Are_Rain_Gutters_Really_Necessary

A question that many homeowners often ask is; do I really need to have rain gutters and downspouts on my home? It's a good question and the answer may surprise you. Let's take a closer look.

The answer is that it really depends on several different factors.

No, you do not need rain gutters if:

• Your home is surrounded by a concrete sidewalk or patio, driveway, etc. The main reason for a gutter system is to take all the rainwater that falls on your roof and move it away from your home's foundation, but if your home is surrounded by concrete then you don't really need gutters. It would only be a personal decision.
  
   
• The area you live in gets little annual rainfall. It only makes sense that if you live in the desert southwest you really don't have to be too concerned about rain gutters.
  
   
• The round all around your home slopes away from the foundation. Since the water can't pool around your home it is not necessary to have rain gutters.
   

Yes, you need rain gutters if:

• You live in an area with rainfall that averages more than 15-20 inches a year.
  
   
• Rainwater sits around your foundation and pools up after a rain instead of running off.
  
   
• You don't like rainwater coming off your roof and falling on your head. That may sound silly, but not many people like to walk outside their front door into a steady river pouring down off their roof. With gutters and downspouts you obviously eliminate this from happening. 
   

With these tips in mind you now have a better idea of whether your home really needs to have rain gutters or not. Of course, you many want them on your home just for aesthetic value. It's really a personal choice.

10.10.2009