When it comes to installing gutters, many homebuyers realize too late that their new home may not require them. The truth is that building codes in many areas don't require gutters, and builders often use longer overhangs, concrete perimeters and various tilting methods as alternatives. However, if your new home includes gutters, you'll need to meet some requirements for how they're installed. It's important to check with the local building inspector's office to see if there are any changes in the local code related to gutters.
The appropriate gutter dimensions are calculated using local precipitation rates, the slope of the roof, the size of the area of the roof draining into the gutter, and the type of gutter profile. Installing plastic or aluminum gutters will likely allow them to operate for decades without needing to replace them. However, you can take matters into your own hands and call a professional gutter installation service to do it for you. A gutter installation service has the right equipment to evaluate the house model, the budgetary requirements, and the safety equipment to install a durable gutter.
It's vital that you check with your local building inspector's office about any code changes in your region related to gutters. To see the “Roof Drainage” section of the International Residential Code (IRC), which mentions gutters only four times, see here. There are few mentions of gutters in the IBC that indicate that gutters must be made of non-combustible materials or of a material that has been approved by building authorities. A rain gutter is a channel made of metal, plastic, or wood that is installed along and below the edge of a roof to trap and divert rainwater that leaves the roof.
Section 1502 of the IBC specifies that “the design and installation of roof drainage systems must comply with section 1502 of this code. When two parallel sections of the roof of the same building lean toward each other, there may be a built-in gutter where the roofs meet. Even if they don't include the gutters in the construction plan or install them, you can have your builder install them. It's essential that you check with your local building inspector's office to make sure you're following all necessary codes when installing gutters.
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