Does every inch of a roofline need a gutter?

[vash]

Paging roof girl.

I am getting quotes for new gutters. The estimates swing wildly. Quantity-wise. Some are off by 30 feet from each other.

Does every roof edge need a gutter? I don't know jack. My old ancient system pretty much covered where a person would walk.


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[Evans, Marv]

I'm by far no expert, but I've installed a few gutter & drainage systems. My take is you most likely want coverage every place water is shed from a slope or tends to collect. I forget where you live, but if it's a area with lots of rain, you should also take into account management of drainage from your roof areas and the areas around your house. I have a roof with a quarter inch per foot slope and a parapet wall all around, so I have drainage basins situated around the edges of the roof with crickets directing water into them. Those drain down into a system of 3 inch plastic pipes (my wife calls it an underground freeway of pipes) to take the water out to the street. I also have a similar drainage system around the periphery of the yard that does the same. I tried to take the whole picture into consideration to manage as much water shed around the house as I could.

[Seahawk]

Here it is a question of managing the water flow off your house foundation. Every inch of gutter has a roof line when you have a basement

It is, seriously, very important to get the water away from the house in this part of the country. The gutter downspouts are all located to ensure the water shed is most effective.

We often get a lot of rain.

Growing up in SoCal, we didn't have gutters, just some drains to get the water down the hill.

[scottmandue]

My front house has a flat roof and no gutters.
However as Paul said I live in SoCal and we only get a few weeks of rain a year... and I live on a sloped lot... and the back house has a gentle sloped roof and gutters on the front (to protect the balcony) and back (to protect the concrete in back alley I guess)

[jyl]

Given how things are going in SoCal, I would consider full gutters leading to rainwater storage used for irrigation. In a couple decades, you can repurpose that water to drinking.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

No gutter areas = drip lines, soil erosion in those areas (might or might not matter to you), less maintenance, more icicle buildup in cold climates (sometimes can be dangerous). Gutter areas = dry below but potential for water entry & damage if they or the downspouts ever get clogged)

[vash]

Originally Posted by jyl

Given how things are going in SoCal, I would consider full gutters leading to rainwater storage used for irrigation. In a couple decades, you can repurpose that water to drinking.

This is why I am thinking of covering the entire surface. Garden water.


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[look 171]

I am a big fan of gutters because I have repaired foundations where proper gutters and downspouts might have saved the serious foundation. Every inch does not have to be covered, but its a good idea and sometimes it looks better. Depending on the roof.

[A930Rocket]

I always install gutters everywhere but there are plenty of people who don't around here.

[vash]

Thanks.

We opted for full coverage. Install is thurs.


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[speeder]

A little off-topic but I'm surprised that no one has invented a water pipeline like the giant oil ones, (KeystoneXL, etc.), to transfer excess rainwater from all the places that flood to the parched SW desert and CA. The value of water here will soon make oil seem like worthless refuse.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by jyl

Given how things are going in SoCal, I would consider full gutters leading to rainwater storage used for irrigation. In a couple decades, you can repurpose that water to drinking.

Around here, having rain barrels or a rain garden(lined pit w/special plants) can knock a few bucks off the water bill due to 'street sewer diversion'.