Gutters

Manage rainfall with gutters that you can count on!

Trustworthy Gutter Installations In Texas

Help Your Home With Gutter Services From G.L. Hunt

Homes all across Texas struggle with foundation problems and water damage. At G.L. Hunt, we’ve made it our goal to help homeowners tackle these problems with expert services that can prevent problems from the get-go.

One way we can help keep your property protected is by providing gutter installation services! Follow along with us as we explain how this can help your property stay safe from the hidden threats that rainy weather brings.

What Are Rain Gutters?

Rain gutters act as a mode of transportation for the water that falls onto your roof. Most homes will have a roof that’s made up of sloping elements, allowing gravity to do most of the work.

However, without gutters in place, the rain reaches the edge of the roof and falls straight down — directly in front of your home where your walls meet the soil.

Gutters are your way to control this. Part of the gutter system is installed directly under the edge of your roof to catch the falling water.

Once the water has been caught, it will move down your gutters and flow into the downspout.

At the end is an angled section of pipe, responsible for depositing the water away from your foundation’s direct edge.

How Does Gutter Drainage Protect Your Foundation?

Think of your rain gutter as a slide on a playground — just like a slide needs to jut out to ensure a safe ride, your gutter needs to curve away from the house to effectively redirect water. Without this curve, water won’t be safely guided away from your home’s foundation.

Imagine sliding straight down a slide at the playground — the impact would be immediate and potentially harmful. Similarly, when water flows straight down without a properly curved gutter, it can slowly cause damage to your home’s foundation over time.

Gutters are specifically designed to channel water away from the foundation, preventing issues like mold growth, foundation shifts and cracks in your property. Ensuring your gutters have the necessary curve is crucial for protecting your home from water damage and maintaining its structural integrity.

Prevent Foundation Damage With Gutter Installation

Prevent the powerful force of water from wearing away at your foundation or encouraging deterioration by installing gutters. Gutters come in several materials and finishes, allowing you to choose the most durable and aesthetically pleasing to your home’s style. They can be connected to other drainage solutions as well, ensuring the rain water that falls on your home is channeled away effectively.

If your gutters are a little worse for wear, it’s time to replace them with a new set. Our team will carefully remove the damaged or aging gutter system and install a brand new set, ensuring your home is ready to weather the worst Texas thunderstorms without damage to your home or foundation!

Schedule Your Service With Gutter Installers From G.L. Hunt

At G.L. Hunt, we’ve served Texas homes for over three decades. We understand the risks your foundation faces as well as the benefits a rain gutter can provide. To help your home stay safe, we’re here to install or replace gutter systems on your property.

When you work with us, you can count on our team to provide the following:

  • Skilled service — This isn’t our first time installing gutters! When we arrive at your home, you can trust that we can set up your system properly.
  • Careful and thorough work — Errors in installation result in problems for your home, but you can trust that our team will pay close attention throughout the process to ensure a job well done.
  • Transparent communication — We value our customers, which is why we always strive to provide respectful and honest communication that leaves you feeling confident in our service.

Gutters are an important part of your home, so don’t take risks with your installation. Instead, contact G.L. Hunt — a team you know you can trust — to perform high-quality service.

Close-up of a metal gutter guard installed on a roof edge to prevent debris buildup

Maintain Proper Care Of Your Gutters

Following a professional gutter install, you should expect your system to work properly! However, as time goes on, it’s not uncommon for the quality of your gutters to decline. Luckily, our team is here to keep your home protected by installing LeafGuard!

It’s not just rain that slides into your gutters. It can also be twigs, leaves or anything else that falls onto your roof. This debris can accumulate in your pipes and form blockages. As a result, water can’t be efficiently expelled from your pipe.

It might overflow from the channel and fall directly against your foundation from overhead. When this happens over and over, homeowners may feel frustrated by how often they have to clear the clogs. LeafGuard systems can significantly lower the frequency that homeowners are required to clean debris out of their gutters. LeafGuard prevents more leaves and twigs from entering the top of the gutters, but allows water to flow smoothly. If you’re interested in LeafGuard installation, let our team know!

Contact G.L. Hunt For Your Home’s Gutter Installation Services

What may seem like a minor issue can result in Texas-sized problems if you don’t address them. That’s why our team at G.L. Hunt encourages homeowners to get ahead of foundation problems with proactive gutter installations.

