When it comes to home maintenance, the earlier you catch something, the cheaper it will be to fix. Installing gutter systems on your house is no different. By getting them installed before they need fixing or replacing, you’ll save money in the long run.
If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to install guttering on your property. Here are some benefits of having gutters on your home and advice on when to get them installed.
Why is it important to install gutters?
Guttering is a simple yet effective way to divert water away from your home. They’re more than just a pretty addition to the outside of your house – they actually protect your home from water damage.
Without gutters, water would easily find its way into your property, causing damage to the structure, roof, and the foundation. That
How to Determine the Right Time to Install Gutters
Gutters are a cost-effective way to protect the exterior of your home from water damage caused by rain, snow, and other precipitation. They divert water away from the foundation of the house, which is where it’s most likely to do the most damage.
Even if you live in an area that doesn’t see a ton of rain, installing gutters is a good idea to protect your home and keep your insurance premiums low.
If you live in an area with heavy rainfall or know that upcoming renovations could cause water runoff, it’s time to think about gutter installation. There are several factors to take into consideration before making this major investment.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know about determining if now is the right time to install gutters on your home.
How to Tell if You Need New Gutters
If your gutters are old, clogged, or simply in disrepair, you may need to replace them. Before you get started with any major project, take a few minutes to assess the existing gutters on your home.
Make note of any issues such as rust, holes, or other damage. You can also check to see if you have the right type of gutters for your house.
Gutters are designed to channel water away from the base of your home to protect it from water damage. If your existing gutters are damaged or clogged, they’re not doing a very good job.
If you’ve noticed water pooling around your foundation or water damage in your basement, or if your water bill seems unusually high, you may need to replace your gutters.
Existing Conditions
Deferred maintenance or other issues with the exterior of your home may need to be addressed first before installing gutters.
For example, if your roof is in bad shape, you should consider installing a new roof before installing gutters. If you’re planning to replace the shingles on your roof, you have a good opportunity to install a type of roof that’s more appropriate for heavy rainfall and can better handle water runoff.
Keep in mind that roofing installation and gutter installation usually go hand in hand. You’ll want to work with a contractor who can handle both projects at once so you don’t have to deal with two contractors.
If you’re planning to paint the exterior of your house in the near future, now may not be the best time to install new gutters. Painting the exterior of your house before installing new gutters can help seal the wood and extend the life of your new gutters.
Rainfall in your Area
You may need to install new gutters if you live in an area that sees a ton of rain. If it only rains a handful of days per year, you likely won’t need new gutters.
You should take into consideration the fact that other parts of the country get more precipitation during the year, so it’s difficult to make a blanket statement about the necessity of gutters.
If you live in an area that sees a large amount of rainfall, you’re more likely to need new gutters. Heavy rainfall can cause water to pool around the foundation of your home, which can lead to water damage.
Installing new gutters will divert water away from the foundation and help keep your house intact. Plus, you’ll also avoid dealing with clogged gutters which are more likely to occur in areas with heavy rainfall.
Upcoming Renovations
If you plan on doing some renovations on your home before installing new gutters, you may want to wait until those renovations are complete before starting the gutter installation process.
For example, if you’re planning to replace the siding on your home in the near future, you may want to wait until after the renovations are complete to install gutters. Installing new siding before installing gutters can help reduce the amount of water that can seep into your home.
Plus, siding is a great surface for installing gutters. Having new siding on your home before installing new gutters will help protect the surface of your home and reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to replace the gutters in the near future.
Installing New Roofing
If you plan on installing new roofing before installing new gutters, you’ll want to wait until after you’ve completed the roofing installation to install the gutters.
Installing roofing before installing new gutters can cause damage to the roof and the gutters. There are several reasons why you may want to wait to install new gutters after installing new roofing.
First, the roofing material may be too hot to install the gutters on right away. Second, roofing material tends to be heavier than traditional roofing, so it’s better to wait until after installing the roofing to install the gutters so you don’t damage the roof.
Installing New Siding
If you plan on installing new siding before installing new gutters, you’ll want to wait until after the siding installation is complete to install the gutters. Installing new siding before installing gutters can help reduce the amount of water that can seep into your home.
Siding is a great surface for installing gutters, and installing new siding before installing new gutters can help protect the surface of your home and reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to replace the gutters in the near future.
Plus, installing new siding before installing new gutters will help keep debris and dirt out of your gutters and keep them cleaner, which can extend the life of your new gutters.
Installing New Windows
If you plan on installing new windows before installing new gutters, you’ll want to wait until after the window installation is complete to install the gutters.
Installing new windows before installing new gutters can help reduce the amount of water that can seep into your home and reduce the amount of maintenance required to keep the gutters clean.
New windows installed before installing new gutters can help keep debris out of the gutters and make them easier to clean.
Plus, installing new windows before installing new gutters will help protect the surface of your home and reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to replace the gutters in the near future.
Determining the Right Time to Install Gutters
When you take all of these factors into consideration, you may come to realize that now is the best time to install new gutters. If you live in an area that sees a ton of rain and your roof and siding are in good condition, now is a great time to install new gutters.
If you’re planning a renovation project that will require the exterior of your house to be torn down, you may want to wait until after the project is complete before installing new gutters.
Working with a contractor to install new gutters while the exterior of your house is torn down can make the process a lot less streamlined.