If you are a homeowner, you probably haven’t given much thought to your eavestroughs, unless you have experienced an issue with them in the past. This is because they hang high above our field of view, there are rarely issues with them and most homes come pre-equipped with them. However, have you ever given any thought to what are eavestroughs? And do you really need them? 

Even though chances are you haven’t paid too much attention to your eavestroughs, we look to answers these questions and more below:

What are eavestroughs?

Eavestrough is a common term used for describing a gutter in Canada. In simple terms, eavestroughs are man-made channels that run along the outside edge or roof line of a home as well as other structures. They are generally used for collecting rainwater and directing it down and away from the structure or to a designated area.

It is noteworthy that there is no one-size-fits-all specification for eavestroughs. They can be shaped in different styles such as leaf barriers, k-style, and half-round. Otherwise, they can be made with a wide range of materials such as vinyl, aluminum, steel, zinc, and copper. Irrespective of the materials and designs of eavestroughs, they all serve the same purpose.

What is the purpose of eavestroughs?

Basically, the most essential purpose of an eavestrough is to ensure that rain and melting snow or ice is collected and directed to the downspouts. By redirecting the water collected by your roof, an eavestrough ultimately makes sure that all of this water does not end up pooling around your home or structure and entering in through the foundation. 

Benefits of an eavestrough:

Preventing yard flooding – When there is heavy snow or rain, your roof will collect large sums of water. Resultantly, systematic drainage will be needed to deal with this water. If not, the area surrounding the building, including your yard has the possibility of flooding. Eavestroughs help reduce the chances off the ground around your building getting saturated with water by directing the water away from your home/building. 

Reducing damages to your home – Yard flooding and other issues with heavy rain are capable of causing an oversaturation of soil, as well as soil erosion. If this issue persists, plants such as bushes and shrubs planted around your home will be the first casualties. After some periods, your basement, deck, patio, lawn, and foundations may also suffer due to the excess moisture.

Preventing structural damage – As a result of the potential damage caused to your home by heavy rainfall and melting snow, the structure of your home may also suffer serious issues. This usually occurs when water accumulates in an area of your home for an extended period of time. After a short while your foundation may crack, mold may grow, and other structural damage may occur.

Even though eavestroughs are a simple component of your home or structure, the play an extremely important role in protecting your home from potential water damage. If your eavestroughs are no longer collecting water properly, are damaged, or are just beginning to look weathered and out of sorts give C.A.P.O.R Renovations a call at 519-652-5010 for a no obligation consultation.