"Leafproof" gutters

I'm not suggesting a one size fits all application. That is the problem.

Assuming all sides of all houses needs gutters is simply an overstatement, just as completing eliminating them could be.

I'm suggesting that more careful use of them, or not using them when they are not necessary, is a good idea.

Are you describing a lot which slopes TOWARD the foundation? That would not be in keeping with the building code, so it is a bit of a mute point. Fix the grading.

You are right, I live below the gnat line, so my view is distorted. But ranch house on slabs are still the most common type of construction nationwide.

Some houses need grading. Some need shrubs. Some need diverters. Some need gutters in specific areas, or on the side with the prevailing weather patterns.

There is no one size fits all solution, and there are a lot of applications where they are not necessary.

Duke wrote: @SVreX: It ain't just a northern thang - lots of building departments require gutters or some other method of rainwater collection.

While some neighborhood covenants probably require gutters to be in keeping with the neighborhood (which would be enforced by the building department), the building code probably does not. It more likely requires erosion prevention, or foundation protection, or moisture penetration protection. These things COULD be addressed with gutters, but there are other solutions to these problems as well.

"Rainwater collection" in of itself is probably not required.

My point was simply that most Northern houses have them, and an awful lot of Southern houses (and mid-western houses) do not, and a lot of people could do without.

SVreX wrote: And steeper pitch roofs, which puts the volume closer to the foundation walls at a greater velocity. Which is why I said this looks like a Northern discussion. But do without if you can, or where you can. My $.02.

Yep lots of height + (very) steep pitch = lots of water coming down hard.

Plenty here get away without them, and I'm going to do some other stuff to encourage the water to go somewhere other than my foundation. But I'm not counting on that being suficient.

Plus, there's some work I'm already having done up there soon, so gutters now are cheaper than gutters later.

SVreX wrote: I'm suggesting that more careful use of them, or not using them when they are not necessary, is a good idea.

Certainly. And further, gutters by themselves aren't generally a full solution either, but one piece of the puzzle. Slapping them on and calling it good isn't terribly bright. In this case the first iteration includes gutters in spots where lots of water is collected by the shape of the roof, and some tweaks to the grade near the house. It slants away already, but could use to be a bit more "emphatic" in slanting away in a few spots. And some reworking of the flower beds. Etc.

I just want to minimize the time spent way the heck up there cleaning them. Me and ladders aren't the best of friends.I've seen ones like others have mentioned that seem to work keeping the leaves and crap out. In fact, I already had that link too, I just grabbed the first one in my set of gutters links to demonstrate what I meant by leafproof gutters. There are several variations on the idea.

I make decent money cleaning out plugged up gutters covered by leaf guards and the like. I am not at all impressed by them. They generally do seem to block the large leaves, but pine needles, helocopters, flower petals and all the other little stuff goes right into the gutter.