Our team can provide this service with ease, so reach out when you’re ready to schedule your appointment!

FAQs

What Are Gutters For?

Gutters play a vital role in protecting your home by channeling rainwater away from the roof and foundation. Without them, water runoff can collect at the base of your home, causing:

  • Soil erosion around the perimeter
  • Cracks or weakening of the foundation
  • Basement or crawl space flooding
  • Damage to landscaping and walkways
  • Mold or mildew growth from moisture seepage

Installed just below the edge of the roof, gutters capture rainfall and direct it through a downspout, where it’s released a safe distance away from your home. This system ensures proper drainage, reduces splashback against siding or windows, and prevents water from pooling near your home’s base, which is especially important in areas with expansive clay soil like much of Texas.

By managing rainwater effectively, gutters extend the life of your siding, roofing and foundation — while also reducing puddles and slippery surfaces around your property.

How Often Do Homeowners Need To Clean Their Gutters?

Gutter maintenance depends on seasonal conditions and your surrounding landscape, but most homeowners should aim to clean their gutters at least twice a year — ideally in spring and fall.

Here’s why those times matter:

  • Fall: Leaves, pine needles, and twigs shed from trees and quickly clog gutters, especially after a windy day.
  • Spring: Trees bloom and shed debris like seed pods or blossoms, which can also block proper water flow.

In areas with heavy rainstorms, like Texas during spring or early summer, more frequent cleanings may be needed — especially if overhanging trees are near your roof. Signs you may need an extra cleaning include:

  • Overflowing water during rain
  • Sagging or detached gutters
  • Visible plant growth or nesting debris
  • Water pooling near the home’s foundation

Routine inspection and cleaning help extend the life of your gutter system and prevent costly water damage.

What Is An Exterior Drain?

An exterior drain is an outdoor drainage solution designed to remove excess surface water from your yard, landscaping or paved areas. These systems are commonly seen in areas prone to pooling, such as:

  • Near downspouts
  • Patios and walkways
  • Driveways
  • Low-lying lawn areas

Typically, these systems consist of surface-level grates that allow rainwater to enter and flow into a network of underground pipes. From there, the water is directed away from your home and into a designated drainage area like a storm drain, swale or dry well.

Exterior drains help:

  • Prevent erosion and standing water
  • Protect home foundations from saturation
  • Maintain healthy landscaping and lawn conditions

Compared to passive runoff, exterior drains move water away more efficiently, making them a popular choice for properties with poor natural drainage.

What Is A French Drain?

A French drain is a highly effective and discreet system used to manage water drainage in yards and around foundations. It’s ideal for homes in Texas, where heavy rains and expansive clay soil can lead to oversaturation and foundation stress.

Here’s how it works:

  • A perforated pipe is placed in a sloped trench dug beneath the soil surface.
  • The pipe is surrounded by gravel or rock to help water filter down.
  • A water-permeable fabric surrounds the system to block soil and debris from entering the pipe.
  • As water soaks into the ground, it flows into the pipe and is carried away from the property to a drainage outlet.

French drains are subtle — often covered with sod or decorative gravel — and they prevent standing water, reduce hydrostatic pressure near the foundation, and help keep crawl spaces or basements dry.

How Do You Unclog An Exterior French Drain?

Because French drains are buried underground, clogs can be more difficult to detect and fix compared to surface drains. Clogs usually occur due to:

  • Soil buildup
  • Root intrusion
  • Sediment accumulation from unfiltered runoff

Here’s how to address a clog:

  • Inspect the outlet end of the drain (often near the edge of the yard or street) to check for visible blockages.
  • Use a drain snake or auger to break up any clogs inside the pipe.
  • Flush with a hose or pressure washer to help move sediment and debris through the system.

For stubborn or deep clogs, it’s best to contact a professional. At G.L. Hunt, our team uses advanced tools like video inspections and hydro jetting equipment to locate and safely remove clogs — all without damaging your yard or pipe system. Timely maintenance can restore the drain’s performance and protect your property from water damage.

Why Are Proper Drainage And Gutters So Important For My Foundation?

Your home’s foundation depends on consistent, balanced moisture levels in the soil surrounding it. Without proper drainage or functioning gutters, water can pool around the base of your home, leading to serious structural issues. In areas with expansive clay soil — like much of Texas — the risks are even higher.

