Do Sheds Need Gutters?
Sheds can be a great way to protect lawn equipment and outdoor furniture. But do sheds need gutters? Let’s take a look at why you might want to consider adding this feature.
Yes, sheds require gutters for two main reasons. They can help keep the exterior siding dry and prevent constant water build up around the foundation.
What are Gutters?
Gutters are rain collection systems that get installed to the exterior of buildings. Their main function is to gather rainwater sliding down from the roof and direct it away from a house.
For gutters to work properly, one side needs to be lower than the other. This slope will allow gravity to push rainwater to a drop outlet and downspout, until it reaches the ground.
Are Gutters Necessary?
You might be asking yourself the following question: are gutters really necessary? After all, without gutters rainwater would just drip right down the side of your house.
The problem with this mindset is that modern houses built today are designed to conserve energy. That means water building up around the exterior can make its way inside your basement and stay their.
Moisture found in the basement and other ground levels can become a big problem. With the lack of sunlight and proper ventilation, moisture creates the ideal environment for mold growth.
Do Sheds Need Gutters?
It’s essential for sheds (just like houses) to have gutters. Rainwater must be collected and drained away from the shed. This will keep the structure in good working condition and prevent future deterioration.
Without gutters properly installed, water will puddle up in low areas. This would make it difficult to access lawn equipment, power tools, outdoor furniture, and anything else in the shed.
Gutter Sizes for Shed
Keep in mind that gutters come in a variety of different sizes. In other words, you don’t need the same size gutters for a shed that are on your house. That’s because the roof square footage will be smaller.
Shed gutters can be anywhere from 2-4 inches in diameter. This range comes from the fact that not all sheds are the same size. Larger structures will require a bigger gutter, while smaller sheds can be fine with a smaller gutter.
If you know the square footage of your specific shed, you should be able to calculate what size gutter you need. You can also talk to someone at your local hardware store for advice.
How to Install Gutters on a Shed
Installing gutters on your shed can be done in just a couple of hours. But it’s important to hang them correctly. If not, you will have puddles around your shed and cause more harm than good.
1. Take Measurements
Have you ever heard the expression measure twice, cut once? This same school of though applies with gutters. Make sure to get your measurements correct, before making any cuts.
This will make the installation process much easier. You also want to avoid hanging the gutters and trying to cut them when they’re on the shed. Doing this will only makes things more difficult for yourself.
2. Cut Carefully
Once you’ve figured out how long the gutters need to be, you can start cutting. You can use a metal shear, miter saw, hacksaw, jigsaw, or any other tool that will deliver the same performance.
Make sure to work slowly, so you can cut a straight and even line. This will make the connection points for the downspout much more secure. When using metal shears, try making small cuts to keep an even line.
3. Hang Brackets
Hanging brackets is another essential step when it comes to gutter installation. The side with the downspout should be about 1-2 inches lower than the high side to allow for proper drainage.
If you hang the brackets flat (with no slope) you will cause more harm than good. Rainwater will begin to build up, as it will have nowhere to drain. In the winter this liquid can even freeze and cause ice dams.
4. Install the Gutters
Now that the gutters have been cut to the correct length with brackets installed, it’s time to hang them. This task is easier with two people, but you can still get the job done on your own.
You can do this by placing a temporary screw on one side, in order to permanently install the other side. After this, move back down and take out the temporary screw, before connected the gutter and bracket.
5. Connect Downspouts
Gutters will have little to no effect without downspouts. If a gutter is horizontal, the downspout is the vertical piece that brings all of the rainwater off the roof, to the ground, and away from the shed.
These get installed in a similar way to the gutters. Small brackets will keep them securely connected to the side of your shed. You can also add downspout extenders, to keep water away from the foundation.
6. Regular Maintenance
Even when the installation process has been completed, you will still need to keep up with regular maintenance. This includes cleaning leaves at least once a year, in order to avoid rainwater clogging the gutters.
This is especially important if you live in an area that gets snow. When temperatures drop below freezing, rainwater will turn into ice. Ice dams on gutters can cause damage, as melting snow will leak into your shed.
Final Thoughts
By now you should now the answer to the following question: do sheds need gutters? There are a variety of reasons why you need to install a rain collection system on your shed.
Gutters will help collect rain water from the roof and direct it away from the structure. This will keep shed siding in good condition, as it will not be exposed to wet conditions each time it rains.
But gutters will also help the foundation. Without them, water will puddle up around your shed and seep into the structure. It would also be frustrating needing to maneuver around puddles each time you walk into your shed.
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