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You wouldn't think so by the looks of it, but guttering and downspout systems can save you thousands of dollars and heartache as a homeowner. Basically a straight trough with a downspout, a gutter can provide the most crucial protection that a homeowner may need. By channeling rainwater and directing it away from a building, a gutter prevents structural damage. Most buildings wouldn't stand very long if water were allowed to pour over the edges of the roof. Constant exposure to moisture and dripping can over time weaken the walls in a building, or in some cases can cause damage to the foundation of a structure.

Homes without gutters or with poorly built downspouts often suffer from compromised foundations. A ruined foundation will severely reduce the resell value of your home and fixing it will cost thousands of dollars. In fact what most people don't realize is that a poorly installed gutter system is worse for your home then not having anything at all. That is because a poorly installed system has leaks that will again ruin the framework of your home.

Also another issue is that improperly placed downspouts don't do enough to guide the water away from your home and some cases cause the water to pool close to the foundation again leading to problems.

Some of the newer systems that have been created in order to combat those problems and make installation and maintenance easier include "seamless" gutters and gutter guards. A good gutter system is going to be made out of aluminum. Aluminum is the material of choice for most companies today because it makes installation easier.

By using aluminum, the contractor can make your seamless gutters right on the spot. By pressing aluminum stock through a gutter machine, the shape and size is consistent and made to a perfect seamless length. Water is a very persistent element and seams just give it a way into your home. Another way of ensuring your gutters work to their best is to install gutter guards. Gutter guards make cleaning gutters a thing of the past. No longer will you need to spend hours perched on a latter pulling grimy muck out of your gutters. With gutter guards, clogging and buildup are a thing of the past.

Guttering and downspouts may not be exciting to think about, but when you realize how much money they can save you, you realize they deserve careful consideration.