Like so many other important elements of our home or office’s infrastructure, rain gutters and their origins are often taken for granted. Performing the trivial but necessary job of channeling rainwater away from a building to the appropriate drainage area, gutters are probably not something that you think of. However, if you take a closer look, you will find that gutters actually have an incredibly rich history that played an instrumental role in mankind’s progression to modernity.
The story of rain gutters, as far as we know begins in the Indus Valley between 3000 BC and 1500 BC. By constructing bricks made out of burnt clay, this ancient system was the first, on record, to create gutters that channel water to a desired location.
Fast forward a couple hundred years (27 BC – 14 AD), and we see some primitive forms of guttering being installed by the Romans. However, it wasn’t until 47 AD, when an evolution in architecture introduced stone roofs and parapets in Britain that humanity saw the first major innovations in guttering—which came in the form of gargoyles.
The next major leap came in the early 1700s, when cast iron became more accessible — previously, rain gutters had been made from lead. Towards the end of the century we see the arrival of the wooden V-shaped gutter which was installed in wealthier homes due to its more aesthetically pleasing nature.
Moving into the 20th century two major technologies revolutionized rain gutters into what they are today: metal rolling machines, which led to half-round steel gutters, and then, the seamless aluminum gutter machine, which was stronger and higher and continues to be the dominant metal used in cutting today.
Now that you know a bit more about the history of the ever-important rain gutters, you better make sure that you get them cleaned so that they can do their job. Otherwise, debris will accumulate, clogging them — ultimately rendering them useless or even destroying them.
Not sure how to clean them yourself? Unable to reach the higher spots? Give us a call at Primetime Window Cleaning! We provide services for business and residential customers alike all around Chicago and have all the expertise and resources necessary to make your gutters clean. If you have any questions about the services provided by Primetime Window Cleaning and are interested in a free quote please click here: Request Quote