What Are Gutters?

In buildings, troughs are placed at the edge of roofs to capture and distribute rainwater so a flood of water does not plummet from the roofing, and instead has a controlled descent through a downspout. From there, the water is either collected into rain barrels for garden or other use or is directed into the manmade drainage.

This diversion is intended to keep water from the foundation of the structure to limit flooding or water damage such as basement leaks or flooded gardens. The downside is that these gutters can become clogged with natural debris like leaves and must be regularly maintained. You can also use best gutter guards for the better protection of home gutter guards.

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However, maintenance is neither costly nor hard to do. The investment in a rain diversion system will in the end prevent more expensive or difficult repairs to the structure itself.

What Kinds of Gutters Are There?

There are many different types of gutters to choose from. Most frequently, the materials used are steel, aluminum, copper, and quite often vinyl. While vinyl is cost-efficient and popular overall, they are not best used in extreme cold or heavy snow-laden areas. Ice, hail, and deep freezes can damage vinyl easily, though without extreme weather the vinyl should last at least 10 years.

That said, the lifespan of most aluminum gutters is about 25 years, roughly half that of steel. Copper gutters are very durable. In fact, they can last well over 50 years if maintained properly. The attractive patina that copper develops over time is an added bonus for many, but keep in mind that copper gutters can be a tempting target for theft because the material is so expensive.