Just because you have gutters doesn’t mean you have the right gutter layout. It’s important to know where gutters go on a house so you can ensure your home is well protected. Your gutters play a crucial role in controlling water on your property and preserving your foundation. Read on to learn where your gutters should be.
Parts of a Guttering System
The two main components of a guttering system are gutters and downspouts. For simplicity’s sake, think of gutters as the horizontal components and downspouts as the vertical components. The gutters run along the roofline to collect water, and the water then flows into the downspouts. The downspouts get the water to the ground and (hopefully) direct it away from the foundation.
Where Do Gutters Go?
For most homes with pitched roofs, gutters go at the end of the slopes. They do not run along the actual pitch. Instead, they collect water at the bottom of the “ramp” formed by the roofline.
When you look at your house, the gutters should run anywhere you see a horizontal roofline. They don’t need to be on the angled parts.
Some roofs are too sloped to use traditional gutter placement. The same can be said for flat roofs that don’t control rain the same way pitched roofs do. These factors may impact where gutters go on your house.
Where Do Downspouts Go?
Downspouts run vertically on the house, usually at the ends of the gutter system. They most often run next to the corner trim on the house, and they can either be the color of the trim or the siding.
On a long run of gutters, you may need downspouts in the middle to handle the water flow. Gutters are angled slightly to encourage water to flow to the downspouts. If there are intermediate downspouts for a row of gutters, that may change the angle of the guttering.
In a standard layout though, downspouts will be at both ends of a row of gutters.
Do All Houses Need Gutters?
Most houses will benefit from having gutters. There are situations where the pitch of the roof or the placement of the house may not allow for a standard gutter layout. A French drain may be a better fit for that property. Learn more: Is It OK to Not Have Gutters?
How to Plan Your Gutter Layout
Our gutter experts know exactly where gutters should go on your home. We can create a custom gutter layout for you, including gutter guards to extend the life of your guttering. Contact Sargent Gutters & Siding at (800) 465-7460 to get started.
