Questions tagged [gutters]

A channel at the eaves or on the roof of a building, for carrying off rain water.

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140 votes
11 answers
118k views

How to prevent heavy rainwater from jumping the gutter?

During heavy rain, the water collects from my second floor roof and runs onto the first floor roof as it should. The problem is that since all this water is now concentrated from the second floor ...
Ryan's user avatar
  • 1,383
27 votes
3 answers
5k views

Does this downspout design make sense?

I've recently started smelling a musty smell in my upstairs bedroom. The bedroom closet just happens to be where the downspout from the main roof drains onto the roof for my garage and creates a kind ...
philmonroe's user avatar
24 votes
6 answers
118k views

How do I stop the dripping noise from my gutters?

It has just recently started raining where I live, and I am new to this house. When the rain ceases and the water is dripping from the gutters through the drain, I can hear the dripping from inside ...
Jeremy White's user avatar
22 votes
3 answers
12k views

What is the safe/correct way to work on gutters? From a ladder or from the roof?

I am very comfortable working on the gutters (usually just cleaning them) from one story up by just sitting on the roof. I do this on my own home over the garage and at my parents one-story home. I ...
Freiheit's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
128k views

What are the pros and cons of installing a roof heating cable?

Had some roof work done last year after mother nature abused my house by way of an errant tree branch. I had always suspected my roof had poor ventilation, most notably when I wound up with a 200 lb ...
user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
61k views

How can I quiet a noisy downspout? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How do I stop the dripping noise from my gutters? I have metal downspouts that come down from by gutters. One of them happens to be right by my bedroom window. When the rain ...
Brh's user avatar
  • 881
12 votes
7 answers
128k views

How should I hang Christmas lights where I don't have any gutters?

I finally got around to hanging Christmas lights this year. I bought gutter clips so I wouldn't have to permanently install anything, but I just realized that I don't have gutters along a pitched ...
Doresoom's user avatar
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12 votes
6 answers
3k views

What are my gutter guard options?

As I mentioned in a prior post, I'm planning to add some gutters to my house. I see that there's wide variety of gutter guards available and was curious which ones are better? As far as I can tell,...
Mike B's user avatar
  • 8,083
9 votes
7 answers
6k views

How do I safely place an extension ladder near windows so I can clean my gutters?

I am trying to get an extension ladder in position so I can finally clean these gutters. I have a stabilizer, but it's narrower than the span of 2 windows, and I'm very uncomfortable putting the ...
Alex Launi's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
6k views

Should I replace fallen gutters?

This past winter a heavy snow fall ripped two sets of gutters off our house, and I haven't had a chance to re-hang them yet. One is over our back door and it's really annoying having the running off ...
acrosman's user avatar
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7 votes
7 answers
3k views

How to fix water missing gutter? [duplicate]

When it rains, water from the second floor downspout misses the first floor gutter on the right side and comes down the siding (as shown below). You can see the evidence (vegetation) growing to the ...
Nate's user avatar
  • 161
7 votes
4 answers
3k views

Tree growing into gutter. What's a good strategy?

I'm wondering what is a good long-lasting strategy to deal with it in a way that is respectful of the environment, i.e. the city does not allow cutting any trees.
amh's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why aren't there more PVC gutters in the U.S.?

I am originally from Europe and you do see a lot of PVC gutters in my country, especially in construction that is done on a tight budget. It seems to me PVC would be a legit material to make cheap ...
amphibient's user avatar
  • 7,489
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

Is the gutter on the side of my roof dormer necessary?

On each side of this dormer there is a small gutter which drips onto the roof and into the longer gutter and down the side of the house. If this short gutter wasn't there, wouldn't the water go to the ...
Drai's user avatar
  • 345
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

Is fiberglass showing on roof shingles an indicator of immediate repair needed?

We have a storm coming in today so I spent the day yesterday cleaning my gutters which were chocked full of debris. They also a significant amount of roof material in my gutters (my understanding is I ...
Ryan Griffith's user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
45k views

What can I do about a window well that is filling up with water from below the surface?

I have 2 covered basement window wells on the side of my house. When it rains heavily, they fill up with water from beneath the surface. There are 4 downspouts from the gutters on our roof. They run ...
Noah Finch's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
22k views

How can I close and seal an abandoned downspout opening?

