Absolutely gutted.

Many homeowners don't understand the important role that guttering plays in protecting your home. Most of us either buy or build a home and are supplied with guttering, and we think nothing more about it. We know that gutters serve some sort of purpose, but we don't really understand how they work.

Rain gutters catch the water which drains from the roof and directs it into the downpipes which are those aluminium pipes which are attached to most sides of your home. Underneath those pipes will be a storm drain pipe which stops the water from puddling and effectively drains the water away. This system is in place for a number of reasons. If water isn't able to drain from your roof it would very quickly erode the roofing material causing extensive damage not only to the roof but to the structural features of your home such as the walls. Over time the erosion would worsen causing leaking and even structural failure, yikes!
Now, if you do have a guttering system which collects the water from the roof and directs it away from the roof you are preventing those issues. So, let's say that there are no downpipes to collect the water from the guttering and direct it into the drains. Without downpipes or 'down spouts' we are essentially collecting the rainwater in the guttering and letting it run down the side of the house. When water continues to run along the side of your house in large amounts this weakens the integrity of the walls. Depending on the materials used to construct your home this could be devastating for the structure. If you have a home which is built primarily out of wood you can expect that the wood will start to degrade and basically start rotting. Wood rot is catastrophic in structural buildings as it can be hard to replace without compromising the entire building.
So, we know that we need gutters to keep the water away from the roof and we know that we need downpipes to collect the water and direct it away from the house, now, what about those little drains that collect the water? These drains are usually connected to your storm water drains. They take the water from the downpipes and direct it into your drainage system and away from the base of your home. If water collects at the base of your home over long periods of time what types of issues can we expect? You guessed it, structural issues.
Not only will the water hollow out the sand or soil which sits adjacent to your home, it will also cause the side of the home to erode faster than it should. Soil erosion will also occur which will destroy your garden beds and drown your plants and flowers which is a very sad thing for the avid gardener.

​Now that we properly understand the importance of an effective guttering system, ensure you take care when it comes to the ones surrounding your home. Have them checked and cleaned frequently to avoid clogging of the system and extensive damage to your home.