Downspouts and gutter drainage
Gutters catch the water. Downspouts and drains decide where it ends up, and too often that's right against the foundation.
All the water your roof sheds leaves through a handful of downspouts. If they empty at the base of the wall, that water soaks into the soil next to your basement or crawl space, washes out beds and can freeze into slick patches on walks and driveways. Drainage work is about getting roof water far enough from the house that it can soak in or run off without causing trouble.
Is my downspout drainage failing?
- Soggy ground or puddles where downspouts empty
- Mulch and soil washed out of beds after storms
- Water in the basement or a damp crawl space after rain
- Downspouts that back up and overflow at the top
- Ice sheets on sidewalks and driveways below downspouts in winter
- Splash blocks that have sunk or tilted toward the house
What are my drainage options?
- Larger downspouts. Going from 2-by-3-inch to 3-by-4-inch moves more water and resists clogs.
- Extra downspouts. Long runs and big roof sections often need another outlet.
- Extensions and splash blocks. The simplest fix. Carry water several feet out before releasing it.
- Buried downspout lines. Pipe under the lawn to a pop-up emitter, a daylight outlet on a slope, or another approved spot.
- Rain barrels. Hold some water for the garden, with the overflow routed away from the house.
Do buried lines work in Frederick County?
They can, with enough slope, smooth-wall pipe and a cleanout. Freezing is the local wrinkle. A line that holds water can freeze in winter, and a pop-up emitter that's iced shut backs water up into the downspout. Ask the installer how the line will drain completely between storms and where it will discharge. Don't send water onto a neighbor's lot, a sidewalk or the street without checking local rules.
How do slopes and soils play in?
Much of the county is rolling ground, and homes in the valleys and on the mountain slopes often sit with one side higher than the other. Water released on the uphill side tends to run back toward the foundation. Routing downspouts around to the downhill side, or into a buried line that daylights below the house, is often worth the extra work. If your soil holds water after rain, longer extensions help more than you'd expect.
What affects drainage cost?
- How many downspouts and how far the water has to go.
- Above-ground or buried. Trenching adds labor and material.
- Obstacles. Patios, walkways, roots and landscaping.
- The outlet. A daylight outlet on a slope is simpler than a long run on a flat lot.
Pricing comes from the installer after they've measured your gutter runs, counted downspouts and looked at the roof. We don't quote prices, and any number you hear over the phone is a rough starting point, not a bid.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How far out should a downspout discharge?
Several feet at least, and farther on flat lots or where the yard slopes toward the house. The goal is to keep water from soaking in next to the foundation.
Why is my buried downspout line backing up?
Usually leaves and roof grit have clogged it, roots have gotten in, it lacks slope, or the outlet froze. A cleanout and gutter guards help prevent it.
Related services
More background: Frederick County gutter guard guide.
Done hauling the ladder out every November?
Call now and a local gutter company will look at your roofline and quote guards that fit it.