Q&A – Why do some homes not have gutters?

Looking around their neighborhood, this homeowner noticed something strange.

Alex, a homeowner in Northwest Arkansas, recently noticed that some of the homes in their neighborhhod had gutters. But most of them didn't, including theirs. They came to the AskARoofer Experts for some insight into why, asking: 

I live in Northwest Arkansas and noticed recently that my home and most of the homes in my neighborhood do not have gutters. Do you know why this is? We get a decent amount of rain and some snow each year, so it seems relevant (and who likes to get drenched in water falling off the roof when you walk off your porch?) Does it maybe have to do with the fact that most of the homes in the area don't have basements and so we don't need to worry about moving water away from the foundation?

We had multiple experts offer some insights for Alex. This is what Katie Clymer with Armored Roofing had to say:

I can’t speak to Arkansas in general, but it could be that the area doesn’t have a lot of foundation issues and that is normally why gutters are installed; to keep water away from the foundation. Gutters are always a great idea, especially in areas where the soil is expansive and moves quite a bit or the weather goes to extremes of heat them cold. I would recommend speaking with a foundation company if you’re concerned about the water ponding around your home or speak with a local roofing company about installing a gutter system. 

It could also be that the home builder in your area just doesn’t install gutters because it’s something they don’t want to make a choice about. 

I hope this helps you answer your question.

Another one of our experts, Scott Edwards with Mammoth Roofing and Solar, also responded, sharing: 

Great question! Scott from Mammoth Roofing and Solar here... Most of our work is here in Texas, but we have licenses in some other states and in doing a little research, maybe this may help give some insight! The lack of gutters on homes in Northwest Arkansas can be due to a few key factors:

1. Soil and foundation considerations – Since many homes in the area don’t have basements, there’s generally less concern about water seeping down and causing foundation issues. Homes with basements or crawl spaces often require gutters to redirect water away and prevent flooding.
2. Clay-based soil – Northwest Arkansas has a lot of clay-heavy soil, which is less permeable and naturally directs water away from the foundation. In some cases, builders rely on grading (the slope of the yard) to control drainage instead of gutters.
3. Builder cost-saving measures – Many home builders opt not to install gutters as a way to reduce costs, assuming homeowners will add them later if needed.
4. Local building norms – In some areas, gutters are just not as commonly installed unless requested. However, as you mentioned, they can be very beneficial, especially in areas with steady rainfall and snowmelt.

If you’re noticing erosion, water pooling near your foundation or excessive splashback, adding gutters could be a great investment to protect your home and make rainy days a little more comfortable! Let me know if you have any questions — I’d be happy to help.

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