They blend into the design of your house and you don’t give them a lot of consideration, but your gutters are incredibly important to the overall health of your home. Without them, rainwater would collect near your foundation, eventually infiltrating your basement and causing major damage to your foundation in the process. Over the Top Roofing is your gutter expert in Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls, and we’re here with all the information and experience needed to ensure that your gutters are doing their job. Let’s take a look at the history of gutters as they are a essential part of every home:
Historians have seen evidence of primitive gutter systems dating back to as far as 1500 BC. These systems were crude, and probably didn’t do a very effective job of removing rainwater from the foundation walls, but they were a start in the right direction. It wasn’t until the Romans brought their more advanced gutter technology to Britain in 47 AD that gutters started to see widespread use. The shift in architecture and resultant changes in roof styles of this era required a solution to rainwater management, so these stone approximations of today’s gutters would suffice.
As the centuries passed, many different materials were used in gutter systems, but stone and wood were the most plentiful. These systems may have served their purpose as well as one would expect, but they did not do as effective of a job as today’s gutters, contributing to a shorter lifespan for the typical construction of the day.
In the early 1700s, with cast iron becoming an affordable and plentiful material, the modern gutter began to take shape. Replacing lead as the main gutter material, cast iron proved to be extremely durable, versatile, effective and attractive. Early designs evolved into the common V-shaped gutter, which was an effective and aesthetically pleasing solution for the homeowners of this era.
When the 20th century arrived, and the ensuing industrial revolution, new manufacturing techniques brought about new designs in the gutter industry. Metal rolling machines produced new, half-round gutters that were very popular with consumers. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the next revolution in gutter technology occurred, with the invention of the seamless aluminum gutter machine. Allowing installers to create custom-fit, seamless gutters that provided an affordable and highly effective solution to homeowners quickly made aluminum the new material of choice in gutters, a position it still holds to this day.
Although many changes have occurred to the common gutter system over centuries, the same principals apply, and the same importance of channelling water away from your foundation still exists. At Over the Top Roofing, we’re incredibly passionate gutter and roofing contractors who enjoy the opportunity to bring this storied technology to your Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls area home.
Over the Top Roofing is your Gutter Expert!
Interested in a new or replacement gutter system for your home? We’re ready to give you a FREE consultation and estimate today. Call us at 414-531-ROOF, or visit our website to Contact Us today!
