How Gutters Protect Your Foundation

Most homeowners think of gutters as a roof accessory. In reality, the gutter system is the first line of defense for the most expensive part of your home: the foundation.

The Water Math

An average roof sheds hundreds of gallons of water in a single storm. Without gutters, all of it dumps in a concentrated line right at the base of your walls. That water saturates the soil, and saturated soil expands.

Hydrostatic Pressure

When soil around a foundation repeatedly swells with water and then dries and contracts, it pushes and pulls on concrete. Over years, this hydrostatic pressure cracks foundation walls, causes settling, and sticks doors and windows.

Downspouts Are Half the System

Gutters collect the water; downspouts move it. A downspout that dumps next to the foundation might as well not exist. Extensions or drains should carry water several feet away.

Keep the System Working

Clean gutters, firmly attached downspouts, and properly graded soil are the three-part defense. Skip cleanings, and the water pooling at your foundation will remind you — in the basement.

We install, repair, and clean gutter systems across the Metro East. A quick free inspection tells you if your gutters are protecting your foundation or quietly undermining it.