I recently purchased a two-story house built over 100 years ago in Albany, NY, and it's in dire need of gutter repairs. However, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth keeping them, especially since I might need to repair them every year due to heavy snowfall. The roof has a good slope, so will the snow really damage the gutters yearly?
3 Answers
In my experience, the necessity of gutters really depends on your foundation. In Syracuse, many old homes don't have them, primarily because they were built on slabs where water runoff isn’t a big deal. But in Virginia, my current house relies heavily on gutters to manage drainage effectively, keeping my basement dry. So, assess your foundation design before deciding!
Gutters are essential for directing water away from your home, especially if you're dealing with a lot of rain or snow melt. I've lived in Ontario and can confirm my gutters have held up well, even through a fair amount of snow and ice. Just make sure your fascia boards are in good condition to hold them up; otherwise, they may come loose over time.
It's really important to have gutters to prevent water from pooling around your foundation. Getting rid of them could lead to much bigger problems later on. If you do keep them, consider using ice dam heating cables or a roof rake to manage the snow and ice buildup.