Be prepared for increased amounts of precipitation by making sure your gutters are ready.
Wet weather is not unusual during late winter. After all, warmer temperatures are on the horizon, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Be prepared for increased amounts of precipitation by making sure your gutters are ready. But what are gutters for, and what can they do for you. Here are some answers to that question.
What Do Gutters Do?
Gutters serve to redirect water that falls on your roof. Even if your building’s roof is flat, it still has a small slope to facilitate runoff. Runoff must be controlled, however, and this is what gutters and downspouts are designed to do. That way, the water that drains away after the latest storm won’t harm the foundations of your home or commercial building. If you don’t have gutters installed, the uncollected water is free to cause as much havoc as it likes on your poor defenseless roof.
Why Are They So Vital?
If you always have water coming and going on your roof, then your roof is going to wear down far more quickly than it should. Any landscape features you have on the ground near the edge of the roof will be the unlucky recipients of all that excess water. Everything will turn to mud. So if that sounds unpleasant to you, then you should recognize why gutters are so vital – they can keep this nightmare scenario from coming true. Having properly-configured gutters can prevent other consequences, such as soil erosion and damage to your foundations.
How Can You Upgrade Them?
Sometimes, gutters need to be upgraded. You can upgrade them through additions that make them more efficient. For example, you could consider a leaf screen, which is a mesh work made of metal that is supposed to keep stray leaves and twigs from clogging up your gutter system. However, the leaf screen won’t prevent water infiltration.
Another idea is to use what is known as a corner baffle. These are helpful if your roof features a valley. Roof valleys are where two parts of your roof intersect in a V, which allows water a convenient place to form pools. When enough water collects, it becomes powerful enough to bypass your gutters entirely. A corner baffle makes the gutter taller and doesn’t allow the water to pass over it.
Contact Topper Construction Today!
If you’re interested in having a roof system, siding, or water drainage system installed in your new home, or would like a free estimate, contact Topper Construction. With Topper Construction, you’ll see the benefit of nearly three decades of experience. Contact Topper Construction at 301-874-0220 or email us at info@topperconstruction.com if you are interested in learning more. We can help you with projects in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Northern Virginia.