I need to relocate the downspout indicated in the picture below. How do I seal the opening that will be left after I relocate it ? (I will post a separate question about how to redo the slope of the ...
MiniMe's user avatar
  • 3,402
6 votes
3 answers
6k views

Is it okay to face nail the drip edge to the fascia?

A sunroom contractor is adding a screened in deck to my house. The drip edge was not delivered before the roofer installed the roof and he said that the drip edge could be installed later by lifting ...
Evil Elf's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
2k views

How can I stabilize the footing of a ladder?

Whenever I saw a professional on a ladder, there was someone else at the foot of the ladder holding the sides of the ladder. Now that my rain gutters are frozen solid, they are creaking, and I'm ...
Sam7919's user avatar
  • 713
6 votes
3 answers
419 views

Can gutters be installed on top of shingles?

I saw the strangest thing in northern New York State in an area that gets a lot of snow. Gutters were installed on top of the roof, maybe over the 4th or 5th row of shingles up from the bottom. This ...
OrganicLawnDIY's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
7k views

How can I clean out my gutters while still on the ground?

My roof is taller than I'm comfortable getting on a ladder. I've got a couple weeds/trees starting to grow in them. Is there a tool that would somehow let me scrape or use water-pressure to clean the ...
Jeffrey's user avatar
  • 314
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

How can I waterproof a hole in my vinyl deck to fit a downspout?

I am wondering if anyone might have some suggestions on solving this drainage issue with our vinyl deck. We used to have 2 separate decks but upon rebuild we have them joined with a narrow walkway. ...
nnamerz's user avatar
  • 313
5 votes
9 answers
11k views

How can I wrap a downspout around a corner into a rain barrel?

I am looking to get a new patio put in my back yard, and my local township laws require use of rain barrels if you have over a certain amount of impervious surfaces on your property. I have this ...
Timothy G.'s user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
37k views

How do I fix gutter nails that are coming out?

Many houses in my neighborhood are about 5 years old and are experiencing similar problems with their gutters. The nails holding them up are pulling out little by little. A couple homeowners had ...
spoulson's user avatar
  • 865
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is this foam in my downspout for? Can I get rid of it?

When we had our house's gutters and downspouts replaced a little while ago, the installer discovered that the bottom (end toward the ground) of one of the old downspouts was clogged with the black and ...
Michael Ratanapintha's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
51k views

How can I prevent water from getting behind the gutter?

A friend of mine is having a water problem; the water is coming down behind the gutter. It turns out the drip edge isn't covering up the gutter completely on the one side for a considerable length of ...
Brian Mains's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
12k views

Adding an eaves drip edge to an existing roof installation

There is some water dripping behind the gutter, and I am thinking of installing a drip edge. From what I read a drip edge is installed under the ice water shield at the eaves. The ice water shield ...
Jimmy's user avatar
  • 299
5 votes
1 answer
335 views

How can I repair an underground gutter drain pipe broken at the face of a concrete slab?

I can't use couplers because there's cement around the pvc pipes. Its cracked right to the curb. How do I fix it?
Bryan's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
3 answers
34k views

Prevent water from overshooting gutter at corner roof valley?

I have a large, steep roof section (~400sqft) connected by a long ~20' valley. During heavy rainstorms, the majority of the draining water completely overshoots the gutter, landing near the ...
glenviewjeff's user avatar
  • 1,450
5 votes
2 answers
12k views

How do I repair/reattach downspout and gutter after snow/ice damage?

We've had a heavy dose of snow here in the Boston area it has taken a toll on our gutters and downspouts. The downspout at the rear of my house filled with ice and pulled away from the elbow that ...
Shimon Rura's user avatar
  • 8,232
4 votes
3 answers
28k views

What is the max distance between top of gutter and the roof tiles?

I am about to replace my gutters, one guide I have read say the gutter should never be more then 30mm below the bottom of the roof tiles, another says 50mm. What is the reason for this? What is a ...
Walker's user avatar
  • 6,219
4 votes
3 answers
678 views

Is there gutter around this sunroom?

This sunroom is interesting because: The long edge attached to the house is lower below the gutter. Then it has multiple edges with a pointed top (cathedral?). How does the water run off? ...
HP.'s user avatar
  • 1,862
4 votes
2 answers
8k views

How much drainage pipe should I bury for a new downspout?

I've installed a new downspout to drain a section of gutter that was getting overloaded during heavy storms. The rest of the downspouts all terminate in corrugated black tubing that's buried in the ...
Adam Wuerl's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
3k views

How to fix drainage from gutters?

