Gutters are vital house facets
Aug 31, 2007
THE rains are back. This is the perfect time to install gutters on your roof for the building to last longer and ease water shortages. Gutters are troughs that give rain water direction, thus enabling it to be trapped into a tank for later use.
By Harriet Birungi
THE rains are back. This is the perfect time to install gutters on your roof for the building to last longer and ease water shortages. Gutters are troughs that give rain water direction, thus enabling it to be trapped into a tank for later use.
Whereas many times they are ignored, Patrick Emunoto of Roofings in Nakasero, says gutters are a necessity.
“With gutters in place, one is assured of protecting house walls from wear and tear caused by rain water,†he says.
“Because the water is given a clear direction to flow, chances of it sprinkling on the verandah and walls, thereby weakening them are eliminated.â€
“A roof with gutters appears complete and one with none appears naked. Gutters are another way of adding beauty to the house. Other than leaving the facial board exposed, these troughs cover them, enhancing the house appearance.â€
He also explains that having gutters on a roof is another way of minimising maintenance costs.
Because the walls will be protected from stray water, they are able to retain their colour for sometime, saving the owner from painting expenses.
Ronald Ntege of Bucon Construction Company in Mengo, adds that with gutters in place, cases of wall skirting peeling are minimised.
“Gutters trap water that would have been otherwise absorbed by walls, if it had been running off the roof,†said Ntege.
However, he noted that many people tend to ignore gutters claiming that they are not a major component of the house, but an extra expense, only ending up paying heavily.
Gutters come in two main formats – the painted and unpainted. A piece of a painted gutter is sh6,000, while the unpainted goes for one sh4,350 at Roofings outlets. The fasteners or what holds them in place costs sh700 a piece.
THE rains are back. This is the perfect time to install gutters on your roof for the building to last longer and ease water shortages. Gutters are troughs that give rain water direction, thus enabling it to be trapped into a tank for later use.
Whereas many times they are ignored, Patrick Emunoto of Roofings in Nakasero, says gutters are a necessity.
“With gutters in place, one is assured of protecting house walls from wear and tear caused by rain water,†he says.
“Because the water is given a clear direction to flow, chances of it sprinkling on the verandah and walls, thereby weakening them are eliminated.â€
“A roof with gutters appears complete and one with none appears naked. Gutters are another way of adding beauty to the house. Other than leaving the facial board exposed, these troughs cover them, enhancing the house appearance.â€
He also explains that having gutters on a roof is another way of minimising maintenance costs.
Because the walls will be protected from stray water, they are able to retain their colour for sometime, saving the owner from painting expenses.
Ronald Ntege of Bucon Construction Company in Mengo, adds that with gutters in place, cases of wall skirting peeling are minimised.
“Gutters trap water that would have been otherwise absorbed by walls, if it had been running off the roof,†said Ntege.
However, he noted that many people tend to ignore gutters claiming that they are not a major component of the house, but an extra expense, only ending up paying heavily.
Gutters come in two main formats – the painted and unpainted. A piece of a painted gutter is sh6,000, while the unpainted goes for one sh4,350 at Roofings outlets. The fasteners or what holds them in place costs sh700 a piece.