Is your mind in the gutter? Well, it should be if you want to have a house that is in good working order. Rainwater is a natural element that can wreak havoc on a house if it’s not controlled by properly installed and maintained rain gutters. There are many misconceptions about gutters and as a result there are many mistakes homeowners are making. In some cases these mistakes are causing damage rather than preventing it, so rain gutter installation in Irvine, or Orange County in general, is essential to the preserving of homes.

THE BENEFITS OF RAIN GUTTER INSTALLATION

The importance of properly installed and maintained gutters can’t be stressed enough. Every house should have gutters, and in recent years building officials across the land have been recognizing this. Many municipalities around the country are now requiring gutters on all new residential construction. Here’s why rain gutters are so important:

• Soil around the house is stabilized
• Foundation problems can be avoided
• Erosion can be prevented and this preserves landscaping and turf
• Water damage to siding and wood trim can be prevented
• Water staining on brick and stone masonry can be prevented
• Settling and cracking of sidewalks, patios and driveways can be lessened
• Exterior doors and garage overhead doors can be preserved

For houses that have trees within ten feet of the roofline, gutters will need to be cleaned out twice a year at a minimum. In some cases gutters may need to be cleaned out a couple times in fall alone. One myth about gutters is that houses with no trees don’t need to be cleaned. Gutter cleaning may still be required, especially on houses with asphalt shingles. Over time these shingles lose their granules and these granules make their way into the gutters. 

LEAF GUARDS

There are many products out there that claim to be maintenance-free leaf guards that keep gutters clean. Some of these products are effective and some actually create problems. The products available are either metal mesh or sheet metal gutter helmets. In some applications these products can tend to dam leaves on the roof which can cause damage to roof decking and eaves. Some of the sheet metal gutter helmets and leaf-guard products don’t actually work in a heavy rain. Yes, leaves and debris won’t be in your gutter, but water won’t go into the gutter either. Before buying any of these products do some homework on rain gutter installation in Irvine and Orange County. Also read reviews of the products mentioned online. In some cases good old fashion gutter cleaning may be a better option. 

PROPER RAIN GUTTER INSTALLATION IN IRVINE AND ORANGE COUNTY

The majority of houses with gutters don’t have a system that is complete and installed correctly. A properly installed gutter system will include seamless gutters on every sloped roof edge. The gutters should not hold standing water, should not leak, should be securely fastened to the fascia trim, and should have downspouts that are securely fastened to the exterior of the house. 

Finally, downspouts should not terminate close to the foundation. This is a common mistake that installers and homeowners make. What’s the use of having a complete gutter system that dumps all the water from the roof at the side of the foundation? This is just another reason why rain gutter installation in Irvine is necessary for your home’s health. What’s needed is a minimum of three-foot diversion away from the foundation. In many cases a section of flexible black plastic diversion piping can be used, or a section of downspout can be attached at the end of the elbow. It’s important to note that the concrete diverters that are often seen under downspout elbows are not adequate for water control.