Here’s why water management matters:

  • Excess moisture causes soil to expand, pushing against the foundation and potentially leading to cracks, shifting, or heaving.
  • Dry conditions cause the soil to shrink, creating voids under the foundation that can lead to settling.
  • Cycles of wet and dry soil put your foundation under constant stress, weakening its structural integrity over time.

Gutters and drainage systems redirect water away from your foundation, maintaining stable soil conditions and preventing erosion, mold growth and long-term foundation damage. They are your first line of defense in preserving your home’s stability and value.

How Do I Know If My Gutters Are Contributing To Foundation Problems?

Gutters are meant to protect your foundation — but if they’re clogged, poorly installed or discharging water too close to the house, they can do more harm than good.

Here are warning signs your gutters may be part of the problem:

  • Overflowing water during rainstorms
  • Downspouts that end near the foundation (within 3 feet of the house)
  • Standing water or muddy patches near the base of your home
  • Erosion or gullies in flower beds or mulch
  • Cracks in the foundation or walls, particularly after heavy rains
  • Sagging gutters or detached sections that allow uncontrolled runoff

If you notice these signs, it’s time to inspect and clean your gutters, extend your downspouts or consider a more robust drainage solution. Left unchecked, improper water flow can accelerate foundation deterioration.

Can I Just Add Soil Around My House Instead Of Installing Drains?

Adding soil around your foundation can offer a short-term improvement in grading, but it’s not a substitute for a proper drainage system. Here’s why:

  • Soil alone cannot manage heavy rain runoff — without a way to redirect water, it will still accumulate near the foundation.
  • Over time, added soil compacts and erodes, especially during Texas storms, leaving your foundation exposed again.
  • Without controlling water flow, you risk moisture intrusion, soil expansion and future erosion, even if the slope looks good temporarily.

While regrading is part of a comprehensive water management strategy, it’s most effective when paired with gutters, downspout extensions, French drains or surface drains. The goal isn’t just to move water away — it’s to keep it from returning.

Where Should Drainage Pipes Discharge?

Drainage pipes should always discharge at a safe distance from your foundation and in a location that won’t cause water to flow back toward your home or affect neighboring properties.

Best practices include:

  • At least 5–10 feet away from the foundation (more if possible)
  • Into storm drains, dry wells or grassy swales that promote safe absorption
  • Sloped downward to encourage gravity-assisted water flow
  • Never into areas with poor soil absorption or where water will pool and stagnate

In some municipalities, there may be regulations on where and how drainage can be discharged, so it’s important to work with a contractor familiar with local building codes.

At G.L. Hunt, we design custom drainage systems that are both effective and compliant — ensuring that your foundation is protected without compromising your landscaping or local infrastructure.

Will Fixing My Drainage And Gutters Solve My Existing Foundation Problems?

Fixing drainage and gutters is a crucial step in protecting your foundation, but it may not reverse existing structural damage. Instead, it:

  • Stops the root cause of foundation deterioration (excess water and soil movement)
  • Prevents further damage from occurring over time
  • Improves conditions for additional foundation repairs to last longer

If your foundation has already settled, cracked or shifted, you’ll likely need both:

  • Foundation repair (e.g., piers, leveling, crack sealing)
  • Drainage and gutter upgrades to prevent recurrence

At G.L. Hunt, we provide comprehensive assessments that look at both structural damage and the underlying moisture issues — offering a full solution to protect your home long term.

Who Should I Call To Assess My Drainage Needs For Foundation Protection?

You should call a foundation and drainage specialist — not just a landscaper or roofer — when it comes to protecting your foundation. These professionals understand how soil, water and structural systems interact and can design targeted solutions.

Look for companies that:

  • Offer foundation and drainage assessments together
  • Have experience with Texas-specific soil conditions
  • Provide custom solutions like French drains, surface drains, sump pumps and downspout extensions

At G.L. Hunt, our experts specialize in integrated foundation and drainage solutions. We evaluate the full picture — from surface runoff to subsurface water pressure — and tailor repairs to protect your home’s stability, comfort and value.

Get Your Free Estimate Today!

Our team values honest and transparent communication, and that extends to our pricing. Contact our experts to get your free estimate today!

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