elbow – a bent piece of pipe which goes on the end of a downspout. The elbow can either be at the top of the downspout to join the gutter opening to the downspout opening, or placed on the bottom of the downspout to direct water away from the home's foundation.
Use Splash Blocks at the End of Downspouts
Splash blocks help to protect your lawn from damage as water flows out of the gutter drainage system. They connect to the bottom of your gutters and collect water that would otherwise pool at your home's foundation.
Downspout Elbows are attached at the bottom of the downspout. They are set at an angle so the water is directed away from the home. Elbows can also be used throughout the downspout to make it around corners, bump outs, and any other obstacles in the way of the downspout.
End Caps. Gutters are just long, hollow tubes that need stoppers at each end. End caps serve as this barrier at the sides of a gutter piece, forcing the water down the only available paths, the downspouts.
The Materials Needed to Connect Downspouts to Gutters
Whether you're a DIYer, a professional contractor or hiring a professional contractor, installing a gutter downspout requires a few different materials. These materials include downspout elbows, downspout outlets and downspout straps/pipe bands.
Your downspout drain is designed to move rainwater 7 to 10 feet away from your home and into a sewer or storm drainage system. Many homes have their downspout drain underground so pipes aren't visibly cutting across their yards, often 10 to 100 feet long.
Alternatively a downspout may lead to a sewer, a runoff water drain or a seepway to allow the water to soak into the ground through seepage. Decorative heads are sometimes added, these being low-height gargoyles.
The gutter and downspout connect just above the fascia board—the piece of wood that sits between the bottom of the roof and the top of the gutters. Without a downspout, the fascia board will be the first part of your home to suffer from water damage.
Ferrules are used as a spacers over the gutter screw or gutter spike to assure correct gutter width. If replacing spikes with screws your existing ferrules may be reused if in good condition. Screws May Be Purchased But Are Not Included.
Soffit is a large aluminum plate with small perforated holes installed under the outside edge of the roof, under the gutter. It has several functions: it protects, it is aesthetic and it allows ventilating the attic.
Shoe – this is fitted at the end of a downpipe to direct the water flow into a drain or gully. Also known as a spout, it is basically a truncated pipe bend that diverts the water away from the wall to prevent it from seeping into the property's foundations.
Downspouts carry the water to the ground. Water on the street flows downhill into street gutters, the place where the sidewalk and the street meet. Street gutters carry water to storm drains that let water fall beneath the street.
Choose the Right Downspout Straps or Clips
Downspout straps and clips, which hold the pipe in place against your brick, come in different shapes and materials. Straps are usually thin and malleable sheets of metal. Clips, which are similar to gutter hangers, are either made from plastic or metal.
The water redirected from downspout tails can make parts of your lawn very wet and muddy. In addition, they just don't look very aesthetically pleasing. Burying your downspouts gives you the power to choose which part of your property receives the rainwater and increases the curb appeal of your home overall.
Description: Scuppers are used to provide an outlet through parapet walls or gravel stops on flat and built-up roofs to allow drainage of excess water. They can be used in conjunction with gutters and downspouts to divert the flow to the desired location.
Flange Back Gutters are a revolutionary gutter system, allowing you to control water flow and eliminate the possibility of water sneaking behind the gutter if the tube freezes in the winter. View fullsize. If the tube was to clog then the water would either back up onto the roof or would overflow towards the front.
The Spike & Ferrule is a traditionally economical way to hang K-style gutters. The spike is installed first through the top lip of the gutter, then through the Ferrule which sits inside the gutter, and finally through the fascia board.
Connect downspout to gutter. Secure the downspout outlet to the gutter with four pop rivets or screws. Screw a downspout elbow to the outlet tube protruding down from the gutter. Hold another elbow against the house and cut a piece of downspout to fit between the two elbows.
The vertical positioning of the downspout uses gravity to move water away from the foundation. The most common feature at the end of the downspout is a curved joint that often drains into a plastic or concrete form that runs the water further from the home.
The gutter downspout is the vertical pipe attachment that moves water out of your gutters and away from your building to empty safely into a separate drainage system.
The goal of the downspout is to assist the gutters. The gutters direct water away from your home, and the downspout carries it out and away from your home's foundation. They are an integral part to keeping your home free from water damage.