Any contractor who’s had a close encounter with water damage knows these two important facts: water flows downhill, and water takes the path of least resistance. These two statements also explain why gutter extensions are such a vital part of a functioning gutter system.
Gutters work by capturing runoff and ensuring that the water drains into the ground rather than into your home. And once the water’s in the ground, it’ll enter the soil and be diverted farther away from your basement and foundation. So unless your gutters get clogged or spring a leak, you should be all set, right?
Not quite. Runoff can still enter your home through the ground if there are below-ground grading issues, hard-packed soil or a combination of the two around the structure. Because water will always flow downhill and take the path of least resistance, an in-slope grade and/or impermeable soil means downspout spillage will seep right into your basement. And because these issues aren’t as easy to diagnose as a leak or clog, you may end up with a severe water entry problem before you realize what has happened.
The result: wet basements and crawl areas, mold issues and possibly cracked foundations. In short, several of the issues that should be prevented by an otherwise well-functioning gutter system.
Downspout extensions help fix this problem by moving the point of discharge far enough from your home that water can’t do any harm. As a bonus, they also mitigate the impact of the falling water, which minimizes erosion problems and prevents future surface grading issues.
To learn more about gutter extensions and other ways to protect your home from expensive water damage, call Gutter Helmet® by Harry Helmet of Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and provide a free quote.
