With its tropical climate and unique infrastructural challenges, New Orleans has a special relationship with rain. Homes here encounter tropical storms and hurricanes, which are steadily packing more rainfall than ever before. From unpredictable thunderstorms to predictable rainy seasons, the conditions necessitate home water management, especially for the city’s vast swath of historic pier and beam homes. Love them or hate them, gutters fulfill an important role in protecting a home and its foundation. As we welcome “April showers” this season, we’re checking in with experts on the ins, outs, and trends of gutter systems.
“The most important thing to remember is that all water coming down from the roof line needs to go somewhere, and without gutters, all that water goes right under the house and foundation, creating problems with settlement on the home,” says Luis Martinez, manager at Superior Gutters Solutions.
Unmanaged water under the home impacts the foundation in numerous ways, with erosion being a top concern. Erosion causes foundation settlement, and if you’ve ever noticed cracks in your walls or had a window or door not function properly, your house may be experiencing problematic settling. In addition to settlement, houses without gutters are more likely to suffer water-damaged fascia boards. Rotten fascia boards can lead to water inside the walls and attic, mold growth, pests, and ultimately, structural damage.
Whether you have a home that needs an update or you’re planning a new build, gutters should be budgeted into your project from the start, says Glenn Lemoine, owner of NOLA Gutters.
“People often forget about gutters, and even for many contractors it can be an afterthought,” says Lemoine. “The good news is people often find gutters aren’t as expensive as they expect. Still, it’s best to include them in your initial budgeting.”
More good news for the consumer is that the world of gutters is not an overly complicated one. The hardest decision is often what color to choose. There are only a couple main styles of gutters — K-style and half-round. While box gutters are also available, they are not commonly used on residential properties.
According to Martinez, K-style is most popular — these are the flat-bottom gutters with a rounded upper edge resembling crown molding. Half-round gutters are the French-colonial style commonly seen on historic properties such as those in the French Quarter, where half-round is required. Martinez notes that custom designs can be fabricated but require special machinery and are rarely requested.
Many owners of historic homes in New Orleans opt for half-round gutters, whether due to historic district requirements or aesthetic preference. When discussing the pros and cons of each type of gutter, experts note the look of half-round is what draws most customers to it — the cons of half-round include higher cost and less water flow.
“Half-round gutters may hold four inches of flow when new, whereas a six-inch K-style gutter handles more water,” says Lemoine. “There’s less risk of overflow with K-style.”
According to both Martinez and Lemoine, colors are trending darker with an eye toward contrast instead of the old method of matching the house color. Bronze and black have become two of the most popular colors, especially on white houses. Powder-coated aluminum is the most-used material, though copper is sometimes sought for its durability and the patina that develops over time. Copper, of course, comes with added cost and potentially added risk of theft. A less costly alternative for copper fans is copper-colored aluminum gutters that will maintain a consistent look over time.
Once you’ve decided on your shape and color, the biggest consideration is drainage and downspout location. It’s best to rely on the experts for downspout placement. Martinez recommends using any French drain available and checking that the slope of the ground near the downspout will not push water back underneath the house. Lemoine adds that if you are replacing old gutters and relocating your downspouts, keep in mind that your house may require new paint or touchups where the downspouts were previously.
Rain chains in place of downspouts are a growing trend, but experts caution that you’ll need to have a drainage plan in place — in heavy downpours, rain chains can’t manage the same disbursement of water that a downspout can. Make sure to have an expert’s advice on placing your chain, especially if it’s to be over the ground and not a collection device like a rain barrel or decorative basin.
What about gutter maintenance?
“The general rule of thumb if you have trees around the property is to have your gutters cleaned and checked every six months to ensure there are no drainage problems,” says Martinez. If you do have trees around your property, leaf guards are recommended to prevent clogging and should be factored into your gutter budget. With spring showers and hurricane season fast approaching, now’s the time to check, clean, or install gutters and protect yourself from water woes.
