Mostly known for protecting a home’s foundation, gutters collect roof runoff and channel it safely away from the home. But did you know that gutters protect more than the structure? Take, for instance, thoughtfully landscaped flower beds, full of beautiful dahlia blooms that took months to nurture into gorgeous flowers. Without gutters keeping water from spilling over the roof’s edge, all the hard work it took to design and grow the flowers could be washed away in a matter of minutes. Whether it’s delicate flower beds, paved walkways, or a backyard designed for entertaining, gutters play an integral role in protecting your investments.
For the homeowners who want to know, without a doubt, that their gutters are doing their job, one of the simplest things to do is follow the water. After a good rain, watch where the water leaves the roof, where it travels, and where it eventually ends up. When they are working properly, gutters protect far more than just the structure. In this article, we’ll look at how malfunctioning gutters can damage landscaping, hardscaping, and other outdoor features, learn how to spot a problem, and most importantly, what to do to fix it. First, let’s make sure we understand the ideal route once runoff reaches the roof’s edge.
Following the Ideal Route Through the Gutter System
With precipitation falling throughout the year in Ohio, gutters are among the most important systems keeping homes protected from the elements. Traveling via gravity, rain runs towards the roof’s edges. Without a gutter system waiting to collect the runoff, water would cascade down in sheets and streams.
Now, consider your roof. How big is it? How steep is the slope? Both of these factors contribute greatly to the amount of water the gutters will need to intercept. Even a relatively modest home requires a gutter system capable of handling thousands of gallons of water every year. Without gutters to collect it, the unmanaged water hits the same spot on the ground, over and over again.
Suffice it to say, a properly functioning gutter system directs water through a specific route to avoid damage. The ideal route for runoff through the gutter system goes like this:
- Roof
- Gutters
- Downspouts
- Planned discharge area
The correct course for runoff is every bit as important as the gutters themselves. It’s not enough to get water off of the roof; it must also have somewhere appropriate to go. When gutters don’t work the way they’re supposed to, your house is not the only thing at risk; so are your landscaping and outdoor features.
How Uncontrolled Runoff Affects More Than the Home
When the gutters aren’t working properly, and water is running unchecked, the landscaping is often the first to show signs of trouble. Like a waterfall carving through bare rock, a constant stream of water spilling from the roof into flower beds and gardens can:
- Wash away topsoil, mulch, and decorative stones
- Expose tree and shrub roots
- Move smaller, more delicate plants
- Create channels through the soil
- Create muddy or saturated, soggy areas
Flower beds and gardens are not the only areas at risk when gutters fail to manage roof runoff. Grass can also suffer. Over time, concentrated runoff in one area on the lawn can create:
- Muddy areas
- Bare areas where the grass dies
- Ruts or small channels through the lawn
- Persistent wet or soggy spots
Initially, a little mud doesn’t seem like much to worry about. But with every rainstorm, another wave of water drenches the same spot, quickly escalating into noticeable damage.
What About Hardscaping?
More than keeping the lawn mowed, many homeowners in Beavercreek go to great lengths to maintain the appearance of their homes. And when it comes to landscaping, damage from malfunctioning gutters is not limited to plants and grass. Hardscaping and outdoor features can also be affected by uncontrolled water, such as:
Walkways and Patios: Drainage problems are known for washing out soil, but have you considered walkways or patios? When water pools around the patio or sidewalk, it erodes the surrounding soil (and eventually the soil supporting it). When the supporting materials are affected, it can lead to cracking, settling, and shifting.
Pavers: Pavers are commonly used to create walkways through landscaping. Pavers depend on a stable and properly prepared base. When water repeatedly washes soil away, pavers can shift, settle, and create uneven areas.
Retaining Walls: Retaining walls are built to hold soil back, but when water runs and soil erodes, it creates additional stress on the retaining wall. If not addressed promptly, concentrated roof runoff can lead to costly repairs or full replacement of the retaining wall.
Other Outdoor Features: Failing gutter systems can also damage other outdoor features, such as fences, landscape lighting, and outdoor furniture.
