Rainwater is welcomed in the San Gabriel Valley, but when it’s pooling against the foundation of your house then you need gutters to carry it away. Your roof is also a great place to harvest, or collect, run off from the times there’s drizzle or periods of pouring rain.
We live in a region that’s always at the risk of droughts, yet we’ve all seen intense rains pummeling the San Gabriel Mountains.
Seamless rain gutters are a great addition to a roof that’s new or has been repaired and a proven way to channel water.
Garvey Roofing is a roofing contractor that gives free estimates on seamless gutters plus new roof projects and roof repairs.
All labor and roofing materials are always guaranteed—a claim that’s unique in the industry.
Take a closer look at gutters.
Gutters as a Channel
When rainwater rolls off roofs, it pours over doorways, around steps, back porches and forms puddles around the base of your home. Water always seeks the lowest point and if it finds cracks or fissures in cement and asphalt then the rain works its way beneath the surface.
Erosion happens over time and eventually concrete, asphalt or other materials begin to wear and crack as the water degrades the materials.
Gutters act as a channel to move rain into a drain so that it flows away from areas where water damage will eventually occur.
Gutters as Pleasing Visuals
New gutters add aesthetically pleasing lines to a home, adding to its overall value and curb appeal.
Gutters are available in colors that complement the color of shingles and tile while the sight lines add to the overall attraction.
Gutters that look pleasing as straight horizontal lines at the roof lines and vertically with downspouts placed along walls and channeling water safely toward sewers.
Gutters as a Roofing Accessory and Necessity
Gutters are seen as an accessory for roofs but you can also see them as a necessity. They certainly make life more convenient and easier to deal with on rainy days, especially as the rain pours near front doors and back doors.
Proper installation is absolutely necessary for gutters to be effective.
Let’s see what that means and the types of material that Garvey Roofing uses:
#1 Seamless or continuous gutters are best because there’s no leakage in and around seams
#2 The material won’t rust or become weakened by the sun. Vinyl gutters will eventually crack due to the sun’s exposure.
#3 At the edge of the roof, where there’s drip edge, water can curl and run under and cause the fascia to deteriorate. Gutters must be installed so water runs off the roof, along the drip edge and into the gutter channel.
#4 Gutters are 5-inch or 6-inch width and formed into half round shapes.
#5 Gutters can last a lifetime when the right material is used and they’re properly installed.
Rainwater Collection
Garvey Roofing cares about homes that are environmentally friendly. Harvesting rain off roofs is an effective way to water the lawn, fruit trees, rose bushes and all plants.
In one rain, you can easily collect over 100 gallons of water whether your home is along the foothills or further south along the 60 freeway.
The average rainfall from Altadena, to Sierra Madre and Monrovia is about 18 inches a year. Just south like in Temple City and Baldwain Park the average rainfall may be around 15 inches.
A typical roof size is about 2500 square feet, as noted on the Garvey Roofing Gutters page.
An inch of rain on a 1 inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof = 600 Gallons. Calculate that and in a typical year it’s easy to harvest about 22,000 gallons of water.
The Bushman Rainwater Harvesting system is an excellent one to install.
Tanks come in sizes ranging from 130 gallon capacity to 2,825 gallon capacity and irrigation controls are available so that you’re not just collecting water, but you’re setting up an entire system that can safely store water for months.
The Bushman system meets requirements from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health including
Rain barrels must have a screened inflow opening, a spigot and/or hose bib, and an overflow pipe or equivalent. •
Rain barrels shall be labeled to indicate nonpotable water use only. •
The system may not be connected to indoor/outdoor municipal potable plumbing, and shall not be pressurized or sprayed. •
The system must be installed in accordance with the rain barrel manufacturer’s installation instructions, and installation requirements of local agencies.
Garvey Roofing cares about your overall roofing and home needs. Thomas Garvey, the owner, has operated for more than 30 years in the San Gabriel Valley.
Call for a free estimate: (626) 358-9208.