Minneapolis MN Gutters and Gutter Guards
For many people, a common chore is hauling the ladder out of the garage, putting on a pair of gloves, and picking all the leaves out of the rain gutters. Clogged gutters can cause serious damage to your roof, walls, and very foundation of your home. By installing leaf free seamless gutters, you can let rain water in while keeping troublesome leaf debris out.
Gutters and Gutter Guards Protect Your Minnesota Home
The main purpose of a rain gutter is to protect a building’s foundation by channeling water away from its base. They also help to reduce erosion, prevent flooded basement and crawlspaces, protect painted surfaces by reducing exposure to water, and can provide a means to collect rainwater for later use.
Rainwater collection isn’t a complicated concept; it’s exactly what it sounds like: collecting rainwater to use later. Water collected by a rain gutter is fed, usually via a downspout, from the roof edge to the base of the building where it is either discharged or collected. A collection system strategy for water carried from rain gutters may include a rain barrel. Rain barrels are devices for collecting and maintaining harvested rain.
Many rainwater collection barrels sold today are made to be mounted against an exterior wall of your home. That means the water will be landing on your roof first and then trickling into the barrel. Most roofing materials are safe for contact with water that will be used for outdoor watering chores. However, if you’ve got a vegetable or herb garden in the mix, plan to water it from another source, because some roofing materials like asphalt shingles can leach toxins that shouldn’t come in contact with food. Gutters, piping and downspouts will carry water to your collection barrel. Gutters that are kept clean and in good repair will help you get the most out of every rainfall.
For best results, get a container made especially for rainwater collection. These are usually made of toxin-free resin, concrete, or fiberglass, and have thick walls that can hold up to temperature changes and inhibit algae growth.
Most storage tanks come equipped with a spigot, to which you can easily rig up a hose or garden soaker for watering.
So go ahead! Harvest your own rainwater for an endless supply for a lush lawn and garden.
When you’re choosing gutters, make sure that you know what your options are and which will be best for your needs – and make sure that you’ve got the right Minnesota Gutter Company installing them. Feel free to talk to your installer about rain barrels.
Gutter Tips For Minnesota Homeowners
Poor rainwater drainage can lead to costly repairs!
- Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely
- Seamless gutters won’t leak at seams because there are none; sections join only at inside and outside corners and at downspout outlets.
- Consider installing gutter guards, that will prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.
Never underestimate the importance of your gutters. Sure, they may seem useless but, in reality, it is your gutters that keep the rest of your house from crumbling. Find out how a seamless gutter system can mitigate water problems from the roof to the foundation by directing water away from your building.