How Important Are Rain Gutters? (Bangor: buy, versus, cabin)

[46H]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

My first house did not have gutters and it had ice damming and water intrusion. My second house had gutters and did not have any ice damming or water intrusion. There are ways to mitigate ice damming, but it has nothing to do with gutters. The solution is a cold roof, as well as a waterproof membrane that lines the lower portion of the the roof underneath the shingles. My first house was built in 1986, before they had this figured out. My second house was built in 2005 and was designed to prevent ice damming. My current house was built in 2015 and also has no ice dam issues.

This is a great answer.
Just install an ice and water barrier. Something like this will work:
Ice and Water Barrier Products | Owens Corning

[90077]

Originally Posted by jackmccullough

One other thing: spring for the higher capacity gutters. I think the standard ones are 4" but you would do better with 5" or even 6" gutters.

Wasn't aware; thanks for the tip.

[90077]

Originally Posted by 46H

This is a great answer.
Just install an ice and water barrier. Something like this will work:
Ice and Water Barrier Products | Owens Corning

Thanks Erik and 46H. Good to know.

[James1202]

Also, look at how your roof is designed and determine if there's a higher volume of rain run-off in certain areas. If so 5" or 6" gutters might be needed in those areas but no gutter, or smaller gutters, needed in others.

Also, while it's raining heavily, go for a walk around your house to find any problem areas on and around the house.

In the Winter, after a snowfall, look at your roof to see if the snow is melting quickly in any area that indicates heat loss. Peaks can melt because of the sun hitting/warming projecting ridges so don't worry much about those. Snow melting in the middle of a roof slope = problem.

[my54ford]

Originally Posted by 90077

Contemplating a move to Maine and while perusing the online listings one newer ranch-style home caught my eye.

But photos show no rain gutters anywhere on this 16 year old house. Presuming the house never had any gutters, is this a red flag?

The series of photos, taken this month, includes one of the basement which appears dry.

Is there a basement under it? Look close for water infiltration!!! Regardless I would agree with others, gutters are a must have.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by ss20ts

Come see me! I'm in Upstate New York....about an hour form the snowiest city in the US. Getting clocked in the head with the ice in the snow is always so fun! Then again, I live in a Cape Cod with a steeply pitched roof. One winter, the snow actually ripped the gutters off the front of our house. Made a heck of a noise! We were in the middle of a blizzard when it happened.

I just saw one last week, off a triple decker. 500 sf of 12" deep snow falling 4 stories...

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Take a yard stick and make sure your rain gutters are at least an inch below the extension of your roof angle. That way the ice will not rip your gutters off. If style permits, get dark brown gutters. The sun will thaw your gutter ice sooner than white gutters.

[maineborzoi]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

In areas where it snows, rain gutters cause ice dams, which cause water intrusion into the house.

Exactly ! We were surprised when we moved to Maine from Virginia, and found how many houses actually did not have rain gutters. We quickly learned this reason as to why. Most of the houses around here do not have gutters.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Downspouts leading to barrels can aid irrigation in a dry year. You might even be able to gravity feed from the barrels.

[Submariner]

I have seen rain gutters fill with ice, then due to the extreme weight they pulled away from the building. I installed rain gutters on a building I owned down in Connecticut, then a few years later I had to make the repairs after they ripped some siding off the wall. If you are going to install gutters, you need to pay close attention to how it is done and plan for what will happen when they are solid full of ice.

I know of a building in Bangor where they had to install electric heating tape inside their rain gutters to keep them flowing through the winter.

I have had rain barrels, they froze and split the seams.