Gutters are designed with a planned route to keep these important features of a home from the destructive path of uncontrolled water. If the route is disrupted for any reason, damage to the home, landscaping, and outdoor features is sure to follow.
Why Does This Damage Happen?
I’m sure we can all agree that rain falling is a good thing. However, when rain collects on a large roof and dumps onto one area, it’s most definitely not. To put it simply, it’s a concentration of water that causes the real problems. Your gutter system ultimately controls how water is concentrated and where it will be distributed. That’s why properly functioning gutters and downspouts are so important in protecting not just the home, but the surrounding property as well. Failing gutters may be a result of:
- Clogs
- Damaged or sagging gutters
- Poorly positioned or missing downspouts
- Improperly sized gutters
- Improperly sloped gutters
As you can see, there are a variety of reasons gutters may not be working as they should. One of the best ways homeowners can avoid extensive damage caused by failing gutters is to conduct a simple inspection.
Follow the Water: What to Look For
If you didn’t know, one of the easiest ways for homeowners to prevent total gutter failure is to perform a simple walk-around inspection of the property. No special equipment needed; a homeowner only needs to follow the path of water and look for clues. Watch for:
- Water spilling over the gutter’s edge
- Soil, mulch, or plants that are washed away
- Exposed plant roots
- Bare spots near the perimeter of the home but far from downspouts
- Muddy, saturated areas
- Hardscapes that have soil missing or washed out from underneath
- Pavers that appear to be shifting
- Erosion around retaining walls
- Water staining on walkways
- Premature wear and water damage on outdoor features
Here in southwest Ohio, where we experience cycles of freezing and thawing, saturated soil that freezes will expand, worsening damage to hardscaped areas, making prompt attention the key to avoiding major damage and repair expenses.
When Is It Time for Gutter Replacement?
Sometimes maintenance and repair are enough to get water flowing properly again. Other times, the system has simply reached the point where patching problems is not enough. Signs that it may be time to consider a gutter replacement include:
- Frequent leaking even after repairs
- Widespread corrosion or rust
- Multiple damaged or sagging sections
- Gutters are pulling away from the home
- Overflowing even after repeated gutter cleaning
- Missing or inadequate downspouts
Gutter replacement is much more than having the newest or prettiest system in the neighborhood. Mainly, getting new, properly installed gutters ensures the system is reliable, can control roof runoff, and protects underlying structures and outdoor elements.
When Professional Gutter Replacement Makes Sense
If your gutters are constantly overflowing, pulling away from the house, or riddled with holes like Swiss cheese, it may be time to have the system evaluated. Professional gutter contractors have the knowledge and experience to look beyond the obvious issues and assess the system as a whole. Especially for gutter systems with recurring problems, a professional evaluation can be particularly helpful. When small problems are found, they can be easily resolved with basic maintenance. But when gutters are severely rusted, constantly overflowing, or pulling away from the structure, more drastic action is usually needed. In these cases, a timely gutter replacement in Beavercreek will quickly restore the controlled flow of runoff that your home, landscaping, and outdoor features all depend on.
Follow the Water, Protect ALL of Your Property
Although your gutters are directly attached to your home, their protection extends far beyond the building itself. With every rainstorm or snowmelt, gutter systems determine where thousands of gallons of water end up. When water is collected, controlled, and directed where it needs to be, soil, plants, patios, sidewalks, retaining walls, and other outdoor features stay protected. When it isn’t, the evidence just might show up like washed-away mulch, trenches in flower beds, or a mud hole in the yard. Even worse, you might find your patio has shifted after the last summer downpour.
So, the next time a rainstorm rolls through Beavercreek, take a few minutes and follow the water. Watch where it comes from, where it travels to, and where it ends up. Addressing failing gutters early on can limit the damage, which will only become more expensive over time. When it’s time to explore a gutter replacement, work with a local professional who can help you match the best system to your home’s roofline and soil conditions while protecting the layout of your landscaping.