Flower Planting 101: Simplifying Your Planting Maps
A Few Simple Facts About Rain Gutters
Juanita Douglas
Many people do not take rain gutters as serious as they should be taken. They also do not understand a few simple facts about them. If you are a homeowner, here are a few things you should know and consider if you want to avoid costly repairs to the buildings on your property.
Building Damage
Rain and melted snow land on your roof and flow down it. If the building does not have rain gutters, all the water will sit on the ground, at the edge of the roof until it seeps into the ground. It will cause the deterioration of the building's foundation. The purpose of rain gutters is to collect the water as it flows down the roof and direct it to an area far enough from the base of the house to prevent any foundation damage. However, if the gutter downspout is clogged, so the water does not flow properly, it will back up and seep under the roofing material; this will cause the roof wood to become wet and rot.
Clogs
While it is possible that an area of the rain gutter can become filled with debris, water is almost always able to seep around or through it to the downspout. Of course, it is a good idea to keep the gutters free of debris to allow the water to move easily. However, it is crucial that you keep the downspout free of clogs. If it does become clogged, the water will back up into the gutters. Once full, the gutters will overflow either onto the ground or onto the roof. If either occurs, the damage will follow.
Outbuildings
It would be in your best interest to have rain gutters installed on all the buildings on your property. The roofing on outbuildings may not be as protective as it is on your house and they may not have any foundation. The damage done from water will occur quicker and be more severe. Rain gutters will increase the life expectancy of any building they are attached to.
Have any building you want to keep around for a long time fitted with rain gutters. Contact a gutter company that makes and installs them to ask what type would be best for the different structures on your property. They will also be sure that the downspouts are arranged in the best way to keep water from resting against any building. You will be glad you did when your garden shed is still standing and protecting your lawn equipment in a few years.
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One of the things that I always loved about spring as a kid was watching all of the flowers my mother planted suddenly come up from the ground and then bloom into vibrant, beautiful colors. When I bought my own house, one of the first things I wanted to do was plant flowers. What I didn't realize was how hard it could be to figure out what to plant where. From the sun demand to the companion planting guides, it was complicated. I created this site to help others just like me create the flower gardens they always wanted without the struggles that I faced.