While the pitter patter lulls the mind to a poetic trance, the draining of the water that the roof has collected is not artistic at all. You cannot avoid rains, but you can definitely avoid the unintentional collection of rainwater. guttering is the way to go. It helps the proper drainage of rainwater without damaging the walls and if you want to harvest the water, then guttering is for you.
There Are Many Benefits of Having A Gutter on Your Roof:
• Stabilization of the surrounding soil and solving any problem with the house foundation.
• Prevents the walls from becoming damp and the interiors from molding.
• Redirecting the water to the earth helps maintain the water table.
• Metal doors, like the garage door, can be prevented from getting rusty.
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| Guttering System |
While Installing the Guttering Is Essential, It Is Not Rocket Science. Here Is How You Can Do the Same:
#1. Have A Plan: Plan it by giving the roof a thorough check-up. Check for any rotting woods at the fascia or soffit and if found, replace them and paint the wood.
#2. Take Measurements: Measure the roof as the pipe should run the entire length of the roof and end with the downspout.
#3. Check Materials: The materials needed are, fascia brackets and downspouts. The brackets must be nailed to every other tail of the rafter, approximately 32 inches spacing should be there between every bracket. So for a roof of the length of 35 ft., you will need 13 brackets. If you are required to buy 40 ft. long gutters, or more, then you will need two downspouts or else just one.
#4. Mark the Points of Measurements: The starting point of the gutter should be 1.25 inches below the eyes flashing. If your roof length is more than 40ft. mark the starting point at the center of the fascia as the gutter will slope towards the left and right from the center. If the roof is shorter than 40ft. the starting point should be marked at the left or right of the roof.
#5. Put Slant Towards the Ground: Slant should be towards the ground and the drop of half an inch should be every 10ft. apart.
#6. Attach Outlet: Mark the rafter tails and the endpoints. Mark the location of the downspout and make a V-shaped hole. Attach the outlet into the hole and secure it with silicone glue. Make sure the downspout is not ending directly over the foundation. It cancels out the whole idea of the guttering system.
#7. Tools Needed: Use screws and silicone sealant to attach the end caps.
#8. Follow Markings: Using the marks, install the gutters keeping the slant in mind.
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| Guttering |
Maintenance Is A Task but Necessary, There Are Reasons Why:
• Regular cleaning and removal of leaves are required.
• Downspout must be checked to see if there is any clogging.
• Old gutters need to be checked for realignment. Make sure the nails are long and they pass through the fascia boards and that the gutters are not straight but slightly sloped towards the ground.
• If you have metal gutters, check for rust. Use sandpaper to rub off smaller patches and a wire brush for bigger ones. Reapply primers that act as rust-resistant. If there are cracks, use the sealant to fill them. Bitumen and gloss paint prevent further damage. Always apply two coats.
• In the case of plastic gutters, check the joints as they leak easily.
• Fix any loose downspouts.
Though guttering is a hard work be it installing or maintaining, it is needed to prevent damage to the body and base of the house.