On a home inspection in Emporium, PA, I discovered a good example of why home gutters are a good investment on your home. This 1962 home had no gutters and a roof valley which channeled a large amount of rain water into one corner of the structure. The result was structural damage to the foundation from the freezing and thawing process of all that rain water pooling near the foundation. The foundation had cracked and caused the entire wall to deflect inward a 1/2 inch.
