One of the most important parts of a roofing project is one that is often overlooked by customers in the Vancouver area: the gutters.

Here in the Lower Mainland, a properly designed, professionally installed gutter system is a critical component of an overall roof system. Why? Because it rains and snows here. A lot!

Gutters perform the critical task of redirecting collected rainwater and snowmelt that flows off a roof. Without a gutter to collect the runoff, water would travel to places where you simply do not want it to go. Like into your attic, down into your home’s walls, and through your foundation into the basement.

Not all gutters are the same. Some homeowners make the mistake of skimping on their gutters in an attempt to save a few dollars. But any money saved will have to be paid many times over when those “bargain” gutters fail to do their job.

A well-constructed gutter system has several key characteristics:

Seamless gutter troughs that won’t allow water to seep through
Troughs that are wide and deep enough to accommodate the expected runoff volume
Sturdy hangars that prevent loaded gutters from separating from the home, leaving gaps
One piece end caps to prevent water from escaping
Downpipes that are wide enough to handle a heavy flow of water, and that are long enough direct the water a safe distance from the side of the home

While these attributes seem to be common sense, too many gutter “specialists” fail to follow them. The result is a gutter system that works perfectly in dry weather, but fails when you need it most.

So when your Vancouver roofing contractor talks about gutters when discussing your new roof, don’t think he is just trying to build up additional work. Instead, understand how important the gutter system is to the proper functioning of your roof system.

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