Older houses around Cincinnati sometimes have box gutters. These can be thought of as “hidden gutters”. Rather than being affixed to the edge of a roof, and therefore hanging off the side, they are a built-in part of the roof structure. Box gutters are a recessed area within the roof framework, sitting just before the edge of the roof. These box gutters are typically very wide, which means they do not clog as easily as more modern gutter designs. For the same reason, box gutters are also less likely to overflow.
Homes built in the late 19th Century and very early 20th Century are more likely to have these box gutters. The gutters themselves are concealed from below, so they complement the look of the building’s face, while letting architectural moldings and cornices retain their prominence. For certain types of roofs, such as flat roofs, box gutters can provide a functional alternative to more typical “eaves” gutters that won’t serve their purpose well due to the roof’s structure.
So, What Are Box Gutters?
Box gutters are made out of wood, with a large, block-like frame as the primary support. The inside of the gutter is lined with a metal that will not corrode easily – often stainless steel or galvanized steel. A carpenter would usually build the box gutter, and then line the inside with this sheet metal and solder it together. The key purpose in building these box gutters, as with any type of gutters, was to prevent water from pooling anywhere and to keep it off of the roof and moving away from the roof and walls of the building.
A major concern with box gutters is to keep the wood fastened securely to the roof, and to keep the gutters free of debris like fallen leaves. As with any gutter system, if water is left sitting in the gutter and unable to drain, it can lead to leaks, mold growth, or corrosion over time. With the increasing age of most box gutters, oftentimes roofing companies need to replace either the wood of the box or the metal lining of the gutter.
So, Which Type of Gutter Is Better?
Box gutters make for a beautiful look on the front of a house, but can be more difficult to maintain than more modern gutter styles. If your roof was built with box gutters, it isn’t usually possible to change the gutter style without replacing the entire roof, so unless it’s time for your roof to be replaced, you’re probably stuck with the type of gutters you have. If you are looking for box gutter repair, or gutter replacement for any types of gutters in the Cincinnati area, contact us today.