Do I need gutters on my house?
Yes, on every side of the house that sheds water. Gutters catch the water along the whole roof edge, and downspouts carry it down and away from the house. Take them away, and the water drops off the roof edge in a line right along the foundation, every time it rains.
What happens to a house without gutters?
Here is what we usually find on Dayton-area houses that have no gutters:
- Wet basements. The water soaks into the ground right against the foundation walls.
- Washed-out flower beds. Water pouring off the roof edge digs out the mulch and soil below it.
- Pooling ice in the winter. Water that lands by the doors, walks and driveway freezes there.
A gutter and downspout system stops all three by catching the water at the roof edge and putting it down away from the house.
Are gutters required by code in Ohio?
Ohio's residential code asks for them in some places, not all. Section 801.3 of the Residential Code of Ohio (opens in a new tab) says: "In areas where expansive soils or collapsible soils are known to exist, all dwellings shall have a controlled method of water disposal from roofs that will collect and discharge roof drainage to the ground surface not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) from foundation walls or to an approved drainage system." Whether code requires gutters on your house depends on your soil and your building department. Code sets the minimum. The water still has to go somewhere.
Why do some new homes not have gutters?
Because code asks for roof drainage only where those soils are known to exist, a house can be built without gutters. That doesn't mean it doesn't need them. The rain is the same either way.
How do you handle roof runoff without gutters?
Homeowners ask us about rain diverters, rain chains, splash blocks and drains buried in the ground. Each one handles the water at one spot or at ground level. None of them catches the water along the whole roof edge and carries it away from the foundation the way gutters and downspouts do. We don't install underground drainage, and we don't recommend leaving gutters off any part of a house.
Does a drip edge replace gutters?
No. A drip edge is the metal along the roof edge that protects the edge of the roof deck. It doesn't move water away from the house. On every roof we install, gutter apron goes along every eave and drip edge along every rake, and the gutters catch what comes off.
Can skipping gutters affect my roof warranty?
It can. Owens Corning's limited warranty (opens in a new tab) lists what it does not cover, including "Damage caused by improper or inadequate roof ventilation or roof drainage." Gutters are part of how a roof drains.
Where should the downspouts let the water out?
Away from the foundation. Where Ohio's code calls for roof drainage, it sets at least 5 feet from the foundation walls, or an approved drainage system.
How much do gutters cost?
Our seamless gutter installation page has our published Dayton price range per foot and what changes it, plus an online calculator.
Jobs behind this article
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261 Feet of 6-Inch Gutters on South Elm St, West Carrollton -
Overflowing Porch Gutter Fixed on Blocker Dr, Kettering -
Tree Through the Roof on Stauffer Dr, Beavercreek -
Weathered Roof and New Gutters on Bassett Ct, Beavercreek -
Gutter Pulling Off the House Replaced on Arkansas Dr, Xenia -
Roof, 6-Inch Gutters and Guards on Fergus Dr, Beavercreek
Our drone photos are taken by FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots.
Next step
Next step: see what goes into a seamless gutter installation, with our Dayton prices. Or book a free roof inspection, and we'll look at your gutters and downspouts along with the roof.