Why you Need Eavestroughs Installed this Fall

When bad weather strikes this fall, will your home be ready? Eavestroughs are a simple upgrade you can install to direct rainwater away from the foundation. Why does this matter? And what types of eavestroughs and downspouts are available to make your home’s water removal system attractive and effective? Let’s take a look.

Types of Eavestroughs and Downspouts

Eavestroughs come in many shapes, materials, and styles to suit your water removal needs and aesthetic tastes. Consider some of these eavestrough options for your house:

• Rain eavestrough shapes: There are two basic rain eavestrough shapes to choose from. The most popular are K-style eavestroughs, which have flat bottoms and a decorative contour on the side that mimics the appearance of crown molding. The other is half-round, which is most suitable for maintaining a traditional look on a historic home. Downspouts come in round or square versions with various dimensions. Decorative spiral shapes are also available.
• Rain eavestrough materials: Residential eavestroughs can be manufactured from various materials. You might choose to install aluminum, copper, steel, zinc, or vinyl rain eavestroughs. Each one offers certain benefits that appeal to different homeowners.
• Gutterless-rain eavestroughs: If you don’t like the appearance of a traditional eavestrough system, consider a gutterless version. Louvers installed on the edge of the roof disperse water into a .6 - .9 meter band of soft, rain-sized droplets aimed away from the house. This sprinkles the landscape rather than eroding it with a heavy stream of water.
• Seamless aluminum eavestroughs: some The Grounds Guys^® franchise locations install seamless aluminum eavestroughs, which only feature seams at the corners and downspout outlets. This option is more attractive than traditional rain eavestroughs and reduces weak spots and potential leak sites.

How Rain Eavestroughs Protect Your Home and Yard

Fall is a great time to install eavestroughs so you can enjoy the benefits they offer right as the weather turns cold and rainy. Here’s what installing rain eavestroughs will do for you:

• Protect your siding: When rainwater runs down the side of your house, it leaves unsightly brown streaks that make your home look dirty and unkempt. Over time, the siding may start to rot and grow mold as a result of water continually running down it. Eavestroughs direct water to downspouts to protect your siding from excessive moisture.
• Prevent foundation damage and basement flooding: When water flows directly off the roof and onto the ground, the soil immediately surrounding the foundation becomes supersaturated. As the soil expands, it presses against the foundation walls, which may eventually crack and allow water to seep into the basement. This is an expensive headache that you can avoid by installing rain eavestroughs.
• Reduce soil erosion: To protect the structural integrity of your home, it’s very important for the ground to slope away from the foundation. If rain pours off your roof without eavestroughs, the soil will erode and change the slope of the earth, increasing the possibility of basement flooding during a heavy rainstorm. Soil erosion also ruins your yard and drowns any plants growing near the foundation.
• Collect rainwater for your garden: Having eavestroughs on your roof means you can direct rainwater to collection barrels for use in your landscaping. Just check your area for any rainwater harvesting laws, which exist in some areas.

If you’re interested in enjoying the benefits of rain eavestroughs, turn to The Grounds Guys for a quality, affordable installation. We install seamless eavestroughs, which we extrude onsite for a custom product made just for your home. Some The Grounds Guys locations provide eavestrough installation services, while others do not. If you need an additional resource in your area – contact our fellow Neighbourly company Mr. Handyman! For fall yard cleanup, lawn maintenance or landscaping projects, please contact us today!