Frequently Asked Questions About Gutters
Should gutters be level or sloped?
Gutters should have a slight slope toward the downspouts so rainwater can drain properly. They shouldn’t look noticeably crooked from the ground, though. A properly installed gutter has just enough pitch to keep water moving without affecting the appearance of the roofline. Gutters that are too level can hold standing water, while too much slope can make them look uneven and cause water to move too quickly toward one end.
What is the rain gutter installation process?
First, we measure to determine the length of rain gutters needed to cover the roofline. Next, we affix the rain gutters to the roofline using hangers or another compatible hardware. To ensure that the water flows the correct direction, rain gutters are slightly sloped to direct the water toward the downspouts. Downspout placement is done to allow for the water to exit the downspouts away from the side of the house. With seamless gutters, we fabricate long sections based on the measurements of the home, resulting in fewer joins and potential leak points.
Can metal roofs have gutters?
Gutters can certainly be added to metal roofs. Fast/faster rushing water from a downpour will require placement and sizing considerations for the gutters to prevent water from flowing over the gutters.
What considerations for placement of gutters should be considered with the presence of a drip edge?
For a drip edge, placement of the gutter should be such that the water flows off the drip edge directly into the gutter, instead of letting the water go behind the gutter and run down the roof. For proper placement, we evaluate the roof and the drip edge. The drip edge and gutter systems are designed to move water away from the roof and the side of the house.
How should gutters be placed on houses?
Gutters are placed directly beneath the edge of the roof to capture water runoff in the most optimal position. Downspouts matter too. We evaluate the location where roof water drainage presents the greatest concern of water damage to the property. We examine roof valleys and larger roof sections in particular, as these can send a lot of water into a relatively small area.
What is a correctly installed gutter system?
Properly installed gutter systems appear flush to the roof line and fairly level. However, in actuality, properly installed gutters have a slight pitch toward the downspouts. Gutters are installed securely to the fascia board without causing sagging or gaps. During a rain event, water flows into the gutters, and without any overflow or leakage, directs toward the downspouts and discharges away from the home.
Can gutters be installed on angled fascia?
Absolutely. Houses with angled or sloped fascia can still have gutters. Gutters are usually installed with additional hardware, so they remain in the correct position for drainage with respect to the angle of the fascia.
Can I Install Gutters if I Don’t Have a Fascia Board?
Without a traditional fascia board, gutters can still be installed. Gutters can be hung with special gutter hangers or with a different type of roof mount as long as there is an alternative mounting surface on the roof. Which method is used is dependent on the overall construction of the roof and the eaves.
How are downspouts connected to gutters?
Downspouts are connected to outlets, elbows, and sections of downspout located in the bottom of gutters. They are installed in locations that can handle the water collected by the gutter and route it to the ground safely. Water can be discharged to the ground by installing an extension. They also can be connected to another drainage system. The proper placement of downspouts is critical because a good gutter system will not work as intended if downspouts are not present or not installed in the proper locations.
Can gutter downspouts drain underground?
Downspouts can drain to underground pipes as long as they are connected. This can be useful when surface connections aren’t usable or to preserve the aesthetic of your property. An underground drainage pipe should be oriented correctly to have a discharge point that is not too close to the foundation.
Do I Need Front of House Gutters?
It depends on the style of your roof and where the rainwater is going. If the rainwater is hitting your walkway, landscaping, or other areas that are close to the foundation, gutters are a good idea. Some roofs require gutters all around the perimeter and some require gutters in particular sections. We see how rain water flows off the roof to determine the best location for gutters on a roof.
How do gutters handle the water from roof valleys?
Water flows through roof valley gutters much faster due to the volume of rain that flows through a roof valley in a short period of time; therefore, gutter systems need to be designed to take this rapid flow of water without water overflowing out of gutters. This is where the design of the gutter system and adjustments to the placement of the gutter and downspout systems come into play to control the flow of water delivered by roof valleys.
Can gutters and downspouts be concealed?
From an esthetic standpoint, gutters can be designed and placed to minimize their visibility. Painting gutters to match the roof is an easy way to lessen the visibility of gutters. Strategy placement of downspouts to less visible areas (i.e. corners, sides) of a house can also mask the appearance of downspouts. Concealed gutter systems are available, though reserve for custom homes. Most homeowners follow the strategy of selecting a gutter system that provides adequate drainage and paint color that lessens the visibility.
How many downspouts do houses usually have?
It depends . The length and size of gutters, roof size, pitch, amount of rainwater that needs to be managed, etc. One good rule of thumb is that longer runs of gutters require more downspouts. Think about the climate you live in – Florida experiences a lot of rain. If no downspouts are present, how is the water getting removed? I’d say a lot of them.
Why are my gutters leaking at the seams?
The sealant deteriorates on most gutters over time. It also makes sense that sections of gutters would shift. Seamless gutters are preferred, but eventually all the seams in a system will leak, requiring maintenance or replacement. If your seams start leaking, it’s probably time to replace.
