Does Every House Need Gutters?

Not every house needs gutters, though most do. Gutters exist to catch the water coming off the roof edge and move it somewhere it cannot do damage. Whether your house needs that depends on the roof, the ground around the house and what is below ground level.

When a house can manage without gutters

A house may do fine without gutters when most of these are true:

• Wide roof overhangs drop water well clear of the walls.
• The ground slopes away from the foundation on every side.
• The soil drains quickly, so water soaks in rather than pooling.
• There is no basement or crawlspace to keep dry.
• No doors, steps or walkways sit under the roof edge.

If several of these are not true, roof water usually needs managing, and gutters with downspouts are the most common way to do it.

What else moves roof water

• Drip edge. A metal flashing along the roof edge that sends water off the roof and away from the fascia. It protects the roof edge, but it does nothing about where the water lands.
• Grading. Shaping the soil so it falls away from the house. Worth having with or without gutters.
• Rain chains. A decorative stand-in for a downspout. They still need a gutter to feed them, and somewhere at the bottom for the water to go.
• Ground-level drainage. A gravel bed or drain under the roof edge can take water away on houses without gutters, as long as it carries the water somewhere and does not just collect it by the foundation.

Signs your house needs gutters

• Splash marks or mud on the lower siding or foundation after rain.
• A trench worn into the soil or mulch under the roof edge.
• Water pooling against the foundation.
• A damp basement or crawlspace after heavy rain.
• Soft or stained fascia and trim along the roof edge.
• Water sheeting off the roof onto doorways and steps, or freezing on walkways in winter.

Already have gutters and still seeing these? The problem may be the gutters themselves: see common gutter problems and signs you need new gutters.

If you decide you need them

Size, material and downspout layout all depend on your roof. Our gutter installation guide walks through each choice, and our gutter installation page covers what we install. If you are not sure either way, ask for a free inspection and put the question to the estimator directly.