Can a French Drain replace gutters?
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Cottage is almost 100 years old. Ice build up in winter. Never had gutters. Heavy rains cause moisture issues.1/2 half dirt and 1/2 basement, has a sump but concrete basement floor is thin and not level. Water in spring and after heavy rain. Roof is irregular on one side and over 45" on the other.
Gutters help pull water away from dropping from roof and away from the house. But French drain helps even more to pull water away from your house. However, I would have a landscape architect come and look at everything. Your yard may need to be graded away from the house. They should be able to tell you.
The French drain is a nice addition, but you definitely need gutters to direct the water away from the house. The downspouts can then be attached to the French drain, but the gutters are a must.
I agree with the other suggestions. You need both gutters and French drains. The gutters help keep the water away from the house and you can have the downspouts go out to your French drains. Good gutter installers will ensure the gutters slant toward the down spout. And a good landscape guy can make sure the French drains pick up the water and direct it away from your house. I am surprised after a100 years you don't have more foundation problems. Good luck.
gutters are used with the french drain which is an underground pipe that carries rain water to a large underground basin shaped hole, filled with rocks etc. Now, my old timer neighbor is in his late 80s and he has dug a trench along the drip line of his house and has the trench slanted so that it drains to a basin away from his house in which he has planted a thirsty shrub. The trench is not covered.