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The importance of properly installed and maintained gutters can’t be stressed enough.   Here is some reasons why rain gutters are so important:

• Soil around the house is stabilized

• Foundation problems can be avoided

• Flooding under houses and in basements can be prevented

• Erosion can be prevented and this preserves landscaping and turf

• Water damage to siding 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

Your gutters are an integral part of your home’s exterior. When it comes to your gutters, siding, and roof, you want them to be clean, whole, and well-maintained.  However, poorly attended gutters can drastically impact your home health. This is how bad gutters can affect your roof.

Water Seepage

Water seepage is a serious problem that can move from your gutters to other places.  Water trapped in your gutters can leak through gaps in your house’s exterior.  Depending on the pitch and shape of your roof, water may creep up from the gutters to the roof itself, causing leaks that could move into your ceilings.  If you begin noticing water damage on your ceilings, consider inspecting your gutters in addition to your roof. You will want to stop the problem at its source.

Mold and Mildew

Stagnant water that will not drain properly can cause mold to grow.  This growth can then spread to your roof and other areas of your home.  If there are holes or openings to the interior, you might find yourself with a serious mold problem in your walls.  This poses a health risk to you and everyone else living in your home.  You must protect your house from unwanted fungal growth like mold, mildew, algae, and moss.

Structural Damage

Bad gutters can affect your roof at the most basic levels.  Structural damage to the roof is common when gutters are overflowing or clogged.  This buildup is especially common after heavy rainfall, snow accumulation, or ice storms.  Because your roof is not meant to bear this extra weight, the strain pulls on the foundational soffits and fascia.  If these parts of your roof begin to bend or break, you could face significant repairs.

So what kind of gutters are best for your home? The majority of homes are outfitted with .027 gauge gutters, which are often the easy and budget-friendly route to go. Gutters of this gauge will do very well on most homes that experience mild to moderate weather and little snow. However, an upgrade to .032 gutters is necessary for regions that experience very heavy rain, wind and snow.

The term “gauge” is used to describe the thickness of the aluminum. What is considered the industry standard for professionally installed aluminum gutters is .027 gauge. This would be a medium-weight aluminum compared to the .025 gutter systems that are sold in home supply stores. Upgrading to .032 gutters is recommended for maximum strength, but not needed for every home.

If you live in a region that experiences harsh, snowy weather, you may want to consider .032 gauge aluminum.

HEAVY GAUGE ALUMINUM HAS GREATER DURABILITY AND AN EXTENDED LIFESPAN

Although tempering does have an effect on metal strength, thicker aluminum will usually be stronger.  One day of wet, dense snow can easily leave a normal gutter system sagging.

By upgrading from .027 to .032 aluminum, you’ll get far better protection from the elements and, as a result, a much longer lifespan.  A properly installed heavy gauge gutter system easily outlasts the average roof in most cases, thanks to a lifespan of over 20 years.

Aluminum is an excellent gutter material since it’s resistant to rust, requires minimal maintenance, and is fairly lightweight compared to other materials.  The advantages of aluminum are even more impressive when a heavier gauge gutter system is used.

HEAVY GAUGE ALUMINUM GUTTERS LOOK NEWER LONGER

Although the paint has much to do with how long your gutters will look brand new, it is true that a heavier gauge aluminum will maintain a straight, clean appearance for a longer period of time.  Thin aluminum gutters often begin to show wear and tear more quickly than homeowners expect.  This is particularly true for areas with heavy rain and snow, especially when combined with the weight of wet leaves.  Over time, thinner gutters may begin to sag and the gutter itself splay outwards, especially if leaves and debris aren’t regularly removed.

Maintaining gutters by regularly removing leaves increases the lifespan of the system, but even that comes with one downside.  Thin aluminum can dent and bend fairly easily, especially long stretches of aluminum.

People typically place a ladder against their home to access the gutters for cleaning.  Sadly, the pressure from the ladder combined with the weight of the person can easily leave noticeable dents in the gutter itself.  This is fairly common with cheaply made, thin aluminum, but also could be possible with .027 aluminum.  Using a ladder is a necessity for cleaner gutters, but a heavier duty .032 aluminum is more durable.

Heavy gauge aluminum gutters have a much longer lifespan and are less likely to dent from a ladder overall.  If you live where hailstorms are common, a .032 gauge aluminum will be able to handle a hailstorm longer than .027 gauge before taking on any damage. This thicker aluminum is also less likely to sag or have the sides splay out, meaning the overall appearance of newly installed gutters will last longer.

HEAVY GAUGE ALUMINUM IS MORE AFFORDABLE THAN COMPARABLE-STRENGTH STEEL

Aluminum gutters are more common and overall less expensive.  Even with aluminum being significantly less expensive, some homeowners still toy with the idea of installing steel gutters.  When it comes down to value, a heavy gauge aluminum is still the better option for homes where steel isn’t a necessity.

Aluminum is more rust-resistant, lighter in weight, and is a more affordable investment compared to steel under most circumstances.  Heavy gauge aluminum is often considered superior in nearly every aspect when it comes to average home gutter system needs.

There are significant reasons why having heavy gauge aluminum gutters is beneficial.  While having gutters isn’t listed in building codes, it is required to have some form of water drainage around your home.  Gutters are the easiest and most effective method of diverting water runoff, and thanks to improvements in gutter design and the use of heavy gauge aluminum, gutters also add an aesthetic appeal to your home.  If you’re considering updating your current gutter system or having a system installed on a new house, research your options and what works best for your home, so you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store.