Keep your home healthy with gutters

Every time I'm in my house and hear the rain start to pound on my roof, the only thing that goes through my mind is…gutters. Were you expecting me to say, lush greenery or a beautiful rainbow? The fact is, my home doesn't have rain gutters and it needs them, badly.

My husband built our house about five years ago and though he did a beautiful job creating our roof which has a pitch of 12x12, he forgot to add the one thing that would stop the water from drowning my flowerbeds to the point of no return, damaging our walkway made of cement and eroding the soil around our foundation.

Of course gutters are not necessary for every house, but most houses need some kind of rain guttering system. If you notice the erosion of soil around your foundation, cement breaking up or dirt splattered on your siding, don't wait like we have, your house is telling you it needs gutters to stay healthy.

Gutters are not necessary for every house, but most houses need some kind of rain guttering system.

Buying gutters is an important aspect in taking care of your home and should be considered. They are most often installed by professionals, but there's no reason you can't make it a do-it-yourself (DIY) job. This Old House has some great DIY videos on how to install rain gutters. (I think I might accidently leave a couple of these playing on our home computer for my husband). There are also countless professionals that install gutters on a daily basis and can tell you what kind is right for your home.

If you are still questioning why your home needs gutters, here's a list of what these rain catching devices will do:

• Gutters direct water from your roof. If water is left standing on even the smallest flat area on your roof, it can lead to structural damage and leaks into your home's interior.
• Help keep water away from basements, walkways and patios.
• Keep your home clean by keeping mud, sand and water from splashing onto your siding, windows and doors.
• Gutters protect wood decks, doors and garage doors from excessive water damage.
• Diverts water from concrete to prevent sinking and cracking.

Having a good and reliable gutter system installed on your home will help prolong the life and structure of your home.

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