One of the most important features of your home is often the one that is the sometimesoverlooked. Thats right home gutters. Gutters play a very important role in the maintenance of your home and should be installed properly.

The gutter is an exterior drainage device for your home or business. If you don't have the proper guttering installed on your roof, water runoff can do a lot of damage to the foundation of your home. It's even more vital if you have a basement and want to avoid a flood .

Gutters / downspouts are relatively inexpensive . Before you go shopping, you need to do some research. There are several types of gutters on the market and you need to decide which type fits your needs and your home the best. They can be made from steel, copper, aluminum and vinyl. There are pros and cons to each type of gutter material. You'll want to do some research and decide which one is right for you before you buy.

Its important to remember when installing rain gutters is that they should be placed so that the edge of the roof is right over the first half of the gutter system. This will catch all types of rainfall from a heavy,  downfall to a slight spring shower.

The downspouts should be setup so that the water will runs far enough away from your house so as not to create standing puddles around the homes foundation. Make sure that your gutters are  attached to the roof and the downspouts are fastened properly.

Once you have them installed and working properly, maintain them well by doing these checks on them at least twice a year. Inspect the gutters for any sections that may be sagging and look for holes in them. Also , be sure to keep them clean.

Check your eavestrough fasteners to make sure that they are firmly attached to your gutter. If you notice any sections sagging you may need to attach a new hanger. Sometimes your gutter will start leaking at the seams. This is an easy fix with a tube of waterproof silicone.

A very important tip that will save you a lot of work later is to consider your surroundings. If your house is surrounded by a lot of trees, then you should put leaf guards on  your gutters. This will prevent them from getting clogged by leaves and other debree. It will also make your life easier because you won't have to clean the mess out of the gutters.