WOOD
GUTTERS
It may be tempting to just rip them off, but
wooden gutters
are usually worth saving
Downspouts and drainage lines prevent
water buildup in the ground next
to the foundation, which can cause
frost damage in the winter.
The importance of this should not be
underestimated. I know of a building in
Portland, Maine, with a foundation
wall that has buckled inward 3 1/2 inches
since the gutters were removed just four
years ago.
Water drainage. Gutters are a key
element in the drainage system that
extends from the ridge of the roof, down
the side of the building, and across the
grounds. They protect siding and windows
from the slow but steady damage
caused by rain.
Aesthetics.