Unfortunately, even light rain showers can have dramatic consequences for the landscaping closest to your house. When the water is allowed to pour off certain points of the roof in sheets, this unexpected waterfall can wash away top soil and mulch, and may damage any plants in its path.
When it comes to steel gutters, protective coatings become important. Galvanized steel is a good option, as are galvalume coatings, which are formulated from a mixture of aluminum and zinc.
As with most industries, the gutter trade has its own vocabulary. Care to guess the definition of the word "soaker?" It's a small section of gutter running along the high side of a chimney.
In this age of mosquito plagues and the diseases they carry, it is important to minimize or eliminate their breeding areas. Installing gutters keeps roof run-off from pooling around your home so mosquitos have one less area in which to lay their eggs.
A clogged gutter doesn't necessarily have to be filled with dead leaves. Accumulated silt and even a bent or twisted section of gutter can create enough of an obstruction to cause water to backup or spill out of the gutter and onto your home's soffits or fascia boards.
Moisture accumulating on your roof is bad news. The longer water accumulates in a gutter or other location on a roof, the more time it has to undermine wooden protective and support structures. Wet wood attracts insects and rodents, too.