Should a gutter that has been damaged be replaced or repaired?
This is a judgment call based on the amount of damage. If a leak, loose section, damaged hanger, or minor misalignment is noted, then repair may be the most cost effective route. If gutters are badly bent, pulling away from the house, leaking extensively, or have reached the end of their service life, then replacement is the only effective option. We view the complete state of the gutters to make this recommendation.
Why is water overflowing from my gutters?
There can be a variety of reasons why your gutters are overflowing. Maybe the gutters themselves are not large enough for the amount of water runoff, maybe your downspouts aren’t enough, maybe your gutters themselves are badly pitched. Maybe one of your roof valleys is accumulating too much water and directing it into one area. The reason can’t be known unless you have an idea of what you suspect is causing the problem.
Why does water leak back behind my gutters?
If water is running behind your gutters then it’s not making it to the gutters and is getting in-between the roof edge and the back of the gutters. This can be caused by poor gutter placement, the roof edge is improperly drip edged, the gutters are loose, or there are other issues with the roof. It should be corrected to prevent water from the gutters consistently leaking behind and damaging your roof’s fascia.
Why is water getting behind my gutter system?
Water can get behind the gutter system by poor placement of the gutter, an issue with the drip edge or flashing, or a gutter system that has pulled away from the fascia over time. This should be checked before attempting to seal the gap because simply sealing the gap is a temporary solution and does not address the root of the leak.
What are hidden gutter hangers?
Hidden gutter hangers keep gutters attached behind the fascia, keeping a clean appearance compared to the older methods of attaching gutters externally. Hidden gutter hangers help support the weight of the gutters evenly along the roofline.
How are gutter downspouts installed?
To install downspouts, an opening is created in the gutter to allow the water to drain. Downspouts are installed using the proper fittings and are secured to the house allowing the downspouts to be directed to an appropriate discharge point. Downspout placement and outlet locations are important because the goal is to move water anywhere from a few feet away to as far away as possible from a problem area.
Can gutters that are pitching or sagging be corrected?
In most situations, sure. As long as the gutters are in good condition we will adjust the hangers, secure any loose sections, and restore the gutters to a good slope. If the gutters are heavily damaged or if the fascia behind it has issues, then we will need to do additional work for that section.
How are seamless gutters secured to the house?
To secure seamless gutters, the hidden hangers are screwed to the fascia, and are installed out of sight after the gutter system. Hangers are placed at specific intervals along the gutter to provide support, and maintain the proper slope toward the downspout.
Do gutter guards prevent downspouts from clogging?
Gutter guards curtail downspout clogging by stopping larger items like leaves and debris from entering gutters. The less material that gathers in gutters, the less debris will collect around the downspout. The effectiveness of this system is dependent on the type of guards installed, and the type of trees and debris located on the property.
What is the cost per foot of gutter guards?
There are a number of factors that influence gutter guard cost per foot such as gutter guard material, type, size of home, roof access, if gutter guards are being installed with new gutters or added to existing gutters. Basic screen guards are often the least expensive while higher quality micro-mesh systems are usually more expensive. The measure the required gutter guard length and consider the type of protection to gain an accurate price.
How are gutter sections joined?
Sectional gutters connect by an overlapping system and sealed sections that help prevent leaks. Corners and other transition sections require a sealed joint as well. Seamless gutters have fewer connectors since long sections of gutters made be formed to fit a roofline. However, all gutters will have some sections that connect at various points along the system.
How far should downspouts extend from the house?
Downspouts should extend from the side of the house enough that water won’t pool next to the foundation. The distance there, of course, can vary depending on the overall slope of the yard, landscaping and water drainage patterns. On many sites it will be sufficient to install a downspout extension of four or five feet, though many houses require a longer extension or some sort of drainage improvement to get the water further from the house.
Can a gutter downspout connect to PVC drainage pipe?
Yes. Gutter downspouts can be connected to PVC or any other suitable underground drainage pipe using the proper adapters or fittings. This enables you to carry the rainwater from the roof further away from the house. The key is to have the correct size pipe, the right slope, and a suitable discharge point.
Is it worth getting micro mesh gutter guards?
It may be a good investment if your home has surrounding trees and you deal with smaller debris like pine needles, seeds, or shingle grit. Micro-mesh systems are rated the best in filtering debris because of their small opening size. The larger the openings the more debris filters through.
What is a Gutter End Cap and Why is it Important?
A Gutter End Cap closes the open end of a gutters run. Water otherwise pours from the side. A critical, yet small system component. End Caps need to be sealed and not allow any leakage. When water is dripping or running down the side of your house, it’s likely an end cap is not sealed, or has become loose.
Can Downspouts be connected to Underground Drainage?
Absolutely. Downspouts can be connected to underground drains that transport roof water away from the house. It can be a much better looking site than extended downspouts across the yard. The underground drainage system must be the correct size and sloped in order to contain the water and not allow it to pool.