Almost every home in Northern Virginia needs gutters. A roof collects a lot of water in a storm, and without gutters it pours straight down onto the siding, the windows, the landscaping and the foundation. Gutters carry that water to downspouts and away from the house.
By the Roofing & Gutter Ethics team. Updated November 2026.
How much water a roof sheds
Every inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is roughly 600 gallons of water. Northern Virginia gets around 40 inches of rain a year, plus snowmelt. Without gutters, all of it drops in a line right along the base of the walls.
What gutters protect
- The foundation. Water dumped at the base of the house soaks the soil and finds its way into basements and crawlspaces. Clay soil here holds water against the wall.
- Fascia and roof edge. Without a gutter, water runs back along the drip edge and fascia.
- Siding and windows. Splash back stains siding, rots trim and soaks window sills.
- Landscaping and walkways. Roof water digs trenches in beds and freezes on steps.
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Book a free inspectionWhen a house can skip them
A few homes can get by: very wide overhangs with ground that slopes steeply away, or a design with a dedicated drainage system at grade. That is rare in this area. If you are not sure, look at the ground under your roof edge after a storm. A trench, splash marks on the siding or a wet basement answers the question.