Gutters need to have a slight slope to them in order to work.
How to know if you need gutters.
Your home may not need gutters if.
Finally if you find that water manages to seep into your basement after rain you should check your gutters first.
Do you have trees close.
Here are 4 points to think about if you are considering adding gutters.
Clogged gutters can prematurely rust aluminum gutters.
This is one of the easiest ways to tell you need gutter repairs or gutter replacement because you don t need to be on a ladder to notice it.
Water and mildew around the foundation.
This can indicate that the gutters are full of water and pulling away from the house due to the weight.
For a simple gable end roof you would only need to make two calculations one for each slope.
If you notice what looks like orange coloring around some areas of the gutters or where the gutters join the house or if you find signs of rust it s an indication that your gutters need to be replaced.
If this is the case then you ll want to get new gutters as soon as possible.
You have a 6 to 10 wide roof overhang.
To figure out what size gutters you need first you ll need to calculate the square footage of the gutter s drainage area.
Your gutters should be sized based on the maximum rainfall you can expect not the average rainfall.
Use a gutter guard if you need to keep leaves and debris from collecting and clogging up the system.
You have an apron of concrete gravel or stone around your house and an adequate drainage system to support it.
Gutters should never sag or pull away from the home.
The ground slopes away from your house.
The gutters could require maintenance and that can add to your list of annual chores.
Bad gutters will allow water to fall straight down to the foundation of your home causing possible water damage and seeping into your home.
About a quarter of an inch sloped towards the downspout for every ten feet of gutter is the industry standard.