Many people believe that they do not need gutters installed in their homes if they have a slab foundation. This is because they believe that since there is no basement to protect from water damage, there is simply no need for gutters. There’s nothing that needs protection, it’s just solid ground, right?
However, this is not true at all! We’re going to take a look at exactly why you need gutters installed in your home, regardless of whether you have a slab foundation or not.
Why You Still Need Gutter If You Have A Slab Foundation
When you think of the structural integrity of your home and keeping it protected from the elements, you have to consider the foundations – not just the exterior and the roof, for example.
It all starts at the foundation of your home. And if you have a compromised foundation, you may be in for some expensive problems down the line.
So, let’s look at why your slab foundation home needs gutters.
Gutters protect the concrete
You’re probably asking yourself, do slab foundation homes need gutters? And if so, why? Well, simply put, if the concrete of the foundation becomes damaged, it can compromise the structural integrity of your home. This means that the foundation is no longer solid and can lead to further problems arising in your home.
Constant moisture that builds up, from pooling water or wet soil, results in the concrete wearing down over time. In addition, slab foundations lie directly on the ground. So, you also need to think of the ground surrounding the concrete slab, and how that needs to be protected from moisture building up.
This is because moisture softens the ground. As a result, wet ground can boost the rate of house settling, which is the process of a house gradually sinking into the ground.
Gutters help to direct water away from the foundation and the ground it lies on. This will protect the concrete of the foundation as well as the structural integrity of the house.
They Minimize expansion and contraction
Expansion and contraction of concrete, like most things, occurs due to a fluctuation in temperature. It’s perfectly normal and nothing to really worry about.
However, if you allow moisture to seep into the soil surrounding the concrete slab foundation, it may compromise the integrity of the surrounding soil and lead to more fluctuations in the concrete’s temperature. In turn, this can cause cracks in the foundation. And a cracked foundation can cause so many problems with regard to the structural integrity of your home.
So, having a gutter to direct water away from the foundation and its surrounding soil can assist in maintaining a more constant temperature in the concrete to prevent expansion and contraction.
They prevent soil erosion
Ultimately, you want to protect your home and its foundations from soil erosion.
Essentially, soil erosion and degradation are when the upper layers of soil move. This usually happens as a result of water, wind, or mass movement, which, in the long run, cause the soil to deteriorate.
So, looking at this, if you don’t have gutters installed to direct water away from the soil around the foundation of your home, it can erode the soil and make it softer. In turn, this can impact the evenness and stability of the foundation.
Gutters help to minimizes heaving
Heaving is when moisture in the ground causes it to push upwards in Winter as it freezes. This can, in turn, push up the concrete of your foundation and make it uneven.
Gutters help to prevent a lot of water from seeping into the ground around the house. So, they will minimize the impact of heaving.
Conclusion
Whether you have a slab foundation home, or whether you have a basement, water control is vital. As such, it is essential to have gutters to protect your home’s foundations.
It’s also important to keep your gutters in a good condition. It may seem like a small thing, but damaged gutters could lead to leaks, and leaks could lead to further damage. Ultimately, it’s all about keeping your home and its foundations in a good condition, and that all starts with good water drainage.