Gutters: The Role of the Eavestrough in Your Roof

Gutters are an integral part of your home’s structure, helping to maintain the roof and the integrity of the building. You might not give your eavestrough system much thought. However, without an efficient gutter system, water can wreak havoc on your house, costing you thousands of dollars in repairs. This article examines the important functions of your eavestrough system and why you should pay attention to it.

Every roof system, whether it is flat, low-sloping, or steeply pitched, regardless of its material – from wood shingle to tin, slate or metal tile – requires a properly designed and functioning eavestrough system that can efficiently gather and divert water. That eavestrough system, whether it is piped or open, will gather and carry water away from your roof every time it rains or when snowmelts off your roof.

This simple functionality of the eavestrough contributes significantly to the longevity of your roof by preventing infiltration and standing water, which would otherwise, over time, cause damage to your roofing system and the interior of your house. The ability to divert or carry water away from your roof surface is more critical if you live in a region that receives copious amounts of rainfall or snowfall in a short period of time.

Here we will outline and further understand in the subsequent sections, the essential components that compose the eavestrough system, its role, as well as the benefits of having a properly functioning eavestrough system; thereby recognizing that our eavestrough systems are indeed a valuable asset for the protection of our roofs, foundations and landscape.

What Is an Eavestrough/ Gutter System?

An eavestrough system is one of the most important parts of any building’s water drainage system as it collects the rain water or melting snow from the roof of a building and channels it to an area where it can be drained safely. Without an eavestrough the water would simply flow off the roof, potentially damaging both the building and any structures around it.

The system is composed of several key components, including:

• Gutters: The slender horizontal stretches between the main roof structure and the vertical faces, putting to good use the water that flows off the roof by collecting it and directing it to the downspouts.
• Downspouts: Vertical pipes that carry water from the gutters down to the ground level.
• Fascia: The board attached to the edge of the roof that supports the gutters.
• Soffit: The portion of the roof overhang that covers the space between the fascia and the wall.

The whole system works together to efficiently manage water. Without any of these parts, the system does not work. Properly installing and maintaining all the parts of the system is important for it to continue to manage water as it is supposed to. Understanding all the parts of the system helps homeowners understand the importance of the eavestrough system in protecting their home.

1. Eavestrough System Protecting the Roof

Without the eavestrough system, the water would be allowed to pool on the roof, which would lead to damage. Pooled water can seep into cracks in the roof or can move under shingles, causing them to leak and eventually rot. Over time, this can put the integrity of the entire roof at risk, leading to expensive repairs.

The system contributes to extending the lifespan of roofing materials by:

• Preventing water pooling: by preventing rainwater from accumulating on the roof, it prevents leaks that can cause water damage.
  
• Drainage also protects shingles: Curling, cracking and loosening are less likely with proper drainage. 

Not only does a thorough eavestrough system help to prevent leaks, in colder climates it can also help to reduce the risk of ice dams. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on a roof edge due to water freezing before it has a chance to drain out of the gutter.

When this happens, water remains on the roof, which can then seep underneath the shingles, causing damage if left unchecked. When it comes to this winter hazard, the eavestrough system is a first line of defence.

That’s why in colder Canadian climates, an eavestrough system is considered a necessity.

Read more: Metal Roof Problems: Want to Protect Your Home? How to Fix 6 Common Issues

2. Foundation and Structural Protection

Eavestroughs save the foundation of a home. If the water isn’t directed away from the house, it can pool around the foundation, which can erode over time. At first there could be small cracks in the foundation. Eventually, these could separate and cause the whole home to have major structural problems and be very expensive to fix.

Government of Canada offers guidance on preparing for floods, which includes the importance of proper water drainage systems like eavestroughs.

Secondly, the gutters helps to protect the foundation and lower parts of the house. Water that pools and flows around the foundation can easily seep into basements, crawl spaces and even deeply into the structure, causing the lower parts of the house to get damp, fostering mould growth and sometimes even leading to a flood. The eavestrough system helps to keep this water off the ground.

A properly working eavestrough system keeps the foundations and lower levels of the building free from water damage, thus contributing to the longevity of its structure. Although it might seem like a small task, proper care for the eavestrough system protects you from these potentially devastating problems. 

Waterdamagedefense.com: Floods & Structural Damage

3. Protection Against Landscaping & Soil Erosion

The eavestrough system is an important part of the value of a house that comes from the landscaping around the home. It’s very important to keep rainwater from washing through the soil and killing grass and flowers or making ugly erosion patterns. These factors won’t just make the lawn look bad. They will actually make the soil vulnerable to erosion that can lead to dangerous instability. Eavestroughs divert the water away from the landscape to help preserve its beauty and stability.

By effectively managing water runoff, gutters help to:

• Preserve Garden Beds: Prevents water from washing away soil and nutrients, keeping plants healthy.
• Reduce the chance of water pooling on lawns, which can cause muddy patches and dead grass. 
• Maintain Hardscaping: Prevents erosion around pathways, patios, and other hardscape features, avoiding structural damage.

