In some areas, homes are built with gutters by default. They may even be required by local building codes. In other areas, however, rain gutters are less common, and only some people choose to have them added to their home. Should you have rain gutters added to your home? If you can afford to do so, it is generally a good idea — for the following reasons.

Rain gutters will help extend your roof's life.

The key purpose of gutters is to give water a place to drain off your roof. The gutters will catch the rain and funnel it away so it doesn't just pool on the roof's edge. Since water exposure is hard on roofs, adding gutters to your roof setup tends to slow down wear and help roofs last longer. Roof replacement is not cheap, so it's often wise to get a few more years out of your roof, when possible. Gutters can help with that.

Rain gutters stop water from running down your siding.

If your roof does not have gutters, then a lot of the rain water will simply run down the siding on your home. The siding should be made to prevent the water from actually entering your home. However, all of that running water can remove the finish from the siding, cause streaks on the siding, and make the siding more brittle over time. Gutters make sure the water does not run down your siding, which is better for the siding long-term.

Rain gutters give you control over where the rain water drains.

Gutters are paired with downspouts — pipes that carry water further away from the base of your home. You get to decide how long these downspouts are and where they lead. You can direct them to the side of your home, angle them to the back, or even connect them to a storm drain. This can help you keep your lawn dryer overall, and it gives you a way to keep specific areas, like your patio or driveway, much dryer. Without gutters, the water just tumbles off our roof and the whole area around your home becomes wet.

Adding gutters to your home is a smart move that comes with a lot of benefits. Talk to a gutter installer near you, and see what they recommend. They can help you find the right type of residential rain gutter installation for your home and needs.