Minnesota Gutters & Downspouts
Gutters are the first line of defense against erosion of soil around your home foundation. A gutter system is supposed to carry water running off your roof to down spouts so it does not saturate the soil next to your house. If this soil is saturated, then you run the risk of getting the foundation wet. A foundation exposed to water can lead to a multitude of problems, including basement flooding. If your gutters are not draining water away from your home properly, you could be currently or potentially facing serious problems at an expensive price.
The number one culprit for causing water penetration into the basement of a house is rain gutter downspouts discharging rain water right alongside the foundation
When water comes across a barrier, it will look for the path of least resistance to continue. If that barrier is your foundation, water can find its way into small cracks in the foundation. No concrete foundation is going to be perfect and crack free. As water travels into the cracks, it will find another barrier because the cracks do not go all the way through the foundation. Therefore, the water will turn around and flow out of the crack, but it will take small pieces of concrete foundation with it. Every time water overflows your gutters and finds its way into the foundation, it erodes away at it. After enough time has passed, the cracks will work all the way through the foundation and water will leak into your basement. Basement flooding can lead to mold, mildew, and other bacteria.
If your gutters are not working correctly and they start to overflow, they will allow water to find its way to the soil directly next to your house can also be a problem. As the soil on top becomes water logged, the water will travel deeper and deeper into the soil layers. If the soil underneath your foundation becomes too saturated then it could give way causing a cave in of your home’s foundation. In other words, your house would collapse into a giant sinkhole and could be unlivable. The simplest method to properly divert water away from the property is to install gutters and gutter guards, combined with proper surface grading around the home.
Minnesota Leafless Gutters
Need gutters and downspouts for your home? Existing home never had gutters? Old gutters just need to be replaced? Experiencing water in your basement?
If your home experiences problems resulting from surface water, gutters and downspouts should definitely be a first line of defense. Discuss your options with a Minnesota Gutter Contractor.