Most homes have protection in place to make sure that rainwater and melting snow don’t drip down the exterior of the building. Improperly installed gutters can lead to the destruction of the foundation. Most of the time, those protections come in the form of rain gutters with a variety of parts. With those traditional gutters come yearly responsibilities in the form of gutter maintenance and upkeep.
The Problems With Traditional Rain Gutters
The most common areas of gutter maintenance include clearing out any debris, such as dirt, leaves, and animal waste. If the gutters get clogged, they could easily become damaged or lead to damage to the building itself. From time to time, those gutters get cracked from age or a lack of gutter maintenance. When this happens, sections of the gutter or even the entire gutter system may need to be replaced. Traditional gutters may not be installed securely to the home, so when strong winds or heavy snowfall come around, the gutters may pull away from the home.
Rain Chains for Directing Water Away From the Roof
Thankfully, there are some alternatives that don’t require the same amount of gutter maintenance as your current system. They may even look a little bit better than the gutter and downspout you currently have. One of the most attractive ways to move rain water away from the foundation of your home is to install rain chains. These alternatives to a downspout have been around for centuries because they are beautiful and effective. One thing to consider about rain chains is that they aren’t suited to icy conditions.
Drains That Keep Water Away From the Foundation
French drains are another attractive way to move water away from the foundation of your home. These are gutters you put in at the ground level. Locate the drip site or the place where water is most likely to fall from the roof. Next, create a trench with waterproof materials to channel water away from the home. Include a perforated pipe at the base and use decorative landscaping materials to encourage further drainage. Unlike the rain chains, these drains aren’t damaged by ice.
Covered, Maintenance-Free Gutters
Covered gutters are the most effective things in reducing the amount of gutter maintenance, cleanup, and repair around your roof. Although rain chains, French drains, and landscaping options go a long way toward protecting the well-being of your home, none of these options fully replace the roof-edge gutter system. However, the installation of a gutter cover can reduce a lot of the wear and tear that traditional gutters experience.
There are several benefits of maintenance-free gutters to consider:
- A covered gutter system keeps out leaves, pine needles, and heavy weather. This means you don’t have to climb up to roof level to clean the gutters out several times a year.
- These systems are built to last and tend to be installed more securely than other types of gutters. Even if your gutters won’t be exposed to pests and debris, you’ll enjoy them longer.
- Covered gutter systems often have a seamless appearance with the fascia of your home. This allows them to look more like crown molding than like a gutter. This helps with the curb-appeal of the house and just makes everything look a little bit tidier.
- Closed gutters don’t invite squirrels to next inside and don’t attract mosquitoes with open access to pooled water. It’s much harder for insects and animals to get into these gutter systems.
If you’ve noticed pools of water around your property, especially after a rainstorm, you need to do some gutter maintenance. Additionally, if you can see that your gutters have been damaged or are missing, it’s time to replace them. Take advantage of some decorative ways to protect the foundation of your home. It’s time to make the decision to replace outdated gutters with a maintenance-free, covered gutter system.
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