Frequently Asked Questions About Downspouts And Gutters

Weather, time, and various environmental factors can take a serious toll on gutters and downspouts. If you’re considering installing a new roof, or your home’s gutters and downspouts are looking worse for wear, then you might have a few questions that you’ve never thought of previously. At Fairview Home Improvement, we’re here to help you love the house you’re in, and part of that is making sure that the infrastructure is working well and doing its job. Let’s get into some common questions we field about gutters and downspouts.

What Is The Difference Between Downspouts and Gutters?

Gutters are the narrow trough-like channels that edge your home’s roof. They are designed to catch rainwater that runs off of the roof and use vertical pipes called downspouts to contain and divert the water they catch. This is a simple function, but it is fundamental to preserving your home’s integrity. Water is very damaging if it gets where it doesn’t belong, such as structural elements or your home’s foundation. 

Why Do You Need Gutters And Downspouts?

The answer might feel obvious, and we can easily take for granted that a house should have gutters and downspouts, but what functions or roles do they really serve?

Without a proper water catchment and diversion system, you’d have to deal with erosion, moisture penetration, basement flooding, and likely mold issues as well. Erosion is especially a concern for homes on sloped properties. Excess amounts of water sitting in landscaped areas could be detrimental to plantings and to the stability of your home and other property. It would also be very inconvenient to enter and exit your home during a rainstorm without gutters and downspouts. Your home can also sustain exterior and facade damage without protection against rainwater.

How Many Downspouts Should A Roof Have?

A question you likely don’t consider until it’s time to replace them is, 'How often should gutters have downspouts?’ There is a common rule of thumb here, and it is that there should be a downspout for every 20-40’ of gutter length, with some experts leaning to one end or the other of this spectrum. There are, of course, many variables at play that could impact the ideal distance for your home. 

Factors that impact how many downspouts a roof should have include total roof size, the roof’s pitch, the intensity, regularity and duration of typical rainfall, and the capacity of your home’s gutters. These factors can all be assigned numbers and used to find the best size of gutter, and the ideal length between downspouts. Local or national weather authorities will have records on the amount of rain you can expect seasonally, and local Cleveland home improvement specialists, like those at Fairview Home Improvement, are also likely to know rough estimates of rainfall in your area. Professional installers can also help you to determine the ideal size of gutters and downspouts for your home.

How Far Away From The House Should Downspouts Be?

This is a hotly debated and contested topic. Much like anything else, there is a wide range of answers, from a standard 3’ or 4’ to a cautious 20’. Knowing your property is vital here. You need to understand the type of soil you have, the various elevations on your property, if there are areas where water tends to pool, and if drainage is an ongoing issue. Thicker, clay-rich soils can hold a lot of water but they are also naturally more stable, whereas sandy soils can more easily be eroded by running water. Beyond physical factors, local building codes will also help you to determine the ideal length to extend your home’s downspouts.

Also at play is where you live. Those within city or suburb limits will often have downspouts that run directly underground and tap into the city’s stormwater system. On the other hand, those who are in more rural areas and perhaps have wells for their primary water source do not have access to the same sort of infrastructure. They will need to create a water diversion system for themselves. This could have been implemented at the time a home was built, or it may have been left for a later project. 

Whatever the case, there are some key factors that come into play when deciding how far away from the house the downspouts should be. The majority of the length of downspouts are typically right up against the home’s exterior. Once you reach the bottom, you will see different ways of managing the water runoff. They may go straight down into buried, underground piping that then carries the water away from the home. It could then be deposited underground or above ground. 

If you are seeing pooling water, soil or substrate erosion, or visible damage to your home’s facade or foundation, then something in your gutter and downspout setup needs to be addressed.

Do Downspouts Need To Be Buried?

The answer is, as with almost everything else here, it depends. If you live in an area where your downspouts are tied in directly with the city’s stormwater collection system, then yes, they will be buried. Otherwise, should downspouts go underground? If you created your own rainwater diversion system with underground piping, then you’d also extend your home’s downspouts underground. However, many homeowners choose to simply extend the downspout away from the home so that water drains off naturally. Using a splash block, bed of gravel or rock, or creating a dry river bed, especially for the purpose of absorbing and slowing water runoff, are viable options. As a rule, buried downspouts should extend further than above-ground drainage solutions, since there is a higher likelihood of water retention and a greater potential for property damage.

Do Downspouts Need To Be Replaced?

As with everything that is used to craft your home, the materials used to create downspouts and gutters do have typical lifespans. It may be time to start thinking about downspout replacement if you see visible damage, like cracks, holes, or rust spots, or if the downspouts are starting to detach from gutters. Another reason to think about downspout replacement is if they are not able to manage your area’s typical rainfall levels. Overabundance of rain can back up in the downspouts and cause gutters to overflow, leading to foundation damage and erosion.

It’s a good idea to regularly inspect both gutters and downspouts for signs of damage, wear and tear, especially around any seams and following major weather events. Replacement is generally a better solution than repair, as the constant exposure to the elements and extremes in temperature can quickly degrade patches and adhesives. In general, you can expect your home’s aluminum downspouts to last roughly 20 years. Ideal conditions could extend that estimate, and rough weather, impact and damage could shorten it. Regular cleaning, debris removal, and addressing minor damage right away can help to prolong the life of your home’s downspouts.

Your Cleveland Home Improvement And Roofing Experts

Fairview Home Improvement has a variety of gutter and downspout products available, along with an array of the highest quality shingle roofing options around. Whether you are in need of an entry door installation for your Cleveland home, are looking for patio enclosures in Cleveland, or need replacement windows or vinyl siding, you’ve found the right team for the job. Contact your local Cleveland home improvement experts and get started on your next project today!