Why put gutters on a house, and should you add them if you have none?
Short answer. You put gutters on a house to control where roof water lands, and most Georgia houses benefit from them, especially on clay soil, with crawlspaces or basements, short roof overhangs, or doors under an eave. The residential building code only requires a controlled roof drainage method where expansive or collapsible soils are known to exist, so in much of Georgia gutters are a choice, but usually a wise one.
What the code says
The International Residential Code, which Georgia adopts with state amendments, requires a controlled method of roof water disposal where expansive or collapsible soils are known to exist, discharging at least 5 feet from foundation walls or into an approved drainage system. Outside those areas, gutters are not mandated, though many builders install them as standard. Your local building department can tell you whether your area is treated as expansive soil.
Houses that most need gutters
- Crawlspace and basement homes, where water at the foundation becomes moisture underneath.
- Houses on clay that drains slowly or on lots that slope toward the house.
- Short or no roof overhangs, where runoff hits the siding.
- Entries, decks and walkways under an eave.
When you might do without
- Wide overhangs, sandy or well-draining soil, and ground graded firmly away from the house.
- A slab house with a well-built gravel drip trench and drain along the drip line.
Even then, a gutter over each door is often worth it.
Before adding gutters
- Check the fascia. Gutters need sound wood to hang on.
- Make sure the roof has drip edge that will lap into the gutter.
- Plan where each downspout discharges, with extensions or drains carrying water away.
- Check HOA rules on color and style.
See gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards and roof anatomy explained.