I have two drains on the side of my house that have been filled in and no longer properly drain. I know they dont go anywhere because I just finished trying to unclog them with a rented drainage snake ...
OnlyHumain's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

How do I flash a roof valley into a nearby gutter?

The following roof valley bypasses the gutter and spills too much water over the adjacent roof overhang. I figure a bent piece of aluminum flashing installed appropriately could divert the valley ...
feetwet's user avatar
  • 2,637
4 votes
1 answer
7k views

Connecting downspout to first floor gutter

I am looking to connect my second floor downspout to the first floor gutter. In any sort of wind, the water misses the gutter completely and makes a big mess. I found the thread here very helpful ...
AugustLindholm's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

What are some good downspout options for a brick house?

I need to replace the gutters and downspouts on my house, and I'd like to know the best approach. The house is 100 year-old clay brick house. The old gutters were aluminum and used downspouts that ...
acrosman's user avatar
  • 1,619
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are the pros and cons of vinyl gutters?

I need to add some gutters to part of our house and I'm seriously considering vinyl gutters because they seem REALLY easy to setup (with minimal tools required too). That being said, I've heard some ...
Mike B's user avatar
  • 8,083
3 votes
6 answers
3k views

Downspout overwhelms French drain and water enters basement-- how to fix?

There is a space of about 12" between my concrete drive and the house. 4" perforated PVC pipe is run the length of the house in this space and drains into the yard out back. The pipe is ...
LShaver's user avatar
  • 1,306
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Plastic bucket under gutter downspout

I am doing some work around my gutter downspouts and found that underneath the ones at the front of my house, someone had buried 2-gallon plastic potting containers (upside down). There was a piece ...
Jeff Widmer's user avatar
  • 8,192
3 votes
4 answers
7k views

How do I clean gutters?

I am trying to clean the gutters of my house. Is there any special ladder that I need to use to do that? Do I also need some other tools? Any reference link or pictures will be highly appreciated. I ...
Asdfg's user avatar
  • 567
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Should I install a gutter above my garage door?

Should gutters be placed above the garage door? I have a roof that peaks like a mountain (hip?). Most houses I see have gutters around the house but the roof above garage is largely ignored. I will be ...
Engineer2021's user avatar
  • 3,295
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Uneven / open drip edges after siding and fascia replacement

I recently had my siding replaced, which included all fascia, flashing, etc, and new gutters. I notice that the drip edge is no longer securely against the gutters or fascia. In some cases, it seems ...
negacao's user avatar
  • 840
3 votes
2 answers
199 views

Superior option for gutters/downspouts?

I am looking at replacing a downspout and possibly some gutters. Currently I have the usual rectangular white aluminum downspouts and gutters. My concern with those is that they have limited capacity,...
Tyler Durden's user avatar
  • 6,889
3 votes
4 answers
20k views

Allow downspout discharge to cross a sidewalk in a freezing climate?

I have two downspouts whose discharge I need to get past a sidewalk. Currently for each gutter, corrugated tubing is run underground, under the sidewalk, for approximately 20 feet where it discharges ...
Luke Z's user avatar
  • 570
3 votes
2 answers
807 views

Is caulk a good temporary fix for a gash in fascia board?

I was helping a friend with her house, and it turns out there is a pretty sizable gash in her fascia board right above where the gutter is nailed on. It's oval-ish, about 6 to 8 inches wide by 2 to 4 ...
Brian Mains's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Gusher Guard for Roof?

I do not have gutters but the water does gush off of the roof in front of my front door when it rains. Where can I find something like a gusher guard that I can attach to the roof?
Engineer2021's user avatar
  • 3,295
3 votes
1 answer
123 views

Maximum length of a rain chain

Can I hang a rain chain with cups from a gutter on a two story house? Will it get too heavy when it rains?
Helen's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
2 answers
5k views

How should I put a gutter downspout on a corner of my house surrounded by pavement?

I'd like to install gutters on my house to direct water away from the foundation, but one front corner is surrounded by driveway on one side and a paved walkway on the other curving back to the front ...
MPR's user avatar
  • 55
3 votes
1 answer
24k views

Switching downspouts to the other end of a gutter

What kind of accessories are available for switching the downspouts to the other end of the gutter? I'm not as concerned about the downspouts themselves as much as the connection to the gutter. I'm ...
Mike Cole's user avatar
  • 341

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