Not only does the system preserve the manicure and immaculate look of landscaping, but it also prevents the soil around the perimeter of your home from eroding. When water pools, it will erode the soil around the home’s perimeter, causing gaps to form between the soil and the foundation. When gaps develop, it can cause your home’s foundation to settle and shift over time.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) provides information on effective water management, which is essential for preventing soil erosion and protecting property.

The eavestrough system plays a major role in ensuring that your home and your property look good, and that it remains structurally sound. If the system is maintained and installed properly, it can protect your home’s landscaping as well as the soil from being eroded.

Read more: Metal Roofing in Coastal Areas 

4. Enhancing Curb Appeal & Property Value

Keeping the eavestrough system in good shape adds to curb appeal. Well-maintained gutters compliment the roofline and add an aesthetic grace to the home. Dirty, broken gutter system subtract from the property’s look, implying neglect when overflowing or sagging. In terms of pure home aesthetics, the system can certainly impact the value of your house.

For example, an eavestrough system in good condition is a visual reminder to a prospective homebuyer that you care about the wellbeing of your home. Over the long term, an inadequate system can lead to water damage – seen by prospective buyers as an additional expense they’ll have to incur in purchasing your home.

A system that is kept in good condition because of regular general inspections, cleaning and repair helps to protect the value of the home. It also helps ensure the value of the home increases.

Gutters Maintenance and Common Issues

It is necessary to undertake regular maintenance of the gutters because it allows it to be fully functional and prevents water leakage. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)  provides extensive resources on home maintenance, including the role of eavestroughs in protecting your home from water damage. In particular removing leaves, twigs and other debris, e.g. animal nests, is essential. This helps to make sure that gutters do not become obstructed and water flows freely.

Additionally it is important to check the system for the wear. When they are cracked or rut, they need to be repaired or replaced. Moreover sagging sections have to be straightened. This allows avoiding small problems from becoming major issues.

Key maintenance tasks for a gutter system include:

• Cleaning Debris: Clear leaves, twigs and other debris that can cause clogs and cause water to overflow regularly.
• Inspect for damage: There are three things to look for here: cracks, rust, and other signs of aging that could compromise the system.
• Pitch Check: We check the gutters to ensure that they’re pitched correctly toward the downspouts.

Common problems with eavestrough include blockages, leaks, and poor pitch. Blockages can lead to water overflowing and standing near the foundation of a home, or can cause interior problems.

Leaks can cause water to drip along the sides of the home, potentially creating moist conditions that can lead to mould problems. Poor pitch can prohibit water from draining to the downspouts, which can lead to standing water and associated damage.

These issues must be treated promptly so that even a small problem doesn’t develop into a more serious one. If the system is well-maintained and promptly repaired, the eavestrough system will last longer than the lifespan of the home. Ultimately, this will allow it to continue to help maintain the roof, the foundation, and the landscaping.

Read more: 5 Advantages of Metal Roofing in Toronto’s Climate

Gutters Manufacturing On-Site

Professional Metal Roofing offers services that go beyond the installation of metal roofing and contains the benefit of on site gutter manufacturing which fits every gutter job on site. The technique involves the use of specialised equipment that helps fabricate gutters on site. This process helps fit the gutter exactly to the roof lining hence measuring and cutting steel exactly to shape. 

Creating gutters on site helps eliminate human error of wrong sizing or fitting that comes with pre-manufactured gutters. This process helps improve the quality of installation, as it reduces the downtime involved in customising the gutter brackets or cuttings to fit.

Gutters can be manufactured on site by Metal Exterior Products, our trusted supplier, adding another level of choice to the process. Customers can select more than just a style and size – they can select the gutter’s material, ranging from aluminium to steel to copper, and can choose from a wider variety of finishes that complement the home. The metals can be composed of various thicknesses, or gauges, offering different ranges of durability and longevity. 

‘When you have the capability of manufacturing on site like we do,’ says Murphy, ‘you can make adjustments and changes in real time if there are any issues or last-minute changes that need to be made.’ 

Clients describe the Professional Metal Roofing system as high quality and seamless, adding that their on-site manufacturing capability allows them to customize a gutter system that not only works but also looks great on the property.

Conclusion

An eavestrough system is an important part of any building’s system of controlling water. It protects the roof and basically saves it from water damage, it protects the foundation of the building and is responsible for saving the building itself, and it saves landscaping from flooding and water damage. In spite of its importance, people often forget about the eavestrough system.

It is important to give attention to maintenance and quick repairs to keep the eavestrough system in working order. This can save the whole system from costly water damage and maintain the home’s value and appearance.

The eavestrough is an important part of home that deserves the same attention as other parts of the home. It is always a good idea for a homeowner to invest time and effort to keep the eavestrough system in good shape so that the roof, foundation and landscaping around your home will perform, look good and last for years to come.