Gutters are an essential part of any home with a basement. That’s because flooding in basements can seep into the house’s foundation and compromise its integrity. But what about homes without basements? Do they still need gutters? The short answer is yes.
The Problem With Slab Foundations
Homes that don’t have basements are built on a concrete slab. Houses with this type of foundation are common in the southern states where the ground is too damp for a basement to be feasible. However, houses with a slab foundation are as vulnerable to moisture as houses with basements. In particular, the soil the slab foundation stands on is its weak point.
Soft Ground
Normally, a slab foundation would be level to the ground. But if the ground is too damp, it becomes soft. The soft ground won’t be able to support the slab foundation. The ground may even collapse under the weight of the slab and cause a section of your home to cave in.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction
Moisture, combined with high temperatures, can also aggravate a particular weakness of concrete: its lack of flexibility. If the soil surrounding the foundation is damp and exposed to high temperatures, the concrete foundation will expand. Concrete like most materials expands when temperatures rise and contract when they drop. Since concrete isn’t flexible, repeated contractions and expansions are bound to create cracks in the foundation.
How Gutters Can Protect the Foundation
Gutters can help prevent damage to the foundation by diverting water away from the soil. In the process, they keep the surrounding soil’s temperatures and moisture levels constant.
One thing you need to remember is that gutters need to be cleaned frequently. This is to make sure water doesn’t overflow due to blockages. However, if you don’t have the time to do gutter maintenance, we recommend installing gutter guards.
Gutter guards prevent all kinds of debris from entering and clogging your gutters. Before making a purchase, make sure to go through gutter cover reviews online.
We recommend Gutter Helmet®. It has received an average rating of 4.5 stars in 111 gutter cover reviews. To get a free quote, call Carolina Gutter Helmet at (866) 882-8292, or fill out the form on this page. We serve homeowners in Greer, SC.
