We clean our open rain gutters at least five times a year but they still overflow in heavy rains. I’m baffled and am wondering if gutters are really necessary. I have seen homes without them. What is ...

Samantha Hunter is a professional copy editor who has worked with Ms. Magazine, Spin and VH1. She has also written for MarthaStewart.com, Essence.com, Esquire.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, RealSimple.com ...

Q: I had a contractor install pop-up gutter drains. They were supposed to be dug 10 feet out. He only did this for one at the back of the house. The other three are only 4 to 5 feet out. I wasn’t ...

Q. My aluminum rain gutters overflow in a hard rain, and I’m sure it is because they are not sloped properly, so the water runs to the downspouts. The reason, I think, is because the fascia boards ...

I know clogged, overflowing gutters can damage my house structure, but I also heard they can increase my utility bills. Do gutter guards that rely on the surface tension of water really work? What you ...

Question: This is the first year I have noticed a drip line rut in the yard below my gutters. Is this because of the heavy rains? Are my gutters too small? I have standard-sized gutters, and when I ...

When it comes to cleaning, most of our efforts are focused on the inside of our homes – scrubbing sinks, floors, and tiles until they shine. However, the exterior of our homes, particularly the ...

Dear Jerry: I’m writing in that hopes you can help us with a problem with the gutters on our older Cape Cod-style house. Since the installation of a new roof (tear off) and gutters, we’ve had a ...

Q I have noticed a drip line rut in the yard below my gutters. Is this because of the heavy rains? Are my gutters too small? I have standard gutters, and they and the drains are not clogged. A ...

Q–I have two questions related to gutters. First, when it rains, the gutter in the front of my house fills and overflows. A handyman I hired reset the gutter. He said it wasn`t slanted properly. Now, ...