaced"?

Answer 8

Rain gutters help to direct rain away from the foundation of the home and also away from entryways to the home. The downsputs are placed on corners of the home and often are directed a few feet away to keep water from saturating the soil around the foundation.

Another advantage to having gutters is that you could put rain barrels under the downspouts so you can use that water for watering your garden and lawn.

Answer 9

The prevent water from running off the roof and splashing around the base of the house. Depends on what the runoff lands on. If its cement, not much of a problem; otherwise it could be undesirable if on plants or on grass, etc.

Prevents flooding by directing runoff to a point where it's carried away

Answer 10

I hadn't noticed that and I don't know if new houses where I live have them. They are essential, I think, where I live because we get a lot of rain. A rain gutter prevents drips over your doorway, for example, when it is raining.

Answer 11

here are some of its pruposes:
* Directs water away from basements, walks and patios.
* Keeps the outside of your home clean by preventing mud and sand from splashing up onto siding and windows.
* Protects the color of brick and concrete. No drip lines or discoloring.
* Protects concrete slabs from sinking and cracking.
* Inhibits moisture from entering directly inside open front entries and backsliders.
* Preserves stained wood decks, doors and garage doors from splash-ups.
* Stops landscape erosion. Plant without the concern for flooding.
* Water is directed to the sewage system where damage from run-off is not a concern.