You probably already know how important gutters are for your home. If you live in an area where heavy rains and flooding are common, your gutters become even more important. Gutters come in handy for redirecting water away from the walls and foundation of your home. They essentially prevent long-term damage to your home's foundation, and they keep the structure sturdy enough to withstand strong winds and storm surges.
The gutters used in flood prone areas are not necessarily the same as most other gutters. Indeed, they need to be more durable and effective at redirecting large amounts of water.
If you live in a floodplain, here are 4 important features your gutters should have.
1. Made from durable materials
To begin with, your gutters should be made from materials that offer durability and corrosion resistance. While most gutters are made from steel, aluminium, or PVC, steel and aluminium are the strongest options to use in flood prone areas. Their durability means that your gutters will remain glued to the side of your home even during strong winds and heavy rain.
These materials are also able to withstand breakage, which would otherwise cause large amounts of water to accumulate near your home's foundation.
2. A seamless design
In a floodplain, seamless gutters work better when redirecting rainwater than sectional gutters. This is because seamless gutters are custom-made to wrap around the edges of your home. A single piece of steel or aluminium is often moulded to fit in areas where water can be collected and channelled away from your foundation.
With the seamless design, your gutters are less likely to break or obtain cracks.
3. Sturdy downspouts
Your gutters will not be of much use without sturdy downspouts being installed. Downspouts are responsible for draining water to the ground and away from your walls and foundation.
In many cases, strong winds or heavy rain can push a downspout out of place and cause water to come streaming down the edges of your exterior walls. To avoid this challenge, make sure your downspouts are stable and firmly in place. They should be made from the same material that your gutters are made from (preferably steel or aluminium).
4. Easy to access and clean
Gutter cleanliness is often an overlooked aspect in many homes. In floodplains, a dirty gutter can easily cause clogging and overflowing of water from the sides.
Your gutters should be easy to clean using basic maintenance tools. For example, a garden trowel and hose should be enough to remove dirt, leaves, and other debris from the gutters.
If your current gutters lack these features, contact a local gutter replacement company.
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