Downspouts enable water to be safely diverted away from your home, thus preventing water damage to your roof, siding, foundation, etc. That said, the correct placement of downspouts is important as it ensures water will flow and be released at a safe distance where it won’t be able to cause damage to your home.

Here’s how downspouts can affect your home and what should be considered when determining their placement.

The Impact of Downspout Placement on Your Home

When downspouts are installed in the wrong location, they won’t be able to direct water away from your home — which can lead to pooling near your basement or foundation, or even flooding in your yard. If you have plants surrounding your home, you might find them waterlogged because of the water released by your downspouts. Furthermore, standing water also provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Wrong downspout placement can also cause leaks in your basement, which can eventually result in wall cracks and mold growth. Your home’s foundation may also suffer from damage.

Basic Considerations in Downspout Placement

Roofing companies follow certain guidelines to ensure correct downspout placement. Below are some of the basic rules that should be observed when installing downspouts:

Place one downspout for every 40 linear feet of gutter to ensure sufficient drainage and prevent overflowing gutters during heavy rainfall.

If you can’t move your downspouts to a better location where they would be able to drain water away from your home, you can opt for downspout extensions instead. Ensure that the extensions are long enough to discharge water at least four feet away from your home.

Check paving stones or walkways. Make sure they are properly pitched from the exterior wall. Otherwise, they may cause water to back up and infiltrate your basement.

Exterior Building Solutions is a family-owned and -operated company that ensures the highest level of service for every client. Our expertise includes roofing, siding, gutters, storm damage restoration and more. Call us at (314) 470-8783 or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate. We serve customers in Chesterfield and St. Louis, MO.