Gutters

I’m going to go ahead and say in probably every home inspection report I’m ever going to write for homes in Tallahassee, gutters will be discussed. For as much rain as we get in North Florida, controlling storm water coming off your roof and ensuring proper drainage away from the foundation is crucial to the longevity of so many components of your home. Maybe I was just a gutter salesman in a past life, lol. I fully get that gutters aren’t the most attractive sometimes, are a pain to maintain and will cost money to install, but in the long run they are one of the best things you can do for your home.

Having gutters prevents or delays water intrusion issues that can have a dramatic impact on the longevity of all exterior components of your home, along with potential foundation issues and termite infestations. The amount of water that can come off a roof in a short period of time from a heavy thunderstorm is unbelievable if you’ve ever witnessed it. The velocity with which water comes down the valleys and sides of the house along with the sheer volume of it, can create issues that would have never existed from just rainfall. Also water running off roof eaves and contacting any decks, sidewalks, ground etc. can causes splash back against the exterior cladding. The water coming off the roof eaves uncontrolled and hitting the ground will have a trenching effect with time, which not only softens the soil the foundation is resting on, but also traps and holds moisture, perfect for termite colonies to thrive and spread. This same moisture as it tries to evaporate, will create a more humid environment around the house, which only shortens the expected service life of the exterior cladding and it’s finishes.