Essential Gutter and Drainage Rules for Heavy Downpours
Clean gutters are only half the battle. If downspouts dump water within five feet of your foundation, basement moisture is inevitable.
The Five-Foot Discharge Rule
Surface water must be directed at least five to ten feet away from your foundation footings. Inexpensive corrugated extensions or buried PVC pop-up emitters prevent soil saturation against basement walls.
Inspecting Slope and Sagging Hangers
Gutters require a slope of at least one-quarter inch per ten feet toward the downspout. Use a level or garden hose test to ensure water does not pool in low spots, which creates mosquito breeding pools and heavy ice dams.
When Gutter Guards Make Sense (and When They Do Not)
Micro-mesh screens work wonders for pine needles and oak tassels, but they still require periodic brushing. Large perforated plastic guards often clog with roof shingle granules within two seasons.
Water management around your roofline is the number one protector of your foundation, crawlspace, and landscaping.
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