Vanity House

I would definately get them. You don’t want any standing water around your house after getting some rain. Gutters will help the water flow away. Just make sure the downspouts are in the right place, like next to the driveway. That way the water can flow to the road. You should get them, especially since it’s a new house. In the grand scheme of things, your cost is minimal.

It depends a little on your situation and perhaps your climate, but generally speaking they’re a very good idea and good value. They prevent water from falling near the foundation, which helps keep it dry. A remarkable amount of water comes off a roof, and if you can direct it away from the foundation, you stand a smaller chance of water getting in where it shouldn’t. They also prevent the dreaded drip line which means you can walk around near the house without getting completely soaked in 5 minutes. If your roof drains over a door or you have wood siding which is close to the ground, the drip line can be major. Water falling of a roof and landing near a doorway is not only a big nuisance when you’re going through the door, but it also splashes right around the base of the door, bad for door and sill, and for the wood siding. Gutters also mean less water available to be blown against your windows. I’m in a mobile without eaves. Before I put gutters on, I couldn’t open a window when it rained or water got in the house. If your house has eaves which are going to be hard to access to clean out the gutters, you might look at a system called Rainhandler, see their website. It may be more expensive to buy but it’s very simple to put up, and you will never need to clean gutters. I had it on one side of my last house and loved it. It was way better than cleaning gutters several times each winter.

You really *need* gutters if:

Water does not drain away from your foundation. If during a heavy rain you end up (like me) with some areas with water above the foundation line even for a short time, then water *is* coming in through the weep holes and wetting your insulation. You could end up (like me) with mushrooms growing in your brand new carpet along the edge of the wall.

You have standing water after a rain on one or more sides of your home. Guttering will send all that water away, no more pesky mosquitos, complaining neighbors, or dirt washing away down the hill.

It is true that they can protect the foundation in certain soils. It would take a soil engineer to tell you whether they are worthwhile in your case.

If you will have a basement, there is a distinct advantage to having gutters and diverting runoff away from the house.

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