[LoisR]

$$$$$

[jimkerr]

It’s to save money. I’m a licensed termite inspector. Termites love moisture. It’s not a good idea to allow all of this moisture around your home, even worse, is putting mulch on the ground right under your roof line that’s against your house. You’re just asking for trouble. I’ve seen it time and time again with infestations they just love that moist soil.

I wouldn’t own a home without gutters personally.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Gutters were not standard issue as far back as 2014 when my home was built. The only gutters installed on my home are those across the exits: the front door and out the lanai.

Many in the neighborhood have had them installed, I have not. If gutters were installed then all the water would be concentrated into one area. Either that area would thrive due to the extra water or it would die due to the concentration of <whatever> being washed off the roof. Without gutters the runoff is distributed around the house. Either my lawn benefits over the entire perimeter of my roof or any <whatever> is less concentrated and less likely to harm my lawn.

The only negative impact I have seen in the seven years I have owned the home is some washout where the water from the roof impacts the non-seeded areas behind the shrubs. Maintaining a layer of mulch take care of that by cushioning and absorbing the falling water.

Well said. The Villages is built on sand, and the elevation of each home comes from building up sand. Sand drains. Gutters leads toward streets that have big drain pipes under them that can fill up during a big storm. That runoff from the gutters has to be treated, and treatment plants cost a lot of money. Your money!

I live in a twelve year old courtyard villa with gutters, so the water from the roof doesn’t hit my courtyard. Still, my courtyard is 3/4 concrete. There’s just a strip of garden along the side and back. When last summer my house got nine inches of water in one day, all of that water ran to the strip of garden and soaked in. There was never any accumulation on the concrete. The rainwater will soak into the aquifer. No further treatment required. That’s why the developer realized that gutters really aren’t needed here. It does save money, but that’s not the main reason.

[Harold.wiser]

Money $$$

[kayak]

And the whole time I thought it had to do with the houses' construction. Wood frame homes require rain gutters. Concrete homes, block or otherwise, do not. I really don't know where that idea came from.

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Note that the builder does install gutters on courtyard villas.

I live in a neighborhood of only courtyard villas and the only ones with gutters are the ones, like myself, who had them installed later.

[La lamy]

Not sure about people's advice to not install gutters. I have some areas that leak (I've tried caulking them and still dripping in gap between the gutter and the house in some places) and the loud clunking on window sills is quite annoying. I much prefer the places where the un-leaking gutters prevent this.

[TC_Arch]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Gutters were not standard issue as far back as 2014 when my home was built. The only gutters installed on my home are those across the exits: the front door and out the lanai.

Many in the neighborhood have had them installed, I have not. If gutters were installed then all the water would be concentrated into one area. Either that area would thrive due to the extra water or it would die due to the concentration of <whatever> being washed off the roof. Without gutters the runoff is distributed around the house. Either my lawn benefits over the entire perimeter of my roof or any <whatever> is less concentrated and less likely to harm my lawn.

The only negative impact I have seen in the seven years I have owned the home is some washout where the water from the roof impacts the non-seeded areas behind the shrubs. Maintaining a layer of mulch take care of that by cushioning and absorbing the falling water.

We installed a minimum of 24" of stone or hardscape all around the house. Had the gutters and downspouts removed. In eight years, no problems.
I agree with Bill14564. Gutters are a continuing maintenance problem. Why do so many companies heavily advertise "leaf filters"? Downspouts are unsightly.

[westernrider75]

We live in a courtyard villa area and chose to install gutters, not a big expense, less than $800 and keeps our landscaping from flooding. Our immediate neighbors chose not to and THEIR runoff caused the mulch in their property to wash onto our side yard concrete. The water ultimately goes back to their yard and we replaced the mulch with stone to prevent the mess but at an expense.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by ShotDoctor

Can someone explain to me why on a BRAND NEW HOME gutters and downspouts are not installed? Is there some theory or logic that these are truly optional since there are no basements? It seems EVERY home in developed neighborhoods have them.

Our 2022 veranda home came with them across the front of the house. We added them to the rest of the house because we didn’t like having huge waterfalls coming off of our roof in several places during the almost daily summer thunderstorms. But then our home came with many things today’s new homes no longer have, like screens on lanais, ceiling fans, window blinds, etc.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by kansasr

$$$$$$$

Originally Posted by DrMack

It costs less money. Just like skipping screens on lanais, not installing ceiling fans, putting in MDF cabinets etc. The builder saves money. Can you blame him?

Originally Posted by wisbad1

They quit putting fans in the new ones.

Originally Posted by LoisR

$$$$$

Originally Posted by Harold.wiser

Money $$$

It’s not the builder who is saving money…..do you really think the builder would add gutters and fans (many remove for different options) or screens (we removed, then repaired stucco) For Free?

We only added super gutters for birdcage, with rock surrounding the rest of the house.

Those products are rolled into the end cost of the home. For some on a budget saving $5,000 plus is a big deal.
Within 6 months in each of our 3 new neighborhoods, Fans, Light Fixtures, Screens removed, unwanted landscaping has always been the norm. One of our homes didn’t come with a garage door opener. We saved $400 installed better model.

Until we bought in TV we always built our homes subcontracting ourselves. Builders grade, is a waste of money if you can delete and purchase aftermarket. We had the option on this build to purchase our own Appliances, saving money for better products.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Kelevision

I live in a neighborhood of only courtyard villas and the only ones with gutters are the ones, like myself, who had them installed later.

They don't install gutters on all courtyard viilas, but they do on many of them. I don't know what criteria they use.

[Ski Bum]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

Retired builder. Gutters are to control water and keep it away from the foundation so your crawlspace or basement remains dry. Gutters serve no purpose to protect a slab foundation if ground is properly sloped. They also increase the damage to a home. I repaired many homes with rotted fascia, soffits and OSB sheathing. I upgraded my other home with Hardie plank and ran a 4" metal drip guard under the steel roof when I installed the roof.

I was glad I only had a gutter over the garage, doors and lanai here. Saw a house over in Caroline last year that was for sale. The back had heavy fascia/soffit damage from a gutter that was no longer level and it was right under a large tree. I'm sure a ladder kept pushing it down.

Yep

[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by TC_Arch

Why do so many companies heavily advertise "leaf filters"?.

To stop the gutters from getting clogged with leaves. They work well if you do proper research on the style needed for the type of leaves / debris most likely to get into the gutters.

The last home I owned with gutters, I had them installed. Leaves washed right over them and almost all the water went into the gutter. Never had to clean the gutters again.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by DrMack

It costs less money. Just like skipping screens on lanais, not installing ceiling fans, putting in MDF cabinets etc. The builder saves money. Can you blame him?

Yes for price for house.