Have you ever wondered about the impact rainwater can have on your home without a gutter system in place? Or did you just buy a home that doesn’t have gutters and are wondering if it’s an investment you should make? In this blog, we will get into the damage unmanaged rainwater can have on your property and how a gutter system works to protect these specific areas. We will get into the exterior damage such as the foundation, landscaping, and different exterior wall materials like the siding, brick, and stucco and we will also talk about the potential interior damages that can happen.
Let’s start by talking about the potential damage caused by unmanaged rainwater in exterior areas and how these areas are affected.
Foundation Damage
When you have water flowing freely off the roof onto the ground, it washes the soil away from the foundation, causing empty spaces. These empty spaces or holes can cause the foundation to sink and settle unevenly resulting in structural issues and cracks in the foundation over time.
With the excess water constantly surrounding the area, it can seep into the foundation causing it to become saturated with water. This saturation can cause the foundation to become weak, and shift around which also results in large cracks.
Landscaping Damage
The force the rainwater has falling from the roof straight to the ground can cause a few different issues for your landscaping, especially if you have garden areas with delicate flowers around your home.
The force of the water directly damages the plants themselves but also messes up the soil they are buried in. The water can erode the soil, create holes, and expose the plant’s roots. When the roots become exposed this becomes extra work for you to go fix after every heavy rainstorm.
Also, believe it or not, this excess water and soil saturation can actually drown your plants. When the soil becomes saturated with water this takes the oxygen out of the soil, causing your plants to drown.
Exterior Wall Damage
When a home doesn’t have a gutter system, the water also runs down the exterior wall of the house. This constant exposure can and will cause damage to any material over time. Let’s get into detail about how it damages specific materials.
Siding: When we talk about how excess water can damage siding, we often get asked “But how can water ruin the vinyl, isn’t that what it’s made for?”. Yes, that is true, vinyl siding is made to protect your home from the exterior elements, including water. But the main issue isn’t the vinyl itself, it’s when the water gets behind the siding and damages the plywood the siding is connected to. When you have large amounts of water rolling off the roof and down the wall, it’s bound to find vulnerable areas and seep behind the siding. When this plywood becomes exposed to water, it soaks the water up making the plywood weak and brittle. This makes the possibility of losing siding panels in a windstorm that much higher. In Michigan, where wind storms are common, you definitely want to make sure your siding is secure to solid plywood. Also, when plywood is exposed to water, the growth of mold and mildew can happen over time, resulting in unhealthy living environments for the residents.
Brick: Although brick is one of the strongest and most durable materials, that does not mean it cannot become damaged over time by excessive water. When the brick is exposed to constant water, there are a few different issues that can happen over time. The first issue is weakened mortar joints. When water penetrates the mortar, it weakens the bond between the mortar and the brick, this can cause the brick to crumble and fall apart.
The second issue is freeze-thaw cycles. When the water inside the bricks freezes and expands, it causes the bricks to move around resulting in cracks and more crumbling.
Stucco: Stucco is one of the prettiest home finishes and has the ability to look good on many different home styles, in different colors, and patterns. But what many people don’t think about is how easily constant water exposure can turn a visually appealing stucco job into an eye sore. Here are a few different ways water can damage stucco:
Cracking – The presence of excess water can cause the stucco to crack, these cracks can happen on the surface or within the stucco layers. When these cracks are present, they compromise the integrity of the material and may cause it to crumble and fall apart over time.
Staining and Discoloration – Water damage can cause the stucco to become stained and discolored. Since the stucco becomes darker when wet, it leaves those unsightly dark water stains once the stucco dries.
Moss and Mold Growth – The excess moisture provides a perfect environment for moss and mold to grow. The presence of moss and mold not only leaves ugly stains but can also deteriorate the material over time.
Interior Damage
Now let’s talk a bit about interior damage. Unmanaged rainwater not only damages the exterior areas of a home but also has the possibility to make its way into the home and damage certain areas and things like drywall, insulation, and the basement from flooding. When these areas get damaged they can be a headache to deal with and can cost a pretty penny to have repaired.
How Gutters Help
Gutters are the unsung heroes of our homes. When installed correctly they effectively direct all rainwater from the roof to the ground. The water is no longer able to run down your exterior walls or free fall into your soil. Once the water rolls off the roof into the gutter system, it is then channeled to the downspouts where it’s then placed somewhere that can handle the amount of water that comes from Michigan storms. Keep in mind, when you start to look for Ludington seamless gutter services, choose a contractor that you know will install your gutter system the right way. Gutters are only effective if they are properly installed. We just wrote a blog about how to choose the right gutter contractor. We go over questions to ask and red flags to avoid to help you ensure you have a solid contractor installing your gutter system. You can click here to check that article out.
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