The whole point of your gutter system is to collect rainwater from your roof and direct it away from the foundation of your home. However, if your downspouts aren’t long enough, then they will deposit the water too close to your home, where it can damage your foundation, landscaping and other parts of your home. Gutter downspouts should extend a minimum of four feet away from the house; however, they may need to extend much further depending on your soil, the slope of your house and local buildings codes. Here’s what you need to know to determine if your gutter extenders are far enough away from your home.

Soil Quality

The more clay-like your soil, the shorter your gutters can be. The sandier your soil is, the longer your gutter downspouts should be. The reason is that sandy soil will absorb water quickly, so wherever your gutters deposit the water, that is exactly where it will end up. However, clay soil will repel a lot of water, so water will still naturally move further away from the downspout without the need for a very long extender.

In California, most soil is sandy enough that you’ll need a longer gutter downspout extender than in many other areas of the country. You can get your soil tested, or you can just pour a cup of water near your gutter downspouts and see how quickly the water is absorbed to get an idea of what you’re working with.

The Slope of Your Home

When planning out your gutter downspout extenders, you should consider the slope of your home. Your may need to extend them further in order to make sure that mater will make it past hills and other obstacles and drain away from your home safely. If running a downspout extender over the hill doesn’t look feasible, you can also dig a trench into the hill, place the downspout, and then cover it back up. Just be sure the downspout drains on the other side.

 

Your Building Codes

Your building codes may have guidance for how long your gutter downspouts should be. In areas that deal with frequent or severe rains, or unusual soil conditions, or local erosion problems, the building codes may require something unique. For example, some cities have big stormwater systems, and they require your gutter downspouts to connect to the system directly so that all the stormwater ends up where it should.

It’s always wise to confirm with your building codes before you make changes to your gutter or other parts of your roof or home.

Factors Other Than Gutter Length

If you have water problems around your foundation or property, adding more length to your gutters isn’t the only potential solution. Sometimes it is wiser to add gravel beneath the gutters or a pan that can spread out the water and make it easier for the water to be absorbed properly.

Your roofing professionals can help you determine what your gutter system needs to